Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Caring for the child with an autism spectrum disorder in the acute care setting.

PURPOSE This article explores the challenges that patients with autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs) face when hospitalized and provides assessment strategies and plan-of-care suggestions for nursing caregivers. CONCLUSIONS With a high prevalence rate of medical comorbidities among this population, such as gastrointestinal complaints and seizures, nurses are likely to care for hospitalized patients with an ASD. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS For a child with an ASD, hospitalization can be an overwhelming sensory and cognitive experience. Nurses equipped with an understanding of the unique needs of a child with ASD can tailor the plan of care to reduce patient and family anxiety, optimize treatment goals, and reduce the stress of hospitalization.
West nile virions aligned along myelin lamellae in organotypic spinal cord cultures

Organtypic spinal cord cultures infected with West Nile Virus (WNV) exhibited a remarkable arrangement of virions among lamellae of the myelin sheath. Virions were first observed in neurons and only at day 4 after infection appeared within the myelin lamellae. Virions were observed only in the central myelin, aligned along the interperiod lines and therefor attached to the outer side of the oligodendrocyte membrane. In spite of this peculiar location of the virions, their presence was not associated with severe damage to the axon or to the myelin sheath. The causes of the formation of this viral pattern, its morphological features, and the role which it might have in viral infection in vivo are considered.
Anomalous electrophoretic behavior of a chitinase isoform from grape berries and wine in glycol chitin‐containing sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis gels

An anomalous electrophoretic behavior of a chitinase isoform present in both grape (Vitis vinifera L.) berries and wine was observed in glycol chitin‐containing sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE) gels. A progressive shift of the relative molecular mass Mr of the enzyme (from ≈︁30 500 up to ≈︁57 700) with increasing glycol chitin concentration in the gels up to 0.1% was revealed when samples were electrophoresed under nonreducing conditions, whereas the presence of glycol chitin had no effects when samples were reduced before SDS‐PAGE separation. The Mr of other grape and wine chitinase isoforms as well as that of the chitinase from pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) fruit was unaffected by the presence of the substrate in the gel under both reducing and nonreducing conditions. Since the enzymes were inactive during the electrophoretic separation, it is likely that the retarding effect of glycol chitin observed specifically for the unreduced chitinase band from grape and wine was due to an interaction between the substrate and a chitin‐binding domain different from the catalytic site, such as that typical of class I and class IV chitinases.
Cost-effectiveness of cesarean section delivery to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1

ObjectiveTo evaluate costs and outcomes of cesarean section performed before onset of labor and before rupture of membranes (elective cesarean section) compared to vaginal delivery among HIV-infected women. DesignCost-effectiveness and cost–benefit analysis. Participants and settingPregnant HIV-infected women in the US who refrain from breastfeeding. InterventionElective cesarean section versus vaginal delivery by antiretroviral therapy regimen. Main outcome measuresPediatric HIV cases avoided, years of life saved, and direct medical costs for maternal interventions and pediatric HIV treatment. ResultsElective cesarean section (versus vaginal delivery) was cost-effective among women receiving zidovudine prophylaxis (US1131 per case avoided, US$17 per year of life saved) and combination antiretroviral therapy (US$112 693 per case avoided, US$1697 per year of life saved), and cost saving among women receiving no antiretroviral therapy during pregnancy (benefit–cost ratio of 2.23). Although elective cesarean section remained cost-effective, results were sensitive to variations in vertical transmission rates and to pediatric HIV treatment costs. Population-based analyses indicated that elective cesarean section could prevent 239 pediatric HIV cases annually with a savings of over US$4 million. ConclusionsElective cesarean section is a cost-effective intervention to prevent vertical transmission of HIV among women receiving various antiretroviral therapy regimens, who refrain from breastfeeding.
Economic Recession, Job Vulnerability, and Tourism Decision Making: A Qualitative Comparative Analysis

Occupational uncertainty has a considerable effect upon consumer decisions during a recession, especially with respect to discretionary products and services such as tourism. Using Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA), the study examines the complex relations among job vulnerability, disposable income for tourism, marketing activities, and price and quality issues for Greek holiday makers returning from their vacations. The article also compares QCA with the two dominant linear methods of analysis (i.e. correlation and regression) and highlights the suitability of QCA when dealing with complexity in tourism. The results reveal four configurations explaining the attributes of Greek residents’ tourism decisions, characterized by value-for-money orientation, achievement of best available purchase, psychological strengthening, and price sensitivity. The study also employs predictive validity for the presented models. The findings are valid from both a methodological and managerial perspective suggesting new research insights.
Sensitization of differentiated PC12 cells to apoptosis by presenilin-2 is mediated by p38.

