Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Medical and Nursing Care of the Child on Mechanical Circulatory Support

Objectives: To review the medical and nursing care of children receiving mechanical circulatory support as part of the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Society/Extracorporeal Life Support Organization Joint Statement on Mechanical Circulatory Support. Data Sources/Study Selection/Data Extraction/Data Synthesis: This is a general review of current issues of medical and nursing care of children on mechanical circulatory support. It consists of knowledge gained from practical experience combined with supporting evidence and/or discussion of controversies for which evidence exists or is inconclusive. The scope of this review includes assessment and monitoring, cardiovascular, pulmonary, and renal and fluid management, as well as infection prevention and treatment, neurological, and nutritional considerations. Physical and psychological care is discussed, as well as ethical and practical issues regarding termination of support. Conclusions: There are unique aspects to the medical and nursing care of a patient requiring mechanical circulatory support. Preserving the possibility for cardiac recovery when possible and preventing damage to noncardiac organs are essential to maximizing the probability that patients will have quality survival following support with a mechanical circulatory support device.
Sequential versus Concomitant Surgery of Glaucoma Drainage Implant and Boston Keratoprosthesis Type 1

Purpose To compare sequential versus concomitant surgery of glaucoma drainage implant (GDI) and Boston keratoprosthesis type 1 (KPro). Methods Patients who received GDI and KPro in the same eye were divided into 2 groups: GDI placement prior to KPro surgery (sequential group) or GDI placement concomitant with KPro surgery (concomitant group). Main outcome measures were GDI failure, defined as intraocular pressure (IOP) >21 mm Hg, less than a 20% IOP reduction from baseline, or IOP <5 mm Hg on 2 consecutive follow-up visits, any reoperation for glaucoma, or loss of light perception; best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA); and surgical complications. Results Thirty-five eyes were included in the study: 17 in the sequential group and 18 in the concomitant group. The cumulative incidence of failure after 5 years of follow-up was 23.5% in the sequential group and 27.8% in the concomitant group (p = 0.250). Mean BCVA was significantly better in the concomitant group after 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, and at the last follow-up (p<0.05). Both groups had similar rates of complications (p = 1.000). The most frequent complication was GDI erosion, which occurred in 23.5% (n = 4/17) in the sequential group and in 27.8% (n = 5/18) in the concomitant group (p = 1.000). Conclusions Glaucoma drainage implant placement at the time of KPro surgery had similar cumulative incidence of failure, but significantly favorable visual outcomes, compared to sequential surgeries. The most frequent complication was GDI erosion, occurring in approximately one fourth of the patients.
Intense Laser Plasma interactions with kHz , mJ class lasers

Mass-limited targets when impinged with moderate intensity (10^16 W/cm^2) femtosecond lasers offer a novel fundamental system for study of laser plasmas in the absence of the usual energy dissipation channels of bulk condensed media. When the targets are mesoscopic in nature with dimensions of the size similar to wavelength of the laser, coupling of laser energy is expected to be enhanced through linear and nonlinear Mie scattering type mechanisms [1].
Demographics of abusive head trauma in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

OBJECT The aim of this study was to characterize the prevalence and demographic features of abusive head trauma (AHT) among infants and children < 36 months of age in Pennsylvania. METHODS The authors included all cases of substantiated AHT involving children < 36 months of age in Pennsylvania between 1996 and 2002 that had been reported to a statewide registry. Demographic information was derived from child abuse reports and birth certificates; the study cohort was contrasted with all infants born in Pennsylvania during the same period. RESULTS The study identified 327 cases. The incidence was 14.7 cases (95% confidence interval 13.1-16.5) per 100,000 person-years for the first 2 years of life with a higher incidence during the 1st year (26.0 cases per 100,000 person-years) than the 2nd year (3.4 cases per 100,000 person-years). The incidence was similar among metropolitan, non-metropolitan, and rural counties. Significantly more cases occurred during the holiday months (October-December). The median age of victims was 4.1 months. Both victims and perpetrators were more commonly male (58.4% of victims, and 70% of identified perpetrators). Compared with the entire population of Pennsylvania parents, the parents of the study cohort were more likely to be younger, less educated, and unmarried. Both mothers and fathers were more often African-American and fathers more often Hispanic. Finally, mothers more often smoked during pregnancy, sought prenatal care later in the pregnancy, and delivered low birth weight infants. CONCLUSIONS This population-based study of abusive head injuries throughout an entire state adds significantly to the growing knowledge about this condition. The results suggests that families of infants with abusive head injuries have significantly different demographic features compared with the general population, although which of these variables is independently significant cannot be ascertained from this study and require further investigation.
Non-Equivalent Ligand Selectivity of Agonist Sites in (a4b2)2a4 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors: A Key Determinant of Agonist Efficacy

