Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Antibiotic Treatment of Infections Due to Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae: Systematic Evaluation of the Available Evidence

ABSTRACT We sought to evaluate the effectiveness of the antibiotic treatment administered for infections caused by carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae. The PubMed and Scopus databases were systematically searched. Articles reporting the clinical outcomes of patients infected with carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae according to the antibiotic treatment administered were eligible. Twenty nonrandomized studies comprising 692 patients who received definitive treatment were included. Almost all studies reported on Klebsiella spp. In 8 studies, the majority of infections were bacteremia, while pneumonia and urinary tract infections were the most common infections in 12 studies. In 10 studies, the majority of patients were critically ill. There are methodological issues, including clinical heterogeneity, that preclude the synthesis of the available evidence using statistical analyses, including meta-analysis. From the descriptive point of view, among patients who received combination treatment, mortality was up to 50% for the tigecycline-gentamicin combination, up to 64% for tigecycline-colistin, and up to 67% for carbapenem-colistin. Among the monotherapy-treated patients, mortality was up to 57% for colistin and up to 80% for tigecycline. Certain regimens were administered to a small number of patients in certain studies. Three studies reporting on 194 critically ill patients with bacteremia showed individually significantly lower mortality in the combination arm than in the monotherapy arm. In the other studies, no significant difference in mortality was recorded between the compared groups. Combination antibiotic treatment may be considered the optimal option for severely ill patients with severe infections. However, well-designed randomized studies of specific patient populations are needed to further clarify this issue.
Politics on the Web: Using Twitter to Estimate the Ideological Positions of Brazilian Representatives

The use of social media has become increasingly widespread among citizens and politicians in Brazil. This means of communication served as a key arena for debate and propaganda during the 2014 legislative and presidential elections, when a very polarized political scenario emerged. New approaches have been developed that use information from the social network structure constructed by political actors on social media platforms, such as Twitter, in order to calculate ideal points. Can data from the decision to 'follow' a profile on Twitter be used to estimate politicians' ideological positions? Can approaches like this show the variance of political positions even within a very fragmented legislative body, such as the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies? This article presents and analyzes the successful application of a Bayesian spatial model developed by Barbera (2015), using data from Brazil. This method allowed to capture differences between parties and political actors similar to those found by means of roll call votes. It also makes possible to calculate ideal points for actors who participate in the public debate, but are not professional politicians.
Azithromycin Inhibits the Formation of Flagellar Filaments without Suppressing Flagellin Synthesis in Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium

ABSTRACT The present study shows that a sub-MIC of the macrolide antibiotic azithromycin (AZM) diminishes the virulence function of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. We first constructed an AZM-resistant strain (MS248) by introducing ermBC, an erythromycin ribosome methylase gene, into serovar Typhimurium. The MIC of AZM for MS248 exceeded 100 μg/ml. Second, we managed to determine the efficacy with which a sub-MIC of AZM reduced the virulence of MS248 in vitro. On the one hand, AZM (10 μg/ml) in the culture medium was unable to inhibit the total protein synthesis, growth rate, or survival within macrophages of MS248. On the other hand, AZM (10 μg/ml) reduced MS248's swarming and swimming motilities in addition to its invasive activity in Henle-407 cells. Electron micrographs revealed no flagellar filaments on the surface of MS248 after overnight growth in L broth supplemented with AZM (10 μg/ml). However, immunoblotting analysis showed that flagellin (FliC) was fully synthesized within the bacterial cells in the presence of AZM (10 μg/ml). In contrast, the same concentration of AZM reduced the export of FliC to the culture medium. These results indicate that a sub-MIC of AZM was able to affect the formation of flagellar filaments, specifically by reducing the amount of flagellin exported from bacterial cells, but it was not involved in suppressing the synthesis of flagellin. Unfortunately, AZM treatment was ineffective against murine salmonellosis caused by MS248.
Empirical investigation of surface quality and temperature during turning AISI 304 steel with vegetable oil based metalworking fluids

