Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Healthcare-associated infections must stop: a breakthrough project aimed at reducing healthcare-associated infections in an intensive-care unit

Background Healthcare-associated infections are a problem for the Swedish healthcare system. In order to reduce the risk of acquiring healthcare-associated infections, the intensive-care unit attended a breakthrough project in 2004–2005, with the aims of studying methods of increasing patient safety and systematically improving treatment outcomes. The intensive-care unit had no system for registering infections, and the authors wanted to ascertain the prevalence of healthcare-associated infections, and register and prevent them. Objectives 40% reduction in healthcare-associated infections in ventilated patients. 100% of staff to implement basic hygiene routines. Design The method used was the Breakthrough Series, originally designed by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. The method aims to bridge the gap between what is known and what is done, spreading best-practice methods even faster. Many ideas for changes are tested on a small scale, with the basic rule that the small changes combine to create large changes that lead towards the final goal. Results The frequency of healthcare-associated infections in ventilated patients was reduced by 43%. Compliance with the basic hygiene routines improved greatly, from 72% on initial measurement to 98% today. Conclusion In order to reduce the risk of acquiring healthcare-associated infections and to increase patient safety, a continuous, systematic effort involving continual measurement and review is necessary.
Quantitative morphology of the corpus callosum in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

OBJECTIVE By means of quantitative neuroanatomic imaging the authors assessed the hypothesis that there are structural brain abnormalities relevant to frontal lobe circuitry in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHOD The midsagittal cross-sectional area of the corpus callosum, divided into seven sections, was measured from magnetic resonance images of 18 boys with ADHD and 18 carefully matched normal boys. RESULTS Two anterior regions, the rostrum and the rostral body, were found to have significantly smaller areas in the ADHD group. These areas correlated in the expected direction with teacher and parent ratings of hyperactivity/impulsivity. CONCLUSIONS This finding supports theories of abnormal frontal lobe development and function in ADHD.
Psychiatric battle casualties: An intra- and interwar comparison

Background Psychiatric casualties are recognised as an important and inevitable feature of modern warfare. At the beginning of the 20th century they were scarcely acknowledged and still less treated. Today, as a result of lessons learned in the First and Second World Wars, numbers can be predicted on the basis of battle intensity and effective clinical interventions applied. Aims To discover more about the factors that cause psychiatric casualties and their relationship to total battle casualties. Method A survey of historical War Office reports and the papers of Royal Army Medical Corps psychiatrists has provided both statistics and treatment strategies. Results Reported psychiatric casualties were low in the Boer War, influenced, in part, by the misdiagnosis of psychosomatic disorders. Their incidence rose appreciably in the First World War with the identification of shell-shock and neurasthenia. The Second World War saw the collection of accurate data, and combat stress was treated efficiently, although few soldiers returned to fighting units. Conclusions A constant relationship exists between the incidence of the total killed and wounded and the number of psychiatric casualties, mediated by the nature of the fighting and quality of the troops involved.
AEP Automatic Contingency Selector Branch Outage Impacts on Load Bus Voltage Profile

This paper presents the details of a computationally efficient automatic voltage contingency selection algorithm developed for implementation at the AEP's new system control center in Columbus, Ohio. The methodology is based on the quantification of the real-time system-wide impacts of the transmission branch (line and transformer) outages on the load bus voltage profile via the fast computation of a quadratic system Performance Index (PI) for every branch, and subsequent sorting of the results according to the severity of effects. The algorithm enjoys superior computational complexity compared to the previously published work. An application of the algorithm to the AEP EHV real-time data base is presented as an illustration. The essence of the algorithm is to quickly rank branch contingency events in such a manner that sequential contingency testing could be carried out (with an on-line full AC load flow function, for example), starting with the most severe contingency (in terms of causing abnormal voltage profile) and terminating when the sequence of contingencies no longer poses problems.
A systematic method of parameterisation estimation using data assimilation

In numerical weather prediction, parameterisations are used to simulate missing physics in the model. These can be due to a lack of scientific understanding or a lack of computing power available to address all the known physical processes. Parameterisations are sources of large uncertainty in a model as parameter values used in these parameterisations cannot be measured directly and hence are often not well known; and the parameterisations themselves are also approximations of the processes present in the true atmosphere. Whilst there are many efficient and effective methods for combined state/parameter estimation in data assimilation (DA), such as state augmentation, these are not effective at estimating the structure of parameterisations. A new method of parameterisation estimation is proposed that uses sequential DA methods to estimate errors in the numerical models at each space-time point for each model equation. These errors are then fitted to pre-determined functional forms of missing physics or parameterisations that are based upon prior information. We applied the method to a one-dimensional advection model with additive model error, and it is shown that the method can accurately estimate parameterisations, with consistent error estimates. Furthermore, it is shown how the method depends on the quality of the DA results. The results indicate that this new method is a powerful tool in systematic model improvement.
Redefining a Structural Variant of Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome mec, SCCmec Type VI

ABSTRACT Previously we identified a SCCmec variant similar in size to type IV but with a new ccrAB allotype, allotype 4. We addressed the epidemiological relevance of this variant and found it among several strains belonging to the same clone. We propose to rename this structural variant SCCmec type VI.
Splicing factor TRA2B is required for neural progenitor survival

Alternative splicing of pre‐mRNAs can rapidly regulate the expression of large groups of proteins. The RNA binding protein TRA2B (SFRS10) plays well‐established roles in developmentally regulated alternative splicing during Drosophila sexual differentiation. TRA2B is also essential for mammalian embryogenesis and is implicated in numerous human diseases. Precise regulation of alternative splicing is critical to the development and function of the central nervous system; however, the requirements for specific splicing factors in neurogenesis are poorly understood. This study focuses on the role of TRA2B in mammalian brain development. We show that, during murine cortical neurogenesis, TRA2B is expressed in both neural progenitors and cortical projection neurons. Using cortex‐specific Tra2b mutant mice, we show that TRA2B depletion results in apoptosis of the neural progenitor cells as well as disorganization of the cortical plate. Thus, TRA2B is essential for proper development of the cerebral cortex. J. Comp. Neurol. 522:372–392, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Ocular Dominance, Cognitive Strategy, and Sex Differences in Spatial Ability

Ocular dominance, handedness, and cognitive strategy were assessed in relation to performance by 146 undergraduates on the Vandenberg Mental Rotation Test. Higher spatial scores were found for right-eyed subjects, right-handed subjects, and males. These higher scoring groups reported using similar cognitive strategies. They counted blocks less, used their hands less, and pictured in their minds more than the left-eyed, left-handed and female subjects. Results confirm previous findings.
Support vector machine based electricity price forecasting for electricity markets utilising projected assessment of system adequacy data

In this paper we present an analysis of the results of a study into wholesale (spot) electricity price forecasting with Support Vector Machines (SVM) utilising past price and demand data and Projected Assessment of System Adequacy (PASA) data. The forecasting accuracy was evaluated using Australian National Electricity Market (NEM), New South Wales regional data over the year 2002. The inclusion of PASA data shows little improvement in forecasting accuracy.
Thermal analysis of high power LEDs at different drive-in current

This paper focuses on the thermal characterization of high power white light LED of 1W and 3W. Thermal transient method is used to measure the junction temperature and calculate the thermal resistance. The emphasis is placed upon the investigation of junction temperature in both the 1W and 3W LEDs for a limited range of drive-in current (500mA up to 1A) with the air velocity kept constant throughout the experiment. All investigations are based on the transient junction temperature measurements performed during the cooling process. The presented results include the cumulative structure functions and differential structure functions. It was found that the measured junction temperatures and thermal capacitances of both the LEDs increased with the input power (drive-in current). However, the thermal resistance decreased with the increase of drivein current.
Detection of Cowdria ruminantium in blood and bone marrow samples from clinically normal, free-ranging Zimbabwean wild ungulates

Cowdria ruminantium causes severe, often fatal disease in domestic ruminants, whereas wildlife species usually are not affected. Blood and bone marrow samples from healthy, free-ranging Zimbabwean ungulates were taken during translocation from areas harboring Amblyomma ticks and tested for the presence of C. ruminantium, using a PCR assay based on the C. ruminantium map1 gene. Positive reactions were obtained in tsessebe (Damaliscus lunatus), waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus), and impala (Aepyceros melampus). Wildlife species may therefore be a reservoir for C. ruminantium thus contributing to the spread of cowdriosis.
Piezoelectric micro-power generation interface circuits

New power conversion circuits to interface to a piezoelectric micro-power generator have been fabricated and tested. Circuit designs and measurement results are presented for a half-wave synchronous rectifier with voltage doubler, a full-wave synchronous rectifier and a passive full-wave rectifier circuit connected to the piezoelectric micro-power generator. The measured power efficiency of the synchronous rectifier and voltage doubler circuit fabricated in a 0.35-/spl mu/m CMOS process is 88% and the output power exceeds 2.5 /spl mu/W with a 100-k/spl Omega/, 100-nF load. The two full-wave rectifiers (passive and synchronous) were fabricated in a 0.25-/spl mu/m CMOS process. The measured peak power efficiency for the passive full-wave rectifier circuit is 66% with a 220-k/spl Omega/ load and supplies a peak output power of 16 /spl mu/W with a 68-k/spl Omega/ load. Although the active full-wave synchronous rectifier requires quiescent current for operation, it has a higher peak efficiency of 86% with an 82-k/spl Omega/ load, and also exhibits a higher peak power of 22 /spl mu/W with a 68-k/spl Omega/ load which is 37% higher than the passive full-wave rectifier.
Partitioning the heart: mechanisms of cardiac septation and valve development

Heart malformations are common congenital defects in humans. Many congenital heart defects involve anomalies in cardiac septation or valve development, and understanding the developmental mechanisms that underlie the formation of cardiac septal and valvular tissues thus has important implications for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of congenital heart disease. The development of heart septa and valves involves multiple types of progenitor cells that arise either within or outside the heart. Here, we review the morphogenetic events and genetic networks that regulate spatiotemporal interactions between the cells that give rise to septal and valvular tissues and hence partition the heart.
An investigation into the bioaccessibility of potassium in unprocessed fruits and vegetables

Epidemiological studies and clinical trials have consistently shown an inverse association between potassium intake and blood pressure. As a means of raising potassium intake within the UK population, an increase in the consumption of fruits and vegetables is strongly advocated. The aim of this study was to determine the bioaccessibility of potassium in these foods. A 10-day crossover feeding trial was performed on 11 healthy volunteers. For 5 days a diet providing most of the potassium in the form of unprocessed fruits and vegetables was followed by a diet in which the potassium was believed to be almost wholly bioaccessible, being derived from animal foods and fruit juices. The potassium and sodium of the diets and the urine were determined by chemical analysis: 96.3% of the potassium in the ‘high bioaccessible diet’ was recovered in the urine, compared with 76.8% from the diet rich in fruits and vegetables. This difference is attributed to the cellular structure of plant foods. The relatively poor bioaccessibility of potassium diminishes the perceived nutritive value of these foods with regard to potassium intake.
EFFECT OF DIMETHYL SULFOXIDE AND HYDROGEN PEROXIDE ON TISSUE GAS TENSIONS *

Tissue gas levels were measured in experimental skin flaps in rabbits, rats, and pigs. Devascularization of the flaps led to a fall in PO2 and a rise in PCO2 levels. Application of DMSO to ischemic rabbit flaps led to a fall in PCO2, DMSO and H2O2 led to a rise in PO2, an effect that lasted up to 90 min. Neither drug had an effect on the gas levels of flaps in either rats or pigs.
Cirrhosis decreases vasoconstrictor response to electrical field stimulation in rat mesenteric artery: role of calcitonin gene‐related peptide

Our study determines alterations in the vasoconstrictor response elicited by electric field stimulation (EFS) in mesenteric arteries from cirrhotic rats treated with CCl4, and how calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP) participates in this response. Vasoconstriction induced by EFS was analysed in the absence and presence of the CGRP receptor antagonist CGRP(8–37) in arterial segments from control and cirrhotic rats. The vasodilator response to exogenous CGRP was tested in both groups of rats, and the interference of the guanylate cyclase inhibitor ODQ or the KATP channel blocker glibenclamide was analysed only in segments from cirrhotic rats. The vasodilator response to the KATP channel opener pinacidil and to 8‐bromo‐cyclic GMP was tested. The KATP currents were recorded using the patch‐clamp technique. Expression of receptor activity‐modifying protein 1 (RAMP1), calcitonin receptor‐like receptor, Kir 6.1 and sulfonylurea receptor 2B (SUR2B) was also analysed. Release of CGRP and cGMP was measured. The EFS‐elicited vasoconstriction was less in segments from cirrhotic rats. The presence of CGRP(8–37) increased the EFS‐induced response only in segments from cirrhotic rats. The CGRP‐induced vasodilatation was greater in segments from cