Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of mechanical ventilation in the prone position on clinical outcomes in patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Mechanical ventilation in the prone position is used to improve oxygenation in patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. We sought to determine the effect of mechanical ventilation in the prone position on mortality, oxygenation, duration of ventilation and adverse events in patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. Methods: In this systematic review we searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Science Citation Index Expanded for articles published from database inception to February 2008. We also conducted extensive manual searches and contacted experts. We extracted physiologic data and clinically relevant outcomes. Results: Thirteen trials that enrolled a total of 1559 patients met our inclusion criteria. Overall methodologic quality was good. In 10 of the trials (n = 1486) reporting this outcome, we found that prone positioning did not reduce mortality among hypoxemic patients (risk ratio [RR] 0.96, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.84–1.09; p = 0.52). The lack of effect of ventilation in the prone position on mortality was similar in trials of prolonged prone positioning and in patients with acute lung injury. In 8 of the trials (n = 633), the ratio of partial pressure of oxygen to inspired fraction of oxygen on day 1 was 34% higher among patients in the prone position than among those who remained supine (p < 0.001); these results were similar in 4 trials on day 2 and in 5 trials on day 3. In 9 trials (n = 1206), the ratio in patients assigned to the prone group remained 6% higher the morning after they returned to the supine position compared with patients assigned to the supine group (p = 0.07). Results were quantitatively similar but statistically significant in 7 trials on day 2 and in 6 trials on day 3 (p = 0.001). In 5 trials (n = 1004), prone positioning was associated with a reduced risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia (RR 0.81, 95% CI 0.66–0.99; p = 0.04) but not with a reduced duration of ventilation. In 6 trials (n = 504), prone positioning was associated with an increased risk of pressure ulcers (RR 1.36, 95% CI 1.07–1.71; p = 0.01). Most analyses found no to moderate between-trial heterogeneity. Interpretation: Mechanical ventilation in the prone position does not reduce mortality or duration of ventilation despite improved oxygenation and a decreased risk of pneumonia. Therefore, it should not be used routinely for acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. However, a sustained improvement in oxygenation may support the use of prone positioning in patients with very severe hypoxemia, who have not been well-studied to date.
The Rise of Structural Osteoarthritis of the Hip: Commentary on an article by William Z. Morris, MD, et al.: "Capital Femoral Growth Plate Extension Predicts Cam Morphology in a Longitudinal Radiographic Study".

By the creative use of 80-year-old serial radiographs from the longitudinal Brush growth study in Cleveland, Ohio, Morris et al. have made an important contribution to our understanding of the evolution of proximal femoral cam morphology. One obvious potential limitation is the extrapolation of data from the 1940s to the present growth patterns of the proximal femoral physeal plate in adolescents, given improved nutrition, changing activity levels, and other unknown factors. However, the study participants were presumably children of parents with the financial capacity to have them monitored regularly by a pediatrician, and they participated in “health contests,” thereby permitting us to presume that they were comparable with today’s adolescents. Over fifty years ago, Murray1 described the “tilt deformity” of the femoral head and neck as a precursor of osteoarthritis of the hip. Numerous other studies have supported the theory that a substantial proportion of noninflammatory osteoarthritis is secondary to anatomical variations in hip development2. It is now 15 years since Ganz et al.3,4 linked …
DNA methyltransferase inhibitors in cancer: a chemical and therapeutic patent overview and selected clinical studies

Introduction: DNA methylation is an epigenetic modification that modulates gene expression without altering the DNA base sequence. It plays a crucial role in cancer by silencing tumor suppressor genes (TSG). The DNA methyltransferases (DNMT) are the enzymes that catalyze DNA methylation and they are interesting therapeutical targets since DNA methylation is reversible such that an aberrant hypermethylation of DNA can be reverted by inhibition of DNMTs. Today, two drugs are on the market for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome, azacitidine and decitabine. Areas covered: Here, we present a review of the patents describing the chemistry and biological activities of novel DNMT inhibitors and discuss select clinical studies. Expert opinion: DNMT inhibitors have shown efficacy in clinics. However, highly efficient and specific DNMT inhibitors have not yet been identified. Improving methods will certainly lead to the prediction of novel directly binding inhibitors in the future.
Isolation and characterization of bioluminescent bacteria from marine environments of Puerto Rico

Bacteria are the most abundant bioluminescent organisms. These species of bacteria are known to emit a blue/green light for communication purposes provoked by the enzyme luciferase, regulated by the lux gene operon. Recently, the bacterial bioluminescence genes (lux genes) have been applied in molecular biology and in environmental biotechnology as genetic reporters and contaminant biosensors, respectively. Being Puerto Rico a tropical island, with diverse marine ecosystems, we sought to search for novel bioluminescence species in order to test their potential use as genetic tools and bioindicators. General microbiological techniques were used for initial isolation and screening of 125 pure isolated bioluminescent bacteria. We accomplished the microbiological characterization and a preliminary molecular analysis. Ongoing experiments are in progress to amplify the 16sDNA of all the samples, and the lux region in order to compare the genes of the isolates. The 16S rDNA amplified genes will be sent to sequence. The DNA data will be analyzed in silico using available data bases. Furthermore, the potential of the isolated candidates for detection of specific water contaminants will also be evaluated.
Detection of a 60°-long Dwarf Galaxy Debris Stream

We report on a 60°-long stream of stars, extending from Ursa Major to Sextans, in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. The stream is approximately 2° wide and is clearly distinct from the northern tidal arm of the Sagittarius dwarf galaxy. The apparent width of the stream indicates a progenitor with a size and mass similar to that of a dwarf galaxy. The stream is about 21 kpc distant and appears to be oriented almost perpendicular to our line of sight. The visible portion of the stream does not pass near any known dwarf galaxies, although we cannot rule out that the stream may form the inner part of a known dwarf galaxy's orbit. The most likely explanation is that the stream constitutes the remains of a dwarf galaxy that has been completely disrupted at some point in the past. We also briefly report on the discovery of a diminutive Galactic satellite that lies near the projected path of the new stream but is unlikely to be related to it.
A Similarity-Based Prognostics Approach for Remaining Useful Life Prediction

Physics-based and data-driven models are the two major prognostic approaches in the literature with their own advantages and disadvantages. This paper presents a similarity-based data-driven prognostic methodology and efficiency analysis study on remaining useful life estimation results. A similarity-based prognostic model is modified to employ the most similar training samples for RUL estimations on each time instance. The presented model is tested on; Virkler’s fatigue crack growth dataset, a drilling process degradation dataset, and a sliding chair degradation of a turnout system dataset. Prediction performances are compared utilizing an evaluation metric. Efficiency analysis of optimization results show that the modified similarity-based model performs better than the original definition.
Elimination of Persistent Simian Hemorrhagic Fever (SHF) Virus Infection in Patas Monkeys

Abstract Devastating epizootics of simian hemorrhagic fever (SHF) have been iatrogenically initiated in captive colonies of macaque monkeys by strains of SHF virus emanating from asymptomatic persistently infected patas monkeys. We have found that persistently infected patas monkeys can be cleared of their infection by superinfection with strains of SHF virus which cause acute infections in this species. All 20 persistently infected animals subjected to this procedure have been cleared of their infection within 3 months. These animals were shown to be virus free by the most sensitive in vitro and in vivo tests currently available and periodic tests of serum from these animals over several years have shown them to remain virus free. Superinfection has in some cases caused some adverse clinical symptoms (anorexia, lethargy, facial edema, dehydration, and mild subcutaneous hemorrhages), but with supportive care, no fatal infections have occurred. Thus, superinfection with acute strains of SHF virus is a highly effective method of eliminating persistent infection in patas monkeys.
Measuring Exocytosis Rate Using Corrected Fluorescence Recovery After Photoconversion

Exocytosis plays crucial roles in regulating the distribution and function of plasma membrane (PM) and extracellular matrix proteins. However, measuring the exocytosis rate of a specific protein by conventional methods is very difficult because of exocytosis‐independent trafficking such as endocytosis, which also affects membrane protein distribution. Here, we describe a novel method, corrected fluorescence recovery after photoconversion, in which exocytosis‐dependent and ‐independent trafficking events are measured simultaneously to accurately determine exocytosis rate. In this method, the protein‐of‐interest is tagged with Dendra2, a green‐to‐red photoconvertible fluorescent protein. Following the photoconversion of PM‐localized Dendra2, both the recovery of the green signal and the changes in the photoconverted red signal are measured, and the rate of exocytosis is calculated from the changing rates of these two signals.
Vancomycin-resistant enterococcal infections.

Enterococci are best known as antibiotic-resistant opportunistic pathogens that are commonly recovered from patients who have received multiple courses of antibiotics and have been hospitalized for prolonged periods.1–6 These organisms were well established as a cause of endocarditis and urinary tract infections by the early 1900s,3 and members of the species Enterococcus faecalis were known to be a common cause of nosocomial infections by the early 1980s.3,7–9 The emergence of enterococci with resistance to vancomycin, seen predominantly in the species E. faecium, has been followed by an increase in the frequency with which this species is recovered.
Activity of the colistin–rifampicin combination against colistin-resistant, carbapenemase-producing Gram-negative bacteria*

Abstract Colistin (COL) is one of the few antimicrobials that retain activity against carbapenemase-producing Gram-negative bacteria (GNB). However, the emergence of COL resistance has renewed the use of combination therapy. The aim of this study was to determine the activity of COL plus rifampicin (RIF) against clinical isolates of COL-resistant, carbapenemase-producing GNB. We employed 36 COL-resistant carbapenemase-producing isolates (27 Klebsiella pneumoniae, 5 Serratia marcescens, and 4 Acinetobacter baumannii) belonging to 36 patients. E-test/agar dilution of all strains was performed with E-test strips of COL placed on agar plates with and without RIF. In 11 patients, the synergy was confirmed by time-kill studies. Synergy was detected in 34 isolates, whereas indifference was detected in two S. marcescens. The E-test/agar dilution method showed comparable results to the time-kill studies. Seven patients infected with these isolates (two meningitis, four sepsis, and one urinary tract infection) were treated with the combination successfully.
Circulating and adipose tissue matrix metalloproteinases in cardiometabolic risk environments: pathophysiological aspects

Abstract Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play an important role during physiological tissue remodeling in embryonic development and angiogenesis, as well as in pathophysiological conditions such as obesity and development and vulnerability of atherosclerotic plaque. Moreover, MMP circulating levels have emerged as potential biomarkers of cardiovascular disease. MMP expression and activity are regulated by different factors such as insulin resistance and obesity. Expanded fat tissue has been demonstrated to be an active organ, where MMPs also exert a role in adipogenesis, angiogenesis, and proliferation of extracellular matrix (ECM). However, the lack of association between adipose tissue and plasma levels of some MMPs, specifically MMP-2 and MMP-9, suggests that this tissue is not a major contributor to circulating gelatinases. MMPs are also co-expressed or co-repressed in response to inflammatory adipocytokines, like adiponectin and leptin. Adiponectin may also play a protective role in plaque rupture through selectively increasing the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP) expression. Leptin induces the expression of MMP-2 activators as well as the expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, and TIMP-1 in different human cells. Furthermore, sex hormones also participate in MMP regulation. In postmenopausal women, hormone replacement therapy produces an increase in MMP activity, leading to a breakdown in ECM homeostasis and accelerated progression of vascular pathologies. Besides, in men, an inverse relationship between testosterone levels and MMP-2 activity has been described. It is still necessary to go forward in the study of MMPs in different metabolic situations to corroborate their role as vulnerable plaque biomarkers.
Rosette formation of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes from patients with acute malaria

Noninfected erythrocytes form rosettes around those infected with trophozoites and schizonts of Plasmodium falciparum in vitro. These rosettes are thought to contribute to the microvascular obstruction which underlies the pathophysiology of severe falciparum malaria. To determine whether the percentage of infected erythrocytes forming rosettes for a parasite isolates in vitro correlates with the in vivo severity of disease, we studied the rosette formation behavior of 35 isolates of P. falciparum from patients with uncomplicated, severe, and cerebral malaria. There was a wide variation in the degree of rosette formation (0 to 53%). Four parasite isolates formed rosettes well (30 to 53%), and seven isolates formed rosettes poorly or not at all (0 to 5%), while the majority of the isolates formed rosettes to various degrees between these two extremes. In this relatively small sample of patients, we were unable to demonstrate a significant association between in vitro rosette formation and patients with cerebral malaria or conscious patients with significant renal (serum creatinine greater than 200 mumol/liter) or hepatic dysfunction (serum bilirubin greater than 50 mumol/liter and aspartate aminotransferase greater than 50 Reitman-Frankel units). However, there was an inverse relationship between rosette formation and cytoadherence (r = -0.575, P less than 0.01) which could not be explained on the basis of steric hindrance. This finding suggests that cytoadherence and rosette formation properties are intrinsic to the parasites, with isolates having a greater propensity for one or the other but not both. Further studies are required to establish the occurrence and pathophysiological role of rosette formation in vivo.
TCP Input Threading in High Performance Distributed Systems

An electronic circuit that controls the operation of a motor whose output shaft drives an impeller for pumping a liquid includes a common grounded electrode positioned for immersion in the liquid, and a stopping electrode positioned above the common electrode. A first, latching transistor is connected to the stopping electrode which is connected to ground through the liquid when the level thereof reaches or exceeds the level of the stopping electrode. A second, power transistor operates the motor when the second transistor conducts in response to its grounding, the second transistor being connected to the starting electrode so as to be grounded when the level of liquid reaches the starting electrode. Finally, an interconnection is provided connecting the second transistor to the first transistor such that initial conduction of the second transistor effects conduction of the first transistor which maintains the second transistor in its conducting state after the liquid level drops below the level of the starting electrode.
Can an education program reduce CLABSIs?

According to The Joint Commission, central line-associated bloodstream infections (clabsis) are healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) that occur in an estimated 250,000 to 500,000 patients annually in the United States, have a 10% to 30% mortality, and burden the healthcare system with an additional $300 million to $2.3 billion a year.1 Inpatient payments will now be tied in part to clabsi rates as measured in the ICUs and nurseries of acute care hospitals. Additionally, National Patient
Deposited in DRO : 05 September 2017 Version of attached le : Published Version Peer-review status of attached

Publisher's copyright statement: Reprinted with permission from the American Physical Society: Thomas, I. O. , Clark, S. J. Lancaster, T. (2017). Exchange constants in molecule-based magnets derived from density functional methods. Physical Review B 96(9): 094403 c © 2017 by the American Physical Society. Readers may view, browse, and/or download material for temporary copying purposes only, provided these uses are for noncommercial personal purposes. Except as provided by law, this material may not be further reproduced, distributed, transmitted, modi ed, adapted, performed, displayed, published, or sold in whole or part, without prior written permission from the American Physical Society.
A ZVS bidirectional three-level DC-DC converter with direct current slew rate control of leakage inductance

A bidirectional isolated three-level DC-DC converter is proposed. Direct current slew rate (DCSR) control of leakage inductance is proposed to minimize conduction loss and current stress facing turns-ratios mismatch and parasitic parameters. Limitations of conventional PWM plus phase shift (PPS) control, comparison between PPS control and the proposed DCSR control are given. Besides, the voltage balance issue and the implementation of the proposed DCSR control are also given. With the proposed DCSR control, lower conduction loss, lower peak current can be obtained when the turns-ratio mismatch and parasitic parameters are considered. A 1kw prototype is built to verify the proposed topology employing the proposed DCSR control.
Cavity-Backed Self-Phased Circularly Polarized Multidipole Antenna With Wide Axial-Ratio Beamwidth

A cavity-backed, self-phased, circularly polarized (CP) antenna with a wide beamwidth based on multidipole is proposed for global positioning system applications. The radiator of this antenna consists of a pair of longer dipoles and a pair of shorter dipoles, which contribute to the CP radiation. A cavity-backed reflector is employed to achieve a unidirectional pattern with a wide axial-ratio (AR) beamwidth, high gain, and high front-to-back ratio (FBR). Measurements show that the proposed antenna achieves a wide impedance bandwidth of 52.4% from 1.24 to 2.12 GHz with a return loss of more than 15 dB and a 3-dB AR bandwidth of 7.55% from 1.53 to 1.65 GHz. Furthermore, a high FBR of more than 27.3 dB and a high gain of 7.7 ± 0.3 dBi are achieved within the 3-dB AR bandwidth. In particular, the antenna also shows a right-hand circular polarization radiation with extremely wide 3-dB AR beamwidth of 254° and 245° in the xoz- and yoz -planes at the center frequency of 1.58 GHz, respectively.
Use of a monoclonal antibody directed against the platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor in high-risk coronary angioplasty.

BACKGROUND Platelets are believed to play a part in the ischemic complications of coronary angioplasty, such as abrupt closure of the coronary vessel during or soon after the procedure. Accordingly, we evaluated the effect of a chimeric monoclonal-antibody Fab fragment (c7E3 Fab) directed against the platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor, in patients undergoing angioplasty who were at high risk for ischemic complications. This receptor is the final common pathway for platelet aggregation. METHODS In a prospective, randomized, double-blind trial, 2099 patients treated at 56 centers received a bolus and an infusion of placebo, a bolus of c7E3 Fab and an infusion of placebo, or a bolus and an infusion of c7E3 Fab. They were scheduled to undergo coronary angioplasty or atherectomy in high-risk clinical situations involving severe unstable angina, evolving acute myocardial infarction, or high-risk coronary morphologic characteristics. The primary study end point consisted of any of the following: death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, unplanned surgical revascularization, unplanned repeat percutaneous procedure, unplanned implantation of a coronary stent, or insertion of an intraaortic balloon pump for refractory ischemia. The numbers of end-point events were tabulated for 30 days after randomization. RESULTS As compared with placebo, the c7E3 Fab bolus and infusion resulted in a 35 percent reduction in the rate of the primary end point (12.8 vs. 8.3 percent, P = 0.008), whereas a 10 percent reduction was observed with the c7E3 Fab bolus alone (12.8 vs. 11.5 percent, P = 0.43). The reduction in the number of events with the c7E3 Fab bolus and infusion was consistent across the end points of unplanned revascularization procedures and nonfatal myocardial infarction. Bleeding episodes and transfusions were more frequent in the group given the c7E3 Fab bolus and infusion than in the other two groups. CONCLUSIONS Ischemic complications of coronary angioplasty and atherectomy were reduced with a monoclonal antibody directed against the platelet IIb/IIIa glycoprotein receptor, although the risk of bleeding was increased.
Quantitative Bacteriology in Adenoid Tissue

Over the past several years the indications for adenoidectomy have become increasingly controversial. Attempts to justify the operation in recurrent otitis media by correlating cultures of the nasopharynx with cultures of middle ear fluid have been inconclusive. Using quantitative bacteriologic techniques, we have studied the levels of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria per gram of tissue in adenoids removed from 48 patients. In seven patients, adenoidectomy was performed for nasal obstruction alone, in 17 patients for chronic serous otitis media, and in 24 patients for recurrent suppurative and serous otitis media. Using the criterion that greater than 105 organisms/gm of tissue constitutes infection, we found that 83% (20) of patients in the third group had infected adenoids, as opposed to only 15% (4) in the first and second group combined. Adenoid size measured radiographically did not correlate with the presence of infection. When recurrent suppurative and serous otitis media are unresponsive to medical therapy including antibiotics and decongestants, adenoidectomy should be considered in addition to myringotomy and ventilation tubes.