Metalworking Fluids (MWFs) are used at the cutting zone during machining to obtain a smooth operation by facilitating a layer of lubricant to reduce friction, act as a coolant to reduce induced heat and prevent metal pick-ups by flushing away the chips. Hence the liquid which use as a MWF reduce wear on the tool and reduce energy requirement for the operation. However the health and environmental hazards during the usage of mineral oil based MWFs throughout their life cycle are very high with respect to the vegetable oil based MWFs. Most of this vegetable oil based MWFs are developed from highly oleic oils such as sunflower, soya bean and canola. In this research, a new emulsion metalworking fluid was developed with white coconut oil as the base oil. Straight turning machining experiments were conducted with AISI 304 steel at different cutting speeds while applying newly developed MWF, mineral based soluble oil, white coconut oil and soya bean oil. In each experiment surface quality and tool tip temperature were measured and compared. Better performances for the newly developed MWF with respect to the surface roughness and tool tip temperature were observed during the application of four different MWFs.
Multiple Diagnoses in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in the Victims of a Natural Disaster

A population of the fire fighters who had been exposed to a natural disaster were screened using the General Health Questionnaire 4, 11, and 29 months after a natural disaster. On the basis of these data, a high-risk group of subjects who had scored as cases and probable cases and a symptom-free comparison group were interviewed using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule 42 months after the disaster. The prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), affective disorders, and anxiety disorders was examined. Only 23% of the 70 subjects who had developed a PTSD did not attract a further diagnosis, with major depression being the most common concurrent disorder. Comorbidity appeared to be an important predictor of chronic PTSD, especially with panic disorder and phobic disorders. The subjects who had only a PTSD appeared to have had the highest exposure to the disaster. Adversity experienced both before and after the disaster influenced the onset of both anxiety and affective disorders.
Estimating multimodal brain connectivity in multiple sclerosis: An exploratory factor analysis

Graph-theoretical approaches have become a popular way to model brain data collected using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), both from the structural and the functional perspectives. In structural networks, tract-based mapping allows to model different aspects of brain structures by means of the specific characteristics of the different MRI modalities. However, there has been little effort to join the information carried by each modality and to understand what level of common variance is shown in these data. In this paper, we proposed a combined approach based on graph theory and factor analysis to model magnetization transfer and microstructural properties in 18 relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients and 17 healthy controls. After defining the common factors and outlining their relationships with MRI data, we evaluated between-group differences using global and local graph measures. The results showed that one common factor describes brain structures in terms of myelin and global integrity, and such factor is able to highlight specific between-group differences.
Silent cerebral infarction in patients enrolled in the TOAST study

To determine the frequency, location, size, and risk factors for silent cerebral infarctions (SCIs) on brain CT, we identified 629 patients without a history of previous stroke who were enrolled in a multicenter clinical trial of therapy for acute ischemic stroke.On the baseline CT, 143 patients (22.7%) had SCIs; 34.3% of the lesions were in the right hemisphere, 38.5% in the left hemisphere, and 27.3% were bilateral. The lesion size was less than 1 cm in 65.7%, and the most common site was the basal ganglia (48.3%). Patients with SCI were compared with controls without SCI to determine the odds ratios (ORs) for each risk factor. On univariate analysis, race (black versus white) had an OR of 1.80 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14 to 2.85), male sex an OR of 1.68 (95% CI, 1.12 to 2.51), and congestive heart failure an OR of 1.88 (95% CI, 1.07 to 3.31). Significant risk factors on multivariate analysis include age (OR 1.03 per year, p equals 0.0070), male sex (OR 1.78, p equals 0.0094), and race (OR 2.43, p equals 0.0004). After including interaction terms with age and hypertension and age, sex, and race, hypertension was also a significant risk factor. NEUROLOGY 1996;46: 942-948
Corporate Social Responsibility, Ownership Structure, and Firm Value: Evidence from Korea