Presenilin 2 (PS2), the chromosome 1 familial Alzheimer's disease gene, has been shown to sensitize differentiated PC12 (dPC12) cells to apoptosis. In this investigation we show that activation of the p38 mitogen activated protein kinase pathway occurs downstream of PS2 and is required for sensitizing the cells to apoptosis. Overexpression of PS2 led to a dramatic increase in p38 activity, which is correlated with an increased susceptibility of dPC12 cells to apoptosis. Inhibition of p38 by the specific inhibitor SB203580 or interfering with the p38 pathway by overexpression of dominant negative MKK6 effectively blocked PS2 sensitized apoptosis. Expression of ALG-3, a truncated PS2 which acts as a dominant negative PS2, significantly suppressed p38 activation induced by trophic factor withdrawal. These data suggest that PS2 is a signaling molecule upstream of the p38 MAPK pathway in apoptotic dPC12 cells.
Functional outcomes post-radial head arthroplasty: a systematic review of literature

Background The present study was conducted to determine the quality and content of research on the functional outcomes and complications post-metal radial head arthroplasty (RHAP). Methods A comprehensive search of medical databases for studies reporting on functional outcomes of patients undergoing metallic RHAP was conducted. The Structured Effectiveness Quality Evaluation Scale (SEQES) was used to evaluate quality of the studies. Results We identified 21 Sackett’s Level IV studies reporting on 391 radial heads. The mean duration of follow-up was 47.2 months and the mean (SD) age of patients was 48.4 years (6.9 years). The male to female ratio was found to be 1.05 : 1 and the dominant arm was involved in 54% of patients. When functional outcomes achieved post-RHAP were compared with normative scores, the comparison suggested that RHAP has good to excellent functional outcomes in short- to mid-term follow-up. The weighted mean (SD) Mayo Elbow Performance Score was 85.8 (4.1) (95% confidence interval 85.3 to 86.3). Incidences of implant removal (3.06%) and revision (2.22%) were found to be low. Conclusions There is consistent low-quality evidence of positive functional outcomes following RHAP. The heterogeneity of type of implant, patient characteristics and outcome measures used, along with an inadequate reporting of study details, restrict any definitive conclusions being made.
The alpha1-adrenergic antagonist prazosin ameliorates combat trauma nightmares in veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder: a report of 4 cases.

BACKGROUND Central nervous system (CNS) adrenergic hyperresponsiveness may be involved in the pathophysiology of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Two Vietnam combat veterans with PTSD prescribed the centrally active alpha1-adrenergic antagonist prazosin for symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy unexpectedly reported elimination of combat trauma nightmares. This observation prompted an open-label feasibility trial of prazosin for combat trauma nightmares in chronic combat-induced PTSD. METHOD Four consecutively identified combat veterans with chronic DSM-IV PTSD and severe intractable combat trauma nightmares participated in an 8-week open trial of escalating-dose prazosin. Nightmare severity response was rated using the nightmare item of the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale and the Clinical Global Impressions-Change scale. RESULTS The 2 patients who achieved a daily prazosin dose of at least 5 mg were markedly improved, with complete elimination of trauma nightmares and resumption of normal dreaming. The 2 subjects limited to 2 mg of prazosin to avoid excessive blood pressure reduction were moderately improved with at least 50% reduction in nightmare severity. CONCLUSION These clinical observations, together with neurobiological evidence for alpha1-adrenergic regulation of CNS neurobiological systems relevant to PTSD, provide rationale for placebo-controlled trials of prazosin for PTSD combat trauma nightmares.
Enhanced epithelial gap closure and increased angiogenesis in wounds of diabetic mice treated with adult murine bone marrow stromal progenitor cells

