Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Vascular endothelial cell expression of JAK2V617F is sufficient to promote a pro-thrombotic state due to increased P-selectin expression

Thrombosis is the main cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with JAK2V617F myeloproliferative neoplasms. Recent studies have reported the presence of JAK2V617F in endothelial cells of some patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms. We investigated the role of endothelial cells that express JAK2V617F in thrombus formation using an in vitro model of human endothelial cells overexpressing JAK2V617F and an in vivo model of mice with endothelial-specific JAK2V617F expression. Interestingly, these mice displayed a higher propensity for thrombus. When deciphering the mechanisms by which JAK2V617F-expressing endothelial cells promote thrombosis, we observed that they have a pro-adhesive phenotype associated with increased endothelial P-selectin exposure, secondary to degranulation of Weibel-Palade bodies. We demonstrated that P-selectin blockade was sufficient to reduce the increased propensity of thrombosis. Moreover, treatment with hydroxyurea also reduced thrombosis and decreased the pathological interaction between leukocytes and JAK2V617F-expressing endothelial cells through direct reduction of endothelial P-selectin expression. Taken together, our data provide evidence that JAK2V617F-expressing endothelial cells promote thrombosis through induction of endothelial P-selectin expression, which can be reversed by hydroxyurea. Our findings increase our understanding of thrombosis in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms, at least those with JAK2V617F-positive endothelial cells, and highlight a new role for hydroxyurea. This novel finding provides the proof of concept that an acquired genetic mutation can affect the pro-thrombotic nature of endothelial cells, suggesting that other mutations in endothelial cells could be causal in thrombotic disorders of unknown cause, which account for 50% of recurrent venous thromboses.
Genomic Alterations Associated with Recurrence and TNBC Subtype in High-Risk Early Breast Cancers

The identification of early breast cancer patients who may benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy has evolved to include assessment of clinicopathologic features such as tumor size and nodal status, as well as several gene-expression profiles for ER-positive, HER2-negative cancers. However, these tools do not reliably identify patients at the greatest risk of recurrence. The mutation and copy-number landscape of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) subtypes defined by gene expression is also largely unknown, and elucidation of this landscape may shed light on novel therapeutic opportunities. The USO01062 phase III clinical trial of standard chemotherapy (with or without capecitabine) enrolled a cohort of putatively high-risk patients based on clinical features, yet only observed a 5-year disease-free survival event rate of 11.6%. In order to uncover genomic aberrations associated with recurrence, a targeted next-generation sequencing panel was used to compare tumor specimens from patients who had a recurrence event with a matched set who did not. The somatic mutation and copy-number alteration landscapes of high-risk early breast cancer patients were characterized and alterations associated with relapse were identified. Tumor mutational burden was evaluated but was not prognostic in this study, nor did it correlate with PDL1 or CD8 gene expression. However, TNBC subtypes had substantial genomic heterogeneity with a distinct pattern of genomic alterations and putative underlying driver mutations. Implications: The present study uncovers a compendium of genomic alterations with utility to more precisely identify high-risk patients for adjuvant trials of novel therapeutic agents.
COPD as a risk factor of the complications in lower limb arthroplasty: a patient-matched study

Purpose A relevant proportion of patients undergoing joint replacement surgery for the treatment of osteoarthritis exhibit COPD. This coincidence may result from an increased prevalence of both the diseases in elderly patients. In this study, COPD, which is known to be associated with a variety of comorbidities, and its potential interactions, eg, mediated via systemic inflammation, are discussed. The purpose of the present study was to identify the role of COPD as an independent risk factor for complications after total knee and hip arthroplasty. Patients and methods In a monocentric patient cohort of 2,760 arthoplasties, propensity score matching was done using the following factors: sex, age, replaced joint, American Society of Anesthesiologists’ score, body mass index, hypertension, chronic heart disease, anticoagulation, diabetes mellitus, chronic renal deficiency, and actual smoking status to create 224 pairs. Both the pre-matched differences and the results after propensity score matching were statistically analyzed with p≤0.05 being defined as statistically significant. Results All confounders were eliminated after matching. Preoperatively measured C-reactive protein and leukocytes were higher in the COPD group (p<0.001; p=0.01, respectively). Intensive care unit admission was higher for COPD patients (p=0.023). Pneumonia occurred in patients with COPD only (p=0.024). There was a trend (not significant) toward a higher rate of wound infections, increased transfusion of red blood cells, and a prolonged hospital stay in patients with COPD. Conclusion COPD was associated with an increased length of hospital stay, a higher risk of pneumonia and wound infection, higher general complications, and an increased need for red blood cell transfusion. It is thus recommended to enhance the implementation of pneumonia prevention programs on surgical wards.
Effect of scrotal heating on sperm quality, seminal biochemical substances, and reproductive hormones in human fertile men