This study examines the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and firm value in the context of ownership structure. Specifically, our study explores whether large shareholder and foreign shareholder ownership play an important role in the CSR–firm value relationship. Using a sample of 48 firms listed on the Korea Stock Exchange (KSE) between 2010 and 2014, we find that CSR is positively associated with firm value. We further find that the relationship between CSR and firm value is weaker in firms with high large shareholder ownership than in firms with low large shareholder ownership. However, we find no evidence of the effect of foreign ownership on the relationship between CSR and firm value. This study sheds light on the importance of ownership structure in the relationship between CSR and firm value, suggesting significant implications for academics, practitioners, and policymakers. We contribute to the existing literature by providing empirical evidence on the effect of ownership structure on the CSR–firm value relationship. Policymakers may consider these results in implementing their policies that can enhance CSR activities.
Confocal Assessment of the Effects of Fourth-Generation Fluoroquinolones on the Cornea

Purpose. To evaluate the toxicity of fourth-generation fluoroquinolone antibiotic solutions on the rabbit corneal epithelium. Methods. In vivo confocal microscopy was used to assess epithelial structure in 18 rabbits, and tight junction integrity of superficial epithelial cells was evaluated with ZO-1 labeling in 10 rabbits. Eyes were bathed with commercial solutions of moxifloxacin (Vigamox) or gatifloxacin (Zymar) solution for 3 minutes, rinsed with balanced salt solution, and immediately examined. Balanced salt solution rinsing alone served as the control. Results. A decrease in epithelial cell size was observed after treatment with Zymar (P<0.05, two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance), but not with Vigamox or the control. Normal ZO-1 organization was observed in controls and eyes treated with Vigamox. ZO-1 staining in eyes treated with Zymar was disrupted, patchy, and generally weaker than that in control eyes. Conclusions. After short-term, intensive exposure to Vigamox, corneal epithelial integrity and tight junction organization are maintained. Zymar induces a loss of superficial epithelial cells and breakdown of tight junctions under similar conditions.
G2A Attenuates Propionibacterium acnes Induction of Inflammatory Cytokines in Human Monocytes

Background Acne vulgaris is a disease of the pilosebaceous unit characterized by increased sebum production, hyperkeratinization, and immune responses to Propionibacterium acnes (PA). Here, we explore a possible mechanism by which a lipid receptor, G2A, regulates immune responses to a commensal bacterium. Objective To elucidate the inflammatory properties of G2A in monocytes in response to PA stimulation. Furthermore, our study sought to investigate pathways by which lipids modulate immune responses in response to PA. Methods Our studies focused on monocytes collected from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, the monocytic cell line THP-1, and a lab strain of PA. Our studies involved the use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent, Western blot, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, small interfering RNA (siRNA), and microarray analysis of human acne lesions in the measurements of inflammatory markers. Results G2A gene expression is higher in acne lesions compared to normal skin and is inducible by the acne therapeutic, 13-cis-retinoic acid. In vitro, PA induces both the Toll-like receptor 2-dependent expression of G2A as well as the production of the G2A ligand, 9-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid, from human monocytes. G2A gene knockdown through siRNA enhances PA stimulation of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and IL-1β possibly through increased activation of the ERK1/2 MAP kinase and nuclear factor kappa B p65 pathways. Conclusion G2A may play a role in quelling inflammatory cytokine response to PA, revealing G2A as a potential attenuator of inflammatory response in a disease associated with a commensal bacterium.
Pathophysiology and Clinical Management of Moderate and Severe Traumatic Brain Injury in the ICU