The direct application of bone marrow (BM) can accelerate the healing of chronic wounds. We hypothesized that this effect is due to the presence of stromal progenitor cells (SPCs) found within whole BM preparations. To test this hypothesis, we isolated adult murine SPCs from whole BM and examined their ability to enhance impaired wound healing compared with ficoll separated BM cells in the diabetic (db/db) mouse model. SPCs significantly enhanced reepithelialization, granulation tissue formation, and neovascularization compared with control wounds treated with BM or PBS alone. Higher frequencies of donor SPC cells compared with donor BM cells were observed in treated wounds at 7 days. Transdifferentiation into GFP‐positive mature endothelial cells was not observed. These observations suggest that SPCs improve wound healing through indirect mechanisms which lead to enhanced vascularization rather than through direct participation and incorporation into tissue. We conclude that topical application of BM‐derived SPCs may represent an effective strategy for the treatment of chronic diabetic wounds.
Development of cell‐free protein synthesis platforms for disulfide bonded proteins

The use of cell‐free protein synthesis (CFPS) for recombinant protein production is emerging as an important technology. For example, the openness of the cell‐free system allows control of the reaction environment to promote folding of disulfide bonded proteins in a rapid and economically feasible format. These advantages make cell‐free protein expression systems particularly well suited for producing patient specific therapeutic vaccines or antidotes in response to threats from natural and man‐made biological agents and for pharmaceutical proteins that are difficult to produce in living cells. In this work we assess the versatility of modern cell‐free methods, optimize expression and folding parameters, and highlight the importance of rationally designed plasmid templates for producing mammalian secreted proteins, fusion proteins, and antibody fragments in our E. coli‐based CFPS system. Two unique CFPS platforms were established by developing standardized extract preparation protocols and generic cell‐free reaction conditions. Generic reaction conditions enabled all proteins to express well with the best therapeutic protein yield at 710 µg/mL, an antibody fragment at 230 µg/mL, and a vaccine fusion protein at 300 µg/mL; with the majority correctly folded. Better yields were obtained when cell‐free reaction conditions were optimized for each protein. Establishing general CFPS platforms enhances the potential for cell‐free protein synthesis to reliably produce complex protein products at low production and capital costs with very rapid process development timelines. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;99: 351–367. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Heat Shock Protein 90 Mediates the Balance of Nitric Oxide and Superoxide Anion from Endothelial Nitric-oxide Synthase*

The balance of nitric oxide (·NO) and superoxide anion (O⨪2) plays an important role in vascular biology. The association of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) with endothelial nitric-oxide synthase (eNOS) is a critical step in the mechanisms by which eNOS generates ·NO. As eNOS is capable of generating both ·NO and O⨪2, we hypothesized that Hsp90 might also mediate eNOS-dependent O⨪2 production. To test this hypothesis, bovine coronary endothelial cells (BCEC) were pretreated with geldanamycin (GA, 10 μg/ml; 17.8 μm) and then stimulated with the calcium ionophore,A23187 (5 μm). GA significantly decreasedA23187-stimulated eNOS-dependent nitrite production (p < 0.001, n = 4) and significantly increased A23187-stimulated eNOS-dependent O⨪2production (p < 0.001, n = 8). A23187 increased phospho-eNOS(Ser-1179) levels by >1.6-fold over vehicle (V)-treated levels. Pretreatment with GA by itself or with A23187 increased phospho-eNOS levels. In unstimulated V-treated BCEC cultures low amounts of Hsp90 were found to associate with eNOS. Pretreatment with GA and/or A23187 increased the association of Hsp90 with eNOS. These data show that Hsp90 is essential for eNOS-dependent ·NO production and that inhibition of ATP-dependent conformational changes in Hsp90 uncouples eNOS activity and increases eNOS-dependent O⨪2production.
Subbasal nerve density and corneal sensitivity after laser in situ keratomileusis: femtosecond laser vs mechanical microkeratome.

OBJECTIVE To compare changes in subbasal nerve density and corneal sensitivity after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) with the flap created by a femtosecond laser (bladeless) vs a mechanical microkeratome. DESIGN In a randomized paired-eye study, 21 patients received myopic LASIK with the flap created by a femtosecond laser in one eye and by a mechanical microkeratome in the fellow eye. Eyes were examined before and at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 36 months after LASIK. Central subbasal nerve density was measured by using confocal microscopy. Corneal mechanical sensitivity was measured by using a gas esthesiometer and was expressed as the ratio of mechanical threshold in eyes that received LASIK to mechanical threshold in concurrent control eyes. RESULTS Subbasal nerve density and corneal sensitivity did not differ between methods of flap creation at any examination. Mean (SD) nerve density was decreased at 1 month (bladeless, 974 [2453] μm/mm(2); microkeratome, 1308 [2881] μm/mm(2)) compared with the preoperative examination (bladeless, 10,883 [5083] μm/mm(2), P < . 001; microkeratome, 12,464 [6683] μm/mm(2), P < . 001) and remained decreased through 12 months (P < .001). Mechanical threshold ratios did not differ from that at the preoperative examination through 36 months for either LASIK treatment; when all LASIK eyes were combined, the mechanical threshold ratio was transiently higher (decreased sensitivity) at 1 month (1.29 [0.85]) compared with the preoperative examination (0.89 [0.73], P = .05). CONCLUSIONS The planar configuration of the femtosecond laser flaps is not associated with faster reinnervation compared with the microkeratome flaps. The prolonged decrease in subbasal nerve density after LASIK is not accompanied by a prolonged decrease in corneal sensitivity. TRIAL REGISTRATION clinicaltrials.gov Identifier NCT00350246.
Ultrasonographic Features of Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma: Do they Correlate with Pre and PostOperative Calcitonin Levels?

PURPOSE To correlate ultrasonographic (US) features of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) with pre operative and postoperative calcitonin levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 130 thyroid nodules diagnosed as MTC were evaluated. Two radiologists retrospectively evaluated preoperative US features according to size, shape, margin, echogenicity, type of calcification, and lymph node status. Postoperative clinical and imaging followup (mean duration 31.9 ± 22.5 months) was performed for detection of tumor recurrence. US features, presence of LN metastasis, and tumor recurrence were compared between MTC nodules with and without elevated preoperative calcitonin (>100 pg/mL). Those with normalized and nonnormalized postoperative calcitonin levels groups were also compared. RESULTS Common US features of MTCs were solid internal content (90.8%), irregular shape (44.6%), circumscribed margin (46.2%), and hypoechogenicity (56.2%). Comparing MTC nodules with and without elevated preoperative calcitonin levels, the size and shape of MTC nodule and lymph node metastasis showed statistical significance (p<0.05). Postoperative calcitonin normalization correlated with US features of tumor size (p=0.002), margin (p=0.034), shape (p≤0.001), and presence of calcification (p=0.046). Tumor recurrence and LN metastasis were more prevalent in patients without normalization of postoperative calcitonin than in those with normalization (p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS Serum calcitonin measurement is helpful for early diagnosis and predicting prognosis. Postoperative calcitonin measurement is also important for postoperative US follow up, especially in cases with larger nodule size, presence of calcification, irregular shape, and irregular margin.
QoS-aware virtual SDN network planning

Software Defined Networking (SDN) technologies provide applications opportunities to manipulate underlying network flows and topologies via network controllers during runtime. In cloud environments, networked virtual machines can be enhanced by SDN by providing applications with controllable infrastructures to meet system-level quality requirements; however, customizing a suitable network topology with optimally placed controller(s) for given quality requirements and workload characteristics is often not an easy task. We call such problem virtual SDN network planning problem. In this paper, a Topology-Controller planner (TCPlanner) is proposed for customizing the network topology and placing the controllers. Experiments with different scales of network show that our approach can effectively plan virtual SDN networks to meet the various QoS requirements and reduce costs.
Ionic strength dependence of the reaction between methanol dehydrogenase and cytochrome c-551i: evidence of conformationally coupled electron transfer.

