Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Management of infections of polytetrafluoroethylene-based mesh.

BACKGROUND Mandatory removal of infected expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) mesh has been advocated, leading to a high rate of hernia recurrence. Although salvage of infected mesh has been reported, the feasibility, efficacy, and long-term outcomes of this practice remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to delineate a protocol for salvaging infected ePTFE mesh. METHODS We reviewed retrospectively the records of patients with infections of ePTFE-based mesh placed for complex abdominal hernias at a tertiary referral center from October 1997 to September 2005. RESULTS Twenty-two patients were treated for ePTFE-based mesh infections. Fifteen patients had undergone laparoscopic repair, and seven patients had undergone open repair. The median time of presentation after repair was 70 days (range 10-480 days). Fourteen patients had an extensive mesh infection and underwent mesh excision, with twelve patients having attempted fascial closure; hernias recurred in all twelve patients. Two patients underwent mesh excision and repair with a biologic mesh. Eight patients had a limited area of mesh involvement; six of these patients underwent surgical debridement, partial excision of the mesh, re-approximation of the remaining mesh with non-absorbable suture and drains, and application of a vacuum-assisted closure system to the open portion of the wound. These patients received four weeks of antibiotics with delayed wound closure. Two patients underwent percutaneous drainage of a perigraft abscess. There was no hernia recurrence in seven patients with a mean follow-up of approximately three years. CONCLUSIONS Infections of ePTFE-based mesh can present in early or delayed fashion. Although mesh with extensive infection could not be salvaged, limited mesh infections could be managed successfully with percutaneous or open drainage and prolonged antibiotic courses.
Dietary carbohydrates and intestinal lipoprotein production

Purpose of review To review new evidence that dietary monosaccharides enhance intestinal chylomicron secretion. Recent findings There is abundant evidence linking diets that are high in carbohydrate content with hypertriglyceridemia. In addition, epidemiological studies reveal that the increase in dietary sugars and refined carbohydrates are associated with the rising prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Association studies, however, cannot prove causation. Mechanistic studies to date have focused on the link between carbohydrate ingestion and hepatic very low-density lipoprotein metabolism, with very little appreciation that dietary carbohydrates may also regulate intestinal lipid absorption and chylomicron secretion. We have recently studied this phenomenon in healthy humans and have shown that both glucose and fructose, infused concomitantly with a lipid emulsion directly into the duodenum and under conditions of a pancreatic clamp, stimulate chylomicron particle secretion. There are a paucity of data regarding the cellular and molecular mechanisms of this effect, which remains largely unknown and a matter of speculation. Summary Sugar in the diet enhances dietary fat absorption and chylomicron secretion. Whether this phenomenon contributes quantitatively to the well described hypertriglyceridemia that occurs with diets high in carbohydrate and low in fat requires further investigation, as does the underlying cellular mechanism. A thorough understanding of this phenomenon could provide useful information to optimize dietary guidelines.
Robust current control of grid-connected converters with LCL-filter

This paper presents a robust current controller for grid-connected converters with LCL-filter. The design of the controller considers uncertainty on the grid impedance parameter and includes an internal model structure that ensures asymptotic tracking of the sinusoidal current reference as well as disturbance rejection of the background voltage. A state feedback control law, which depends on the states of the converter and of the internal model controller, is considered here. Then, a robust design is developed on linear matrix inequalities framework. Results that verify the robust stability and good performance of the proposed current controller are presented for different cases of grid impedance at the point of common coupling.
Spontaneous and harmaline-stimulated Purkinje cell activity in rats with a genetic movement disorder

The genetically dystonic rat (dt) displays a complex movement disorder in the absence of morphological defects in the nervous system. This mutant is also insensitive to the tremorogenic effects of harmaline. Because harmaline is known to act on the cells of the inferior olive to induce activity at the tremor frequency in the olivocerebellobulbar pathway, this pathway has been investigated as a possible site of a defect in the dt rat. Biochemical studies suggested the presence of abnormalities at the level of the Purkinje cell or its afferent input. Thus, the present study investigated the harmaline response of Purkinje cells in dt rats and unaffected littermate controls with extracellular single-unit recording techniques. The spontaneous, simple spike and complex spike firing rates of dt rats were significantly lower than those of normal littermate controls. In normal rats, 2 responses to systemic harmaline injection were seen. Simple spikes were either completely suppressed for periods of 30–180 min, or were intermittently suppressed, pausing repeatedly for periods of 1–18 sec. Cells that showed complete suppression of simple spike activity also showed increased frequency and rhythmicity of complex spikes. In dt rats, intermittent simple spike responses were seen in a proportion (41%) similar to that in normal rats (53%). However, the proportion of cells showing high-frequency, rhythmic, complex spikes and complete suppression of simple spikes was low in the dt rats in comparison with littermate controls (18 versus 47%). In addition, 41% of the cells from dt rats displayed no change, or an anomalous change, in firing patterns in response to harmaline. Since the rhythmic activation of olivary neurons that results in the rhythmic, complex spike discharge of Purkinje cells is assumed to be responsible for the appearance of harmaline tremor, the failure of the dt rat to display tremor is most likely due to a failure at the olivocerebellar level, rather than at a site efferent to the cerebellum.
Advanced practice nursing roles: development, implementation and evaluation.

AIM The aim of this paper is to discuss six issues influencing the introduction of advanced practice nursing (APN) roles: confusion about APN terminology, failure to define clearly the roles and goals, role emphasis on physician replacement/support, underutilization of all APN role domains, failure to address environmental factors that undermine the roles, and limited use of evidence-based approaches to guide their development, implementation and evaluation. BACKGROUND Health care restructuring in many countries has led to substantial increases in the different types and number of APN roles. The extent to which these roles truly reflect advanced nursing practice is often unclear. The misuse of APN terminology, inconsistent titling and educational preparation, and misguided interpretations regarding the purpose of these roles pose barriers to realizing their full potential and impact on health. Role conflict, role overload, and variable stakeholder acceptance are frequently reported problems associated with the introduction of APN roles. DISCUSSION Challenges associated with the introduction of APN roles suggests that greater attention to and consistent use of the terms of the terms advanced nursing practice, advancement and advanced practice nursing is required. Advanced nursing practice refers to the work or what nurses do in the role and is important for defining the specific nature and goals for introducing new APN roles. The concept of advancement further defines the multi-dimensional scope and mandate of advanced nursing practice and distinguishes differences from other types of nursing roles. Advanced practice nursing refers to the whole field, involving a variety of such roles and the environments in which they exist. Many barriers to realizing the full potential of these roles could be avoided through better planning and efforts to address environmental factors, structures, and resources that are necessary for advanced nursing practice to take place. CONCLUSIONS Recommendations for the future introduction of APN roles can be drawn from this paper. These include the need for a collaborative, systematic and evidence-based process designed to provide data to support the need and goals for a clearly defined APN role, support a nursing orientation to advanced practice, promote full utilization of all the role domains, create environments that support role development, and provide ongoing evaluation of these roles related to predetermined goals.
Abstract 52: Purpose in Life and its Relationship to All-Cause Mortality and Cardiovascular Events: A Meta-Analysis

Background: Purpose in life is a component of psychological well-being and has been associated in some studies with reduced mortality. To assess the net impact of purpose in life on cardiovascular events, we performed a meta-analysis of all relevant studies. Methods: A systemic search was undertaken to identify all studies investigating the relationship between purpose in life, all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events. Unadjusted and adjusted effect estimates were pooled using random effects model. Results: 10 prospective studies (n =137,142, mean follow-up 8.5 years) were included in the analysis. A significant association was observed between having a higher purpose in life and reduced all-cause mortality [adjusted pooled relative risk (RR): 0.77 (CI: 0.69-0.86), p<0.001] and cardiovascular events [adjusted RR: 0.81 (CI: 0.73-0.90), p<0.001]. Subgroup analyses yielded similar results. Conclusions: Possessing a high sense of purpose in life is associated with a reduced risk for all-cause mortality a.
Rickettsioses in Japan and the Far East

Abstract: Three rickettsial diseases are known to exist in Japan currently: Japanese spotted fever (JSF), Tsutsugamushi disease (TD; scrub typhus), and Q fever. Since April 1999, the system for infection control and prevention in Japan has changed drastically. JSF, Q fever, and TD, as emerging infectious diseases, are designated as national notifiable diseases.The geographic distribution of JSF patients is along the coast of central and southwestern Japan, whereas TD and Q fever occur almost all over the country. The number of JSF patients reported was 216 cases during 1984–1998 and 268 cases, under the revised law, in 1999–2004. About 300–1000 cases of TD occur every year, and 7–46 cases of Q fever in 1999–2004. The number of cases of JSF and its endemic area are gradually increasing. There was only one fatality due to JSF until 2003, whereas two patients died of JSF in 2004, so JSF is still a life‐threatening disease in Japan. Treatment of fulminant JSF consists of prompt administration of a combination of tetracycline and quinolone. Recent tick surveys revealed that the most probable vectors of JSF are Haemophysalis flava and Haemophysalis hystericis. In addition to R. japonica, two serotypes or species of spotted fever group rickettsiae have been isolated from ticks in Japan; one is closely related to R. helvetica and the other is a new genotype of unknown genotype AT, which is closely related to a Slovakian genotype. These serotypes are of uncertain clinical significance. Epidemiology of rickettsioses in the Far East is mentioned briefly.
Corynebacterium macginleyi Has to Date Been Isolated Exclusively from Conjunctival Swabs

ABSTRACT Fifteen strains of Corynebacterium macginleyi were exclusively isolated from conjunctival swabs of patients with either conjunctivitis or corneal ulcers. Up to now, only three C. macginleyi strains had been described in the literature. The characteristics of the 15 patients from whom C. macginleyiwas isolated are outlined, characteristics useful for the identification of C. macginleyi are described, and the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of the species is provided.C. macginleyi is uniformly susceptible to penicillins, quinolones, and aminoglycosides. Although considered to be of rather low pathogenicity C. macginleyi seems to have the potential to cause superinfections in selected patients with ocular surface problems.
Baryonic Beta Dynamics: An Econophysical Model of Systematic Risk

Este artículo pretende la rehabilitación del modelo de valoración de activos financieros mediante la escisión de la beta, la unidad básica de riesgo sistemático, en componentes subatómicos (o “bariónicos”). Por analogía con la cromodinámica cuántica y otros aspectos del modelo estándar de la física de partículas, se bifurca la beta a ambos lados de los rendimientos medios y en distintos componentes que reflejan la volatilidad relativa y la correlación, así como en los efectos flujo de caja y tasa de descuento. La escisión del átomo del riesgo sistemático da respuesta a alguna de las más controvertidas anomalías (y puzles) in finanzas, tales como los rendimientos anómalos de las acciones de baja capitalización y de valor, la anomalía relativa a la baja volatilidad y el puzle de la prima de riesgo de las acciones.
β-Adrenergic Receptors and Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate Generation in Human Fetal Lung

ABSTRACT: We designed experiments to determine whether β-adrenergic receptors are present and functional in human fetal lung during the 2nd trimester of gestation. To determine the presence of β receptors, characterize their binding sites, and assess changes in receptor with gestational age, we performed radioligand binding assays with the specific, high-affinity β antagonist,I25I-iodocyanopindolol, in membrane particulates from the lungs of 2nd trimester abortuses (15-23 wk). Binding of 125I-iodocyanopindolol was saturable and of high affinity (dissociation constant = 40 pM). Binding was stereo selective as determined by competition studies with (—) and (+) stereoisomers of propranolol. Agonist affinities (isoproterenol > epinephrine » norepinephrine) were consistent with a predominance of 0-2 receptors; this predominance was confirmed by competition studies with the specific β-2 receptor antagonist ICI 118-551 (75% β-2, 25% β-1). The concentration of β-adrenergic receptors increased with gestational age. To assess the functional coupling of the β receptors, we tested the ability of receptor occupancy to activate adenylate cyclase. For this assay, we incubated minced human fetal lung with β agonists and determined the amount of cAMP generated. β Agonists stimulated cAMP generation more than 2-fold. We conclude that β- adrenergic receptors are present and functional in human fetal lung as early as the 2nd trimester.
A conceptual analysis of conditions for innovation in the process industries and a guiding framework for industry collaboration and further research

The process industries span multiple industrial sectors and constitute a substantial part of the entire manufacturing industry. In a review of the extant literature related to process-industrial production and innovation characteristics, the process industries construct has been analysed and redefined. Since the process industries are a large part of the LMT industries and of significant importance for late-industrialising countries and also constitute a considerable part of the most R&D investment-intensive companies worldwide, it is advocated that studying innovation in this cluster of industries in a cross-sectoral approach is an interesting avenue to follow. It was concluded that operations and innovation management in this family of industries will benefit from methods, tools and best practices more adapted to the process industry-specific context. As a consequence of these findings, a framework aiming at guiding and invigorating further process-industrial research was introduced together with policy implications.
Isolation of protozoa from water associated with a legionellosis outbreak and demonstration of intracellular multiplication of Legionella pneumophila

At the site of a legionellosis outbreak, amoebae and two ciliates, Tetrahymena sp. and Cyclidium sp. , were isolated from cooling-tower water containing Legionella pneumophila. The Tetrahymena sp. and the amoebae repeatedly showed the ability to support intracellular multiplication of L. pneumophila. Both were isolated from cooling towers specifically implicated as the source for the spread of legionellosis. These protozoa may be reservoirs supporting the survival and multiplication of virulent legionellae in cooling-tower water.
HOCO+ toward the galactic center

We have identified a weak thermal line, U42.767, which has been detected only in the directions toward Sgr A and Sgr B2, as the HOCO+ 2(02)-1(01) transition. Because of the proximity of this line to the SiO maser line at 42.821 GHz (J = 1-0 v = 2), it was observable simultaneously in similar to 43 GHz SiO maser searches at Nobeyama. From the past data of SiO maser surveys of infrared objects in the Galactic center, we created a map of emission distribution of HOCO+ in the Sgr A molecular cloud as well as maps of the (SiO)-Si-29 J = 1-0 v = 0 thermal emission and H53 alpha emission. The emission distribution of HOCO+ was quite similar to that of (SiO)-Si-29 emission. This suggests that an enhancement of the HOCO+ abundance in the galactic center is induced by shock activities, which release CO2 molecules frozen on grains into gases.
PERCEIVED EMPLOYABILITY OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN SOUTH AFRICA. IS IT RELATED TO EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS

The on-going changes in the workplace demand that the current and future generation of workers should be well trained since their knowledge, skills and positive attitude are essential to cope with the demands of the modern world. For this reason, university students, who are the future generation of the labour force, need to gear themselves up for a tough journey in the prevailing economic conditions. Previous research has revealed that the possession of employability skills has the potential to ascertain successful careers for students, as they will be more employable during their working life. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between employability skills of university students and their perceptions of employability. A quantitative research approach was adopted. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed among university students at four universities in South Africa and data were analysed from 485 participants. Exploratory factor analysis was used to establish the factors. Correlation analysis was used to establish whether there is any relationship between employability skills and perceived employability among university students in South Africa. The majority of students regard themselves as possessing employability skills. Furthermore, the findings revealed that there is a positive relationship between students’ employability skills and their perceptions of employability. The conclusion drawn from this finding is that university students, with the appropriate knowledge and skills acquired from different fields of study, are likely to have higher self-confidence and may, therefore, influence the state of the labour market. It is recommended that employability skills should be incorporated into the curriculum in order to enhance employability of students.
Relative importance of elements within the SL3-3 virus enhancer for T-cell specificity

Elements within the enhancer of T-lymphomagenic SL3-3 virus were examined for their contributions to transcriptional activity in T lymphocytes and non-T cells. A region containing two sequences homologous to the enhancer core consensus sequence and a sequence homologous to the binding site for factor LVb was found to have the largest effect on activity. Evidence was obtained that suggests that the activity of this region was greater in T lymphocytes than in non-T cells and that multiple elements within it were necessary for activity. A second region, containing sequences homologous to the binding site of factor NF-I and the glucocorticoid response element, had about a twofold effect on transcription in both T lymphocytes and non-T cell lines. The twofold effect was seen whether the region containing the cores and LVb site was present or not. These results indicate that the most important region for the specificity of SL3-3 enhancer activity and, presumably, for viral leukemogenicity comprises the core elements and the LVb site. DNA-protein-binding studies demonstrated that one cellular factor, S/A-CBF, bound to both core elements, while a second cellular factor, S-CBF, bound to only one of them. In combination with earlier studies, this indicates that cells contain multiple factors that bind to the critical region.
Subchondral bone of the human knee joint in aging and osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE Although most research investigating the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA) has focused on cartilage, it has been suggested that the subchondral bone (SCB) plays an important role in the development of OA. The relationships between aging, severity of OA change and the SCB thickness and density in the human knee joint specimens from a wide range of ages were examined. METHODS One hundred forty knee joints from 72 individuals (25 females, 45 males and 2 unknowns; average age 54.8 years, range 17 to 91 years) were obtained. The surface of the articular cartilage of both the femur and tibia was evaluated for gross morphological changes with a 4-point grading scale. The lateral and medial femoral condyles were cut along a sagittal plane and the tibia along a coronal plane to make bone and cartilage strip specimens. The strips were X-rayed onto mammography film and then scanned into a computer for assessment of SCB thickness and density using image analysis software. RESULTS Medial tibial SCB thickness was significantly lower among the elderly (age>69 years) than among the young (age<40) or the middle-aged (40 to 69) (P< 0.001 via ANOVA). Lateral tibial SCB thickness also showed the same trend of decreasing thickness with increasing age, but differences between age groups were not statistically significant. Tibial SCB thicknesses were significantly lower in arthritic grades compared to normal grades (P=0.008 in lateral and 0.017 in medial via ANOVA); in contrast, no significant differences between normal and arthritic were found in femoral SCB thicknesses. The arthritic group tended to have lower SCB densities than the normal group, but this was statistically significant in only the lateral femoral condyle. CONCLUSIONS The results obtained in the present study are not consistent with generally accepted notions of the relationship between subchondral bone thickness or density and OA. Subchondral bone changes are not etiologic for OA but, more likely, are secondary to loss of articular cartilage which precedes the appearance of subchondral sclerosis.