Abstract Moderate and severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among young individuals in high-income countries. Its pathophysiology is divided into two major phases: the initial neuronal injury (or primary injury) followed by secondary insults (secondary injury). Multimodality monitoring now offers neurointensivists the ability to monitor multiple physiologic parameters that act as surrogates of brain ischemia and hypoxia, the major driving forces behind secondary brain injury. The heterogeneity of the pathophysiology of TBI makes it necessary to take into consideration these interacting physiologic factors when recommending for or against any therapies; it may also account for the failure of all the neuroprotective therapies studied so far. In this review, the authors focus on neuroclinicians and neurointensivists, and discuss the developments in therapeutic strategies aimed at optimizing intracranial pressure and cerebral perfusion pressure, and minimizing cerebral hypoxia. The management of moderate to severe TBI in the intensive care unit is moving away from a pure “threshold-based” treatment approach toward consideration of patient-specific characteristics, including the state of cerebral autoregulation. The authors also include a concise discussion on the management of medical and neurologic complications peculiar to TBI as well as an overview of prognostication.
Principles of cranial base ossification in humans and rats

Abstract Conclusions: 1. The principle of bilateral symmetry depends on the chordal cartilage that is the keystone in cranial base ossification in rats and humans, due to its anatomical situation and for the production of the chordin protein that regulates the bone morphogenetic protein BMP-7. 2. In humans and in rats, foramen lacerum closure follows a line of intramembranous ossification that depends on BMP-7, regulated by the first branchial pouch. 3. The cranial base ossification patterns and centres are similar in humans and in rats, except in the otic capsule, palate and the lateral pterygoid plate. 4. The neural crest may induce cranial ossification through the cranial nerves. Objectives: To study the patterns of cranial base ossification in humans and in rats, considering the chordal cartilage, and the otic, nasal and orbit capsules, as well as the participation of the branchial arches and pouches. Methods: This was a light microscopy study of human fetal specimens obtained from spontaneous abortions with the following crown-rump-lengths (crl) 45, 74, 90, 134, 145 and 270 mm, and a 1-day-old neonate (360 mm crl), who had died of sudden death syndrome. We also examined Webster albino rat embryos of 16, 18 and 20 days of gestation and a postnatal series of rats 8 h and 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 10 and 13 days old, as well as adult animals. Results: In the 45 mm human fetus, the chordal cartilage with the nasal, otic and orbit capsules initiates cranial base ossification. Foramen lacerum closure begins in the 16-day-old rat embryo, following a line of membranous ossification between the external pterygoid process and the lateral alisphenoidal wing at ovalis foramen level. This is not a timing symmetrical process, which may persist until the 10th postnatal day in the rat. In the human fetus of 74 mm, the foramen lacerum space is closed by a membranous fusion ossification between the chordal cartilage and otic capsule, finishing at the 270 mm specimen. Endochondral ossification of the human otic capsule first appeared in the 145 mm (18 weeks) fetal specimen with four ossifying centres. The rat otic cartilaginous capsule showed rapid endochondral ossification, in the third and fourth postnatal day specimens.
Formation of Nitrating and Chlorinating Species by Reaction of Nitrite with Hypochlorous Acid

Detection of 3-nitrotyrosine has served as an in vivo marker for the production of the cytotoxic species peroxynitrite (ONOO−). We show here that reaction of nitrite (NO−2), the autoxidation product of nitric oxide (·NO), with hypochlorous acid (HOCl) forms reactive intermediate species that are also capable of nitrating phenolic substrates such as tyrosine and 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, with maximum yields obtained at physiological pH. Monitoring the reaction of NO−2 with HOCl by continuous flow photodiode array spectrophotometry indicates the formation of a transient species with spectral characteristics similar to those of nitryl chloride (Cl-NO2). Reaction of synthetic Cl-NO2 with N-acetyl-L-tyrosine results in the formation of 3-chlorotyrosine and 3-nitrotyrosine in ratios that are similar to those obtained by the NO−2/HOCl reaction (4:1). Tyrosine residues in bovine serum albumin are also nitrated and chlorinated by NO−2/HOCl and synthetic Cl-NO2. The reaction of N-acetyl-L-tyrosine with NO−2/HOCl or authentic Cl-NO2 also produces dityrosine, suggesting that free radical intermediates are involved in the reaction mechanism. Our data indicate that while chlorination reactions of Cl-NO2 are mediated by direct electrophilic addition to the aromatic ring, a free radical mechanism appears to be operative in nitrations mediated by NO−2/HOCl or Cl-NO2, probably involving the combination of nitrogen dioxide (·NO2) and tyrosyl radical. We propose that NO−2 reacts with HOCl by Cl+ transfer to form both cis- and trans-chlorine nitrite (Cl-ONO) and Cl-NO2 as intermediates that modify tyrosine by either direct reaction or after decomposition to reactive free and solvent-caged Cl· and ·NO2 as reactive species. Formation of Cl-NO2 and/or Cl-ONO in vivo may represent previously unrecognized mediators of inflammation-mediated protein modification and tissue injury, and offers an additional mechanism of tyrosine nitration independent of ONOO−.
Entry and intracellular survival of group B streptococci in J774 macrophages