The quinoprotein methanol dehydrogenase and cytochrome c-551i are two soluble acidic proteins that form a physiological complex in which electrons are transferred from pyrroloquinoline quinone to heme. The oxidation of methanol dehydrogenase by the cytochrome was studied as a function of ionic strength using stopped-flow spectroscopy. The dissociation constant (Kd) for complex formation decreased 2-fold with increasing ionic strength from 0.21 to 1.3 M and increased at higher ionic strengths. The rate constant for the electron transfer reaction (kET) increased 2-fold with increasing ionic strength from 0.21 to 1.3 M and decreased at higher ionic strengths. The variation of Kd and kET over this range of ionic strengths was described by Van Leeuwen theory, which takes into account monopole-dipole and dipole-dipole forces, in addition to the monopole-monopole force, to predict the interactions between large molecules. Analysis of the kinetic results in terms of these electrostatic interactions indicated the probable orientations for protein-protein binding and electron transfer. To explain the ionic strength dependence of the observed kET, a model is presented in which the true kET is reduced by a factor Kc, an equilibrium constant that describes some rearrangement of the proteins after a nonoptimal collision to produce the most efficient orientation for electron transfer. This model is consistent with the notion that the large reorganizational energy obtained from temperature-dependence studies of this electron transfer reaction [Harris, T. K. , & Davidson, V. L. (1993) Biochemistry 32, 14145-14150] is due to such an intracomplex rearrangement. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Analysis of polymorphisms in the olfactory G-protein Golf in major depression

It is well established that G-proteins represent essential regulatory components in transmembrane signaling. The α subunit of the olfactory G-protein Golf (GNAL) maps to a region on chromosome 18 where linkage to affective disorders has been reported, as well as a parent-of-origin effect in affective disorders with some markers near the locus for the α subunit of the Golf gene. We investigated whether two polymorphisms in the α subunit of the Golf gene (A→G in intron 3, and T→G in intron 10) are associated with major depression in 176 major depressive patients compared with 145 healthy control subjects, and additionally tested for a parent-of-origin effect in separated gender groups. In the control group, we found a significant increase in the G-allele frequency of the intron 3 polymorphism in females (P =0.0036, odds ratio=2.13, 95% confidence interval=1.29–3.54, Fisher's Exact Test). In patients, we found a similar tendency for higher G-allele frequencies in females. Concerning the intron 10 polymorphism, no differences in the genotype or allele frequencies were detectable for any of the separated gender groups. Also, the total patient and control groups showed no differences in allele or genotype frequencies for any of the investigated polymorphisms. The results of this study agree with the reported parent-of-origin effects on chromosome 18, but do not support the hypothesis that the Golf gene is a major susceptibility factor for major depression.
The nuclear receptor PXR is a lithocholic acid sensor that protects against liver toxicity

The pregnane X receptor (PXR) is the molecular target for catatoxic steroids such as pregnenolone 16α-carbonitrile (PCN), which induce cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A) expression and protect the body from harmful chemicals. In this study, we demonstrate that PXR is activated by the toxic bile acid lithocholic acid (LCA) and its 3-keto metabolite. Furthermore, we show that PXR regulates the expression of genes involved in the biosynthesis, transport, and metabolism of bile acids including cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (Cyp7a1) and the Na+-independent organic anion transporter 2 (Oatp2). Finally, we demonstrate that activation of PXR protects against severe liver damage induced by LCA. Based on these data, we propose that PXR serves as a physiological sensor of LCA, and coordinately regulates gene expression to reduce the concentrations of this toxic bile acid. These findings suggest that PXR agonists may prove useful in the treatment of human cholestatic liver disease.
An assessment of material selection for high voltage DC extruded polymer cables

This contribution to the Electrical Insulation Special Issue provides an assessment of the present major insulation candidates, under development or ready for commercialization, for high voltage DC (HVDC) extruded polymer cables in Europe, Japan, and China. It is a contribution on behalf of the Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation Society (DEIS) Working Group on HVDC Cable Systems [1]. It is noted that interest in extruded polymer HVDC cables by IEEE Electrical Insulation Magazine dates back to the Nov/Dec 1997 issue of volume 13, when crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) was well established and competing with ethylene propylene rubber for this technology.