At present, male contraceptive methods are only vasectomy and condoms, so it is necessary to research on male contraceptive techniques. The aim of this study is to observe the effects of scrotal heating (SH) on semen parameters, seminal l‐carnitine (LC), epidermal growth factor (EGF), macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), reproductive hormones and sperm chromosome numbers of adult healthy men, and to provide the experimental data for male contraception. The scrotums of 30 healthy male volunteers were exposed to the condition of 40 to 43°C SH belt warming 40 minutes each day for successive 2 days per week. The course of SH was continuous for 3 months. Computer‐assisted semen analysis and hypo‐osmotic swelling test, sperm DNA integrity, l‐carnitine, MIF and EGF, and sperm fluorescence in situ hybridization were performed before, during, and after SH. The serum level of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone (T) were measured by chemiluminescent immunoassay. The mean parameters of sperm concentration, vitality, and normal morphological sperm were significantly decreased in groups with sperms being collected during 1, 2, and 3 months of SH when compared with those in groups of pre‐SH (P < 0.01). Statistically significant differences of sperm DNA fragmentation, normal sperm membrane functionality, levels of LC and MIF in semen, and LH, FSH, and T in serum were observed between the groups of before SH and after SH 3 months and the groups of during SH 1, 2, and 3 months (P < 0.001). The total rate of chromosome number for 13, 18, 21, X, and Y in the 3 months of SH was 13.7‐fold greater (13.72%/1.69%) than before SH (P < 0.001). The constant SH can impact the semen quality, sperm DNA integrity, sperm chromosome, LC and MIF, and LH, FSH, and T in serum. Transient SH may be a new method for male contraception.
Perceived Cultural Competency Skills and Deficiencies Among Pediatric Residents and Faculty at a Large Teaching Hospital.

OBJECTIVES To identify demographic, educational, and experiential factors associated with perceived self-efficacy in cultural competency (PSECC) for pediatric residents and faculty at a large, tertiary-care children's hospital and to identify key barriers to the delivery of culturally competent pediatric care. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional assessment of cultural competency (CC) education, training, and skills using an online survey of residents and faculty at a large children's hospital. With our data analysis, we sought associations between PSECC skills, cross-cultural training or work experience, and demographic background. Participants were asked to identify and rank barriers to CC care and additional training they would like to see implemented. RESULTS A total of 114 residents (55%) and 143 faculty (65%) who responded to the survey assessing PSECC. Residents were more likely to have had CC training than faculty. More than half of the residents and faculty had participated in an underserved-group clinical experience domestically or abroad. Those residents with underserved-group experience were more likely to be comfortable with interpreter use (P = .03) and culturally sensitive issues (P = .06). Faculty who participated in underserved-group care in the United States were more likely to believe that cultural bias affects care (P = .005). Both identified time constraints, language barriers, and lack of knowledge as chief barriers to acquiring CC, and both desired more training. CONCLUSIONS Residents and faculty at a large children's hospital believe that they lack adequate CC training. Underserved-group clinical experiences both domestically and abroad are associated with perceived improved cross-cultural care skills. Increasing the extent and quality of CC education in both resident training and faculty development is needed.
Graphical authentication based on anti-shoulder surfing mechanism

Authentication is one of the most important mechanisms to ensure system accessibility by legitimate users. Various authentication tools exist based on numerous techniques. Distinguishing factors of such authentication tools are the underlying passwords that they imply. These passwords can be textual based, graphical based, hardware based or biometric based. All such password types have their pros and cons. The principle focus of this research is picture-based graphical passwords, since they are easy to remember and can overcome the limitations of using long textual passwords for stronger security. However, mostly the picture-based passwords suffer from shoulder surfing attacks and are therefore vulnerable. If this vulnerability is overcome then such graphical passwords are highly useful because of their strength and ease of use as compared to long textual passwords. The main objective of this research is to propose and develop a picture-based authentication scheme with anti shoulder surfing capability. The proposed authentication scheme consists of both password creation and usage. Both these stages are supported by specialized technical constructs that overcome the anti shoulder surfing attack even if the attacker is standing next to the legitimate user.
The effects of storage on platelet function in different blood products

ABSTRACT Objectives: Reduced platelet (PLT) function during storage has been shown for buffy-coat-derived platelet concentrates (BCP) and apheresis platelet units (AP), while for whole blood (WB) it has not been well studied. The aim of this study was to investigate PLT function in these blood products throughout storage using a novel flow cytometric assay. Methods: Flow cytometric measurement of agonist-induced platelet aggregation, CD62P expression and PAC-1 binding during storage in BCP, AP (1–9 days at 20°C) and WB (1–21 days at 2–6°C). Results: PLT-aggregation capacity decreased from day 1 to day 7 for almost all product–agonist combinations (P = .004 to P = .029) with aggregation capacity of WB being similar to that of AP and BCP. WB aggregation capacity remained relatively unchanged from day 7 to day 21. For all blood products, the fraction of agonist-induced CD62P-expression remained high and the fraction of PAC-1 binding decreased during storage. WB PLTs underwent only small changes in CD62P expression and PAC-1 binding from day 7 to day 21. Conclusion: This study found PLT aggregation in WB stored at 4°C to be as least as good as for BCP and AP stored at 20°C. WB retained significant PLT-aggregation capacity to day 21.
The effectiveness of education and cognitive rehearsal in managing nurse-to-nurse incivility: A pilot study.

AIM Teach nurses to recognize incivility, confront it using cognitive rehearsal techniques, thereby improving job satisfaction. BACKGROUND Nurse-to-nurse incivility negatively affects nurses, organizations, and patients. The Tri-Council for Nursing's proclamation calls nurses to recognize incivility and take steps to eliminate it in practice ("Tri-Council " 2017, https://tricouncilfornursing.org/documents/Tri-Council-Nursing-Civility-9-26-17.pdf). METHODS A mixed method, a pilot study was conducted. Nurse participants received incivility and cognitive rehearsal education. Data were collected through surveys adapted from the Nurse Incivility Scale (NIS), the NDNQI Index of Work Satisfaction Nurse Interaction subscale, and two open-ended questions. RESULTS Two subscale means were significant. The remaining NIS subscale means and the NDNQI Nurse Interaction subscale decreased across three time points (initial, immediate postintervention and final survey conducted six weeks postintervention). Qualitative data supported findings. NDNQI Index of Work Satisfaction had no effect on nurse job satisfaction. CONCLUSION The intervention was effective in increasing nurses' recognition of incivility and ability to confront it. Perceived instances of incivility decreased over time. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT This educational intervention advances civility in nursing practice, promoting a positive work environment in which patients are cared for in a safe and efficient manner.
Flame Recognition in Video Images with Color and Dynamic Features of Flames

Recently, video based flame detection has become an important approach for early detection of fire under complex circumstances. However, the detection accuracy of most existing methods remains unsatisfactory. In this paper, we develop a new algorithm that can significantly improve the accuracy of flame detection in video images. The algorithm segments a video image and obtains areas that may contain flames by combining a two-step clustering based approach with the RGB color model. A few new dynamic and hierarchical features associated with the suspected regions, including the flicker frequency of flames, are then extracted and analyzed. The algorithm determines whether a suspected region contains flames or not by processing the color and dynamic features of the area altogether with a BP neural network. Testing results show that this algorithm is robust and efficient, and is able to significantly reduce the probability of false alarms.
Conception, réalisation et commande d'un microrobot numérique, planaire, non redondant et en technologie MEMS

Le developpement recent en micro- et nanotechnologies (dans des domaines tels que l’horlogerie,l’electronique, l’optique, le biomedical, . . .) a cree un fort besoin concernant des systemes capables de manipuler et d’assembler des objets de plus en plus petits. La conception de stations robotisees, capables de manipuler des micro-objets, s’est multipliee a travers le monde, faisant intervenir des actionneurs de haute resolution adaptes au micro monde, ainsi que de nombreux capteurs.Ce memoire ouvre une nouvelle voie pour le developpement de robots de micromanipulation. Il presente la conception, la modelisation, la fabrication et la commande d’un nouveau concept de micro robot, le DiMiBot (Digital MicroroBot). Il s’agit du premier micro robot numerique – inspire ´e de l’ ´electronique numerique – qui fait intervenir des actionneurs binaires pour generer un deplacement discret d’une grande precision sans necessiter de capteur (en boucle ouverte). Ces actionneurs binaires extremement repetables et robustes (les modules bistables), assurent chacun un deplacement precis de 25 μm. Ils sont associes de maniere monolithique a une architecture robotique parallele flexible, assurant la generation d’un espace de travail discret, dont les 2N (N est le nombre de modules bistables utilises au sein du DiMiBot) positions distincts atteignables sont parfaitement stables, repetables et robustes mecaniquement. Elles sont reparties de maniere homogene dans un carre de 10,5 μm de cote La micro fabrication du premier prototype de micro robot numerique en silicium – faisant suite `a un dimensionnement minutieux en element finis – a ete realise au sein de la salle blanche MIMENTO de l’institut FEMTO-ST. Ce DiMiBot possedant 4 modules bistables assure une resolution de 3,5 μm pour une repetable de chacune des 16 positions atteignables de 90 nm.
A vascular access and midlines program can decrease hospital-acquired central line-associated bloodstream infections and cost to a community-based hospital

Background We propose that substituting central lines with midlines can help reduce the total number of central line catheter-days as well as central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), thereby reducing the associated costs and the resulting increased length of stay. A midline or vascular access program in a community hospital can bring about these positive changes. Objectives Our objective is to evaluate whether the institution of a midline program for vascular access at a community hospital can reduce the number of central line catheter-days and the associated CLABSI rate, incidence, and cost. Materials and methods We collected data on the number of central line catheter-days per year starting from 2012. We also collected data on the total number of patient-days during this period and the number of CLABSIs. We started Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-based recommendations to help decrease CLABSIs in June 2014; this included the use of the central venous catheters (CVC) insertion bundles and CVC maintenance bundle. Chlorhexidine baths were also given to all patients with central lines. In June 2015, we started a midline program and tracked data till June 2017. We then compared the infection rates during these periods. Results We conclude that instituting CDC recommendations to decrease CLABSIs did bring down the CLABSI rate; this decrease was not statistically significant. However, the addition of the midline program to replace central lines whenever possible, combined with universal CDC recommendations, did result in a significant decrease in both the number of central line days per patient-day and the CLABSI rate. Conclusion We recommend hospitals to develop a midline program to help reduce the use of central line catheters when possible to reduce the total number of catheter-days and the CLABSI rate associated with them.
Niacin deficiency modulates genes involved in cancer: Are smokers at higher risk?

The role of niacin’s metabolite, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), in DNA repair via base‐excision repair pathway is well documented. We evaluated if niacin deficiency results in genetic instability in normal human fetal lung fibroblasts (MRC‐5), and further, does it leads to enhanced accumulation of cigarette smoke–induced genetic damage? MRC‐5 cells were grown discretely in niacin‐proficient/deficient media, and exposed to nicotine‐derived nitrosamine ketone (NNK, a cigarette smoke carcinogen). Niacin deficiency abated the NAD polymerization, augmented the spontaneous induction of micronuclei (MN) and chromosomal aberrations (CA) and raised the expression of 10 genes and suppressed 12 genes involved in different biological functions. NNK exposure resulted in genetic damage as measured by the induction of MN and CA in cells grown in niacin‐proficient medium, but the damage became practically marked when niacin‐deficient cells were exposed to NNK. NNK exposure raised the expression of 16 genes and suppressed the expression of 56 genes in cells grown in niacin‐proficient medium. NNK exposure to niacin‐deficient cells raised the expression of eight genes including genes crucial in promoting cancer such as FGFR3 and DUSP1 and suppressed the expression of 33 genes, including genes crucial in preventing the onset and progression of cancer like RASSF2, JUP, and IL24, in comparison with the cells grown in niacin‐proficient medium. Overall, niacin deficiency interferes with the DNA damage repair process induced by chemical carcinogens like NNK, and niacin‐deficient population are at the higher risk of genetic instability caused by cigarette smoke carcinogen NNK.
Multidisziplinäre Entwicklung von neuen Türkonzepten als ein Teil einer ergonomisch optimierten Ein-/Ausstiegsunterstützung

Gerade in engen Parksituationen stossen konventionelle Fahrzeugturkonzepte sowohl in ihrer Bedienbarkeit als auch unter ergonomischen Gesichtspunkten schnell an ihre Grenzen. Bedingt durch den geringen Arbeitsraum kann eine normale Fahrzeugture zum einen nur unzureichend betatigt werden, zum anderen steigt der Diskomfort wahrend des Ein- /Ausstiegvorgangs sehr stark an. Ziel dieses Projektes ist daher die Konzeption und Entwicklung neuartiger, multikinematischer Turkonzepte, welche den hohen Diskomfort in engen Parklucken reduzieren und eine Turbedienung erleichtern. Multikinematische Turkonzepte erlauben eine Vielzahl von Offnungsmoglichkeiten, die situativ angepasst werden konnen. Um eine intuitive und komfortable Bedienung solcher Turen sicherzustellen, wird jedoch eine fortgeschrittene Regelung benotigt. Dazu wurde ein omnidirektionales Kamerasystem eingesetzt, das Umgebungsinformationen zur Verfugung stellt, auf dessen Grundlage eine geeignete Unterstutzung des Bedieners moglich ist. Zur Ermittlung geeigneter Turkonzepte und zur Bestimmung intuitiver und komfortbeeinflussender Faktoren wird eine Versuchsreihe zur Bedienung von sieben realen Fahrzeugturen vorgestellt. Aufbauend auf diesen Ergebnissen werden mit Hilfe von Simulationen und eines digitalen Menschmodells geeignete Turbewegungen ausgewahlt, fur die mit Unterstutzung eines neu entwickelten Softwarewerkzeuges Turkonzepte generisch erzeugt werden. Diese Turkonzepte werden unter Berucksichtigung von Aktuierung und Regelung an einem VR-Versuchsstand haptisch und visuell simuliert. Auf dieser Grundlage wird ein Versuch mit 18 Probanden durchgefuhrt, um funf Konzepte hinsichtlich bedienkomfortbeeinflussenden Faktoren und Intuitivitat bewerten zu lassen. Die besten zwei Konzepte werden schliesslich prototypisch realisiert. Anhand der Erfahrung mit der Entwicklung des beschriebenen Systems wird weiterhin eine generische Methodik zur Prozessmodellierung vorgestellt, welches die multidisziplinare Entwicklung mechatronischer Projekte unterstutzt.
I've Seen This Before: Sharing Cyber-Physical Incident Knowledge

An increasing number of security incidents in cyber-physical systems (CPSs) arise from the exploitation of cyber and physical components of such systems. Knowledge about how such incidents arose is rarely captured and used systematically to enhance security and support future incident investigations. In this paper, we propose an approach to represent and share incidents knowledge. Our approach captures incident patterns – common aspects of incidents occurring in different CPSs. Our approach then allows incident patterns to be instantiated for different systems to assess if and how such patterns can manifest again. To support our approach, we provide two meta-models that represent, respectively, incident patterns and the cyber-physical systems themselves. The incident meta-model captures the characteristics of incidents, such as assets and activities. The system meta-model captures cyber and physical components and their interactions, which may be exploited during an incident. We demonstrate the feasibility of our approach in the application domain of smart buildings, by tailoring the system meta-model to represent components and interactions in this domain.