The mouse macrophage-like cell line J774 was used to analyze opsonin-independent entry and survival of group B streptococci (GBS). Efficient entry of GBS in J774 cells occurred within 5 min postinfection, and streptococci persisted intracellularly without loss of viability for at least 8 h. At 24 h postinfection, 30% of the total intracellular GBS was recovered from macrophages. Inhibition studies using different biochemical modulators of cellular functions showed that bacterial entry seemed to involve nonglycosylated J774 surface structures different from known receptors such as fibronectin-binding integrins. Internalization of GBS by J774 cells occurred by a microfilament-dependent phagocytosis-like process also involving participation of receptor-mediated endocytosis. Prior opsonization of GBS with human serum containing anti-GBS antibodies did not affect bacterial entry but significantly reduced the intracellular survival of GBS. Transmission electron microscopic analysis confirmed these findings and demonstrated that both opsonized and nonopsonized bacteria were contained within phagosomes during the whole infection period. Transmission electron microscopy further revealed that decreased intracellular survival rates of opsonized GBS appeared to be due to increased lysosomal activities of the macrophages. These results suggest that in the absence of opsonins, GBS are able to enter and persist efficiently in macrophages by evading intracellular antibacterial activities commonly associated with opsonin-mediated uptake.
Strategic and Operational Perspectives of SME Brand Management: A Typology

This paper seeks a holistic understanding of brand management in SMEs, incorporating both strategic and operational perspectives. The aim of the study is theory‐building, contributing a typology of SME brand management. The typology has two dimensions, namely a primary strategic focus (internal or external) and a brand management capability/operational capability (strong or weak). Four SME brand management types emerge: organization brand identity‐driven, operations‐driven, organization brand image‐driven, and opportunistic. The results have practical implications for SME owner–managers, who can utilize them for planning purposes, to develop the most appropriate strategic orientation and brand management processes to enhance the SME performance.
The Potential of Using Voice Recognition in Patient Assessment Documentation in Mountain Rescue

The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of using voice recognition software in patient assessment documentation in mountain rescue. An exploratory experimental study was conducted, which involved 5 mountain rescue (MR) team members, 3 people who volunteered to act as patients, and the authors of the report who acted as observers. The MR personnel were asked to assess the patients and to document their findings using both voice recognition (VR) software and pen and paper. Data was collected using a questionnaire, observations were made by the authors and a comparison of written and VR digital documentation was conducted. The major concerns raised by the MR personnel were anticipated problems with the equipment such as lack of battery power, failure of the software to work effectively, and environmental factors. It was found that VR worked best when short simple sentences were used. Further robust research should be carried out in this area to critically evaluate potential use of VR in patient assessment documentation in MR.
Job matching in connected regional and occupational labour markets

ABSTRACT Job mobility equilibrates disparities in local labour markets and influences the job-matching efficiency. We specify a matching function with regional, occupational and combined regional–occupational spillovers of unemployed and vacancies. To construct these spillovers, we use information on regional proximities and occupational similarities. Based on novel German data on new hires, the unemployed and vacancies, we find significant positive effects of all spillover terms, with the exception of the negative and significant spillovers of the unemployed in other occupations. The reverse spillover effects could be used for designing macro-oriented policies aiming to improve job matching.