2155-Pos Board B292 Non-Equivalent Ligand Selectivity of Agonist Sites in (a4b2)2a4 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors: A Key Determinant of Agonist Efficacy Simone Mazzaferro, Federica Gasparri, karina New, Constanza Alcaino, Isabel Bermudez. Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom. The a4b2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) is the most abundant nAChR type in the brain, and this type plays a pivotal role in the reinforcing and rewarding effects of nicotine. The a4b2 nAChR exists in alternate (a4b2)2 a4 and (a4b2)2b2 forms, which are activated by agonists with strikingly differing efficacies. Recent breakthroughs have identified an additional operational agonist binding site in the (a4b2)2a4 nAChR that increases the maximal responses to ACh. In this study, we characterised the ligand selectivity of the individual agonist sites of the (a4b2)2a4 nAChR to determine whether differences in agonist selectivity influences agonist efficacy. Applying the substituted cysteine accessibility method to individual agonist sites in concatenated (a4b2)2a4 receptors, we determined the agonist selectivity of the agonist sites of the (a4b2)2a4 receptor. We show that (a) the rate of covalent modification of substituted cysteines depends on the subunit interface at which the modification occurs and b) that agonists such as sazetidine-A and TC-2559 are excluded from the site at the a4/a4 interface. Given that additional binding to the agonist site in the a4/a4 interface, increases ACh efficacy and that agonists excluded from the agonist site at the a4/a4 interface behave as partial agonists, we conclude that the ability to engage all agonist sites in (a4b2)2a4 nAChRs is a key determinant of agonist efficacy. The findings add another level of complexity to the structural mechanisms that govern agonist efficacy in heteromeric nAChRs and related ligand gated ion channels.
Compact Microstrip Branchline Coupler with Wideband Harmonic Suppression

─ one compact microstrip branch-line coupler with wideband harmonic suppression is presented in this letter. The new structure has two significant advantages, which not only effectively reduces the occupied area to 26.5% of the conventional branch-line coupler at 0.96 GHz, but also has high 6 harmonic suppression performance. The measured results indicate that a bandwidth of more than 120 MHz has been achieved while the phase difference between S21 and S31 is within 90° ± 1°. The measured bandwidth of |S21| and |S31| within 3 ± 0.5 dB are 145 MHz and 150MHz, respectively. Furthermore, the measured insertion loss is comparable to that of a conventional branch-line coupler. The new coupler can be easily implemented by using the standard printed-circuit-board etching processes and is very useful for wireless communication systems. Index Terms ─ Branch-line coupler, microstrip, harmonic suppression.
Pharmacokinetics of terbinafine after oral administration of a single dose to Hispaniolan Amazon parrots (Amazona ventralis).

OBJECTIVE To determine pharmacokinetics after oral administration of a single dose of terbinafine hydrochloride to Hispaniolan Amazon parrots (Amazona ventralis). ANIMALS 6 healthy adult Hispaniolan Amazon parrots. PROCEDURES A single dose of terbinafine hydrochloride (60 mg/kg) was administered orally to each bird, which was followed immediately by administration of a commercially available gavage feeding formula. Blood samples were collected at the time of drug administration (time 0) and 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 hours after drug administration. Plasma concentrations of terbinafine were determined via high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS Data from 1 bird were discarded because of a possible error in the dose of drug administered. After oral administration of terbinafine, the maximum concentration for the remaining 5 fed birds ranged from 109 to 671 ng/mL, half-life ranged from 6 to 13.5 hours, and time to the maximum concentration ranged from 2 to 8 hours. No adverse effects were observed. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Analysis of the results indicated that oral administration of terbinafine at a dose of 60 mg/kg to Amazon parrots did not result in adverse effects and may be potentially of use in the treatment of aspergillosis. Additional studies are needed to determine treatment efficacy and safety.
Three-dimensional Reconstruction of Human Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator Chloride Channel Revealed an Ellipsoidal Structure with Orifices beneath the Putative Transmembrane Domain*

The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) chloride channel is a membrane-integral protein that belongs to an ATP-binding cassette superfamily. Mutations in the CFTR gene cause cystic fibrosis in which salt, water, and protein transports are defective in various tissues. Here we expressed wild-type human CFTR as a FLAG-fused protein in HEK293 cells heterologously and purified it in three steps: anti-FLAG and wheat germ agglutinin affinity chromatographies and size exclusion chromatography. The stoichiometry of the protein was analyzed using various biochemical approaches, including chemical cross-linking, blue-native PAGE, size exclusion chromatography, and electron microscopy (EM) observation of antibody-decorated CFTR. All these data support a dimeric assembly of CFTR. Using 5,039 automatically selected particles from negatively stained EM images, the three-dimensional structure of CFTR was reconstructed at 2-nm resolution assuming a 2-fold symmetry. CFTR, presumably in a closed state, was shown to be an ellipsoidal particle with dimensions of 120 × 106 × 162Å. It comprises a small dome-shaped extracellular and membrane-spanning domain and a large cytoplasmic domain with orifices beneath the putative transmembrane domain. EM observation of CFTR·anti-regulatory domain antibody complex confirmed that two regulatory domains are located around the bottom end of the larger oval cytoplasmic domain.
Pharmacological Evaluation of Gut Modulatory and Bronchodilator Activities of Achyranthes aspera Linn.

Achyranthes aspera L. is traditionally used to relieve constipation, diarrhea, and asthma. Its crude extract (Aa.Cr) was evaluated through in vivo and ex vivo experiments to rationalize these medicinal uses of A. aspera and to provide their scientific basis. Aa.Cr, at 3 and 10 mg/kg, increased fecal output, similar to castor oil, whereas at 30, 100, 300, and 700 mg/kg, it protected against castor oil‐induced diarrhea in mice when administered orally. Aa.Cr caused spasmogenic effect on rabbit jejunum and guinea pig ileum preparations, which was partially inhibited by atropine while completely blocked by cyproheptadine preincubation. Aa.Cr also relaxed high K+ (80 mM)‐induced contraction in rabbit jejunum. Aa.Cr inhibited CCh (100 μg/kg)‐induced bronchospasm in rats, similar to aminophylline. Like dicyclomine, Aa.Cr relaxed high K+ and CCh (1 μM)‐induced contractions in guinea pig trachea and caused rightwards parallel shift of CCh concentration–response curves at the lower concentrations followed by non‐parallel shift at the higher concentrations. On activity‐directed fractionation, spasmogenic and spasmolytic activities of Aa.Cr were concentrated in aqueous and organic fraction, respectively. This study suggests the presence of dose‐specific laxative and antidiarrheal effects in A. aspera, possibly mediated through cyproheptadine‐sensitive receptors and dual cholinergic and calcium channel blockade, respectively. The latter combination is also a suggested mechanism underlying its bronchodilator effect. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Putative role of TNF-α, interleukin-8 and ICAM-1 as indicators of an early inflammatory reaction after burn: a morphological and immunohistochemical study of lung tissue of fire victims

Aims To investigate incipient inflammatory changes as first steps in the development of a systematic inflammatory response syndrome in the lungs of burn victims. Methods At the Institute of Legal Medicine of the University Hospital of Freiburg a collection of 40 forensic autopsy cases of burn victims was established that had died within 1 h after fire exposure. This group was compared with a total of 48 autopsy cases in three control groups (postmortem burns vs deaths from haemorrhagic shock vs railway suicide deaths). In all cases, immunohistochemical studies of lung tissue probes were performed to detect the presence of pro-inflammatory mediators using antibodies against tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin-8 (IL-8) and inter-cellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1). Results The lungs of burn victims showed a significantly higher extent of intra-alveolar oedema than the other groups. Immunohistochemically, macrophages in all groups mostly showed a distinct expression of TNF-α, but not of IL-8 or ICAM-1. Interestingly, intravascular erythrocytes often showed a positivity of TNF-α that was strongest in the group of burn victims and differed significantly from all the control groups. Conclusions In burn victims with short survival times of ≤1 h after fire exposure, the immunohistochemical expression profiles of TNF-α, IL-8 and ICAM-1 in the lungs were not altered enough to prove an instant inflammatory reaction in these cases. Nevertheless, the positive reaction of TNF-α in erythrocytes of burn victims may indicate the beginning of a non-specific immune response to fire-induced inhalation trauma.
Design and Characterization of a 2-DOF MEMS Ultrasonic Energy Harvester With Triangular Electrostatic Electrodes

This letter presents a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) based energy harvester designed for applications such as the powering of implanted biomedical devices. The harvester is mechanically excited by an external source of ultrasonic waves with triangular electrostatic electrodes being used to produce electrical power from the vibrations of the system's proof mass. Comparisons are made with a previous MEMS harvester that uses conventional comb-finger electrostatic electrodes to demonstrate that the triangular electrodes result in a more effective conversion process. Experimental characterization shows that the device produces an average power output of 27.6 nW, which corresponds to a 29% increase in power output over the conventional comb-finger device.
Proposal to Educational Games Virtualization

Games Virtualization is a process of digital versions creation for traditional/ physical games. In education, this process aims to create digital versions for traditional/ physical educational games, keeping the psychological and pedagogical concepts from the traditional version, as well, to associate these concepts to the contemporary game design elements. One of the main challenges in this field is the lack of a specific methodology. In this sense, this study proposes a methodology to Educational Game Virtualization, starting in the traditional game chosen and ending in the evaluation, release, and maintenance of game. An experiment was conducted in order to evaluate the methodology, the results show that the methodology was effective in the games’ development, helping the professionals to develop the games, keeping the pedagogical and psychological concepts of traditional games version, associating these concepts to contemporary game design elements. Key-words. educational games, educational game virtualization, methodology
De-acidification of fresh whole pineapple juice wine by secondary malolactic fermentation with lactic acid bacteria

This study aimed to evaluate the de-acidification of fresh whole pineapple juice wine by secondary malolactic fermentation with lactic acid bacteria (LAB). Pineapple juice was primary fermented with a mixed yeast of Saccharomycodes ludwigii S1 and Hanseniaspora uvarum TISTR5153 at 25–30oC for 7 d and then secondary LAB fermented with Oenococcus oeni LALVIN 31TM and/or O. oeni Enoferm® ALPHA at 25–30 oC for 4 weeks. Optimal secondary fermentation was found in the co-presence of both LAB, which decreased the malic acid content to 5.58 g/L forming lactic acid (4.39 g/L). The secondary ferment still contained 10% (v/v) alcohol but had a higher TTA (10.6 g/L) and pH (3.80). The sensory score of the wine after fermentation with both LAB isolates was increased and this was higher than when fermented with either LAB alone. Thus, secondary fermentation of pineapple wine using O. oeni could significantly improve the wine quality.
Adult body length and sexual size dimorphism in Lacerta agilis boemica ( Reptilia , Lacertidae ) : between-year and interlocality variation

Lacerta agilis boemica occupies a wide range of altitudes in the eastern North Caucasus (Russia). Snout-vent length (SVL) of 713 individuals of L. a. boemica from 9 localities was studied for inter-annual and microgeographic variation in adult body size and sexual size dimorphism (SSD). Means and 80th percentiles of SVL distributions were used in our comparisons and showed strongly correlated patterns of interlocality variation. The largest differences between samples from different years within populations were comparable in magnitude with those among localities. Among localities, adult SVL of males and females exhibited no increase with altitude. Moreover, males from the lowland localities reach a larger body length than those from the other sites. SSD was strongly associated with altitude, with the SSD index of Lovich & Gibbons (1992) varying from –0.07/–0.09 in the lowland sites to –0.03/0.02 in the mountains. Higher growth costs of reproduction in females and a stronger intrasexual selection in males in the lowland sites relative to their counterparts from higher elevations were proposed to explain the altitudinal variation in SSD in L. a. boemica.
Chapter 1 Porous Silicon

Porous silicon is a sponge-like structure of monocrystalline silicon which although accidentally discovered, soon became one of the most well-researched silicon structures. Its properties and applications have been the main subject of several books and more than a dozen review articles. However, a survey of porous silicon fabrication methods has not been published even though more than 20 different routes have been developed to synthesize this material. This chapter briefly discusses the properties of porous silicon, describes its fabrication methods, and introduces its applications.
Anti-Inflammatory Effect of an Apigenin-Maillard Reaction Product in Macrophages and Macrophage-Endothelial Cocultures

Chronic inflammation is involved in the progression of various diseases, while dietary flavonoids are reported to possess antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties against age-related diseases. Previously, an apigenin-Maillard reaction product, dimethylglyoxal apigenin (DMA), was identified by us and demonstrated to be antioxidative. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of DMA on advanced glycation end product- (AGE-) induced inflammation in macrophages and macrophage-endothelial cocultures. Results showed that DMA remarkably inhibited the mRNA and protein expression of receptor for AGEs (RAGE), thereby inhibiting the production of ROS and proinflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) α, interleukin (IL) 1, IL 6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein- (MCP-) 1 in RAW 264.7 cells. In the coculture system which was performed in the Boyden chamber, macrophage infiltration and adhesion to endothelial cells were significantly suppressed by DMA. Further study indicated that DMA decreased AGE-evoked IL 6 and MCP-1 secretion, which might be achieved through RAGE and its downstream-regulated transforming growth factor- (TGF-) β1 and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM) 1 expression in the coculture system. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that DMA, a thermally induced compound, has anti-inflammatory activity in both macrophages and macrophage-endothelial cocultures, offering a promising approach for slowing down the development of chronic diseases.
Contrast-enhanced MRI of the temporomandibular joint: findings in children without juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Background Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is highly sensitive for assessing temporomandibular joint (TMJ) involvement in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), but only sparse data exist on normal TMJ appearance in children. Purpose To determine normal MRI appearance and enhancement pattern of pediatric TMJ as basis for diagnosing early arthritis. Material and Methods In 27 children (age range, 1.2–16.8 years) without TMJ pathology undergoing head MRI, fat-saturated T2-weighted (T2W) and postcontrast fat-saturated T1-weighted (T1W) images sagittally aligned to the 54 TMJs, besides standard T1W and T2W images, were assessed for bony and soft tissue signal intensity (SI), the amount of perceptible joint fluid, and contrast enhancement (CE). Results Bone marrow SI and CE of the mandible were consistent with varying degrees of residual red marrow in 96% of joints. The mandibular condyles were mostly isointense to the ramus, but in 9% showed mild edema-like bone marrow SI and CE. Small amounts of intraarticular fluid were detected in 31% on T2W images without fat saturation and in 83% on T2W images with fat saturation as fine lines in the upper or lower joint compartment or as small dots in an articular recess. Seventy-nine percent of all TMJs showed intense joint enhancement on early images restricted to areas of intraarticular fluid. Conclusion Small amounts of joint fluid with intense CE are a common MRI finding in TMJs of children without JIA and therefore should not be considered diagnostic for early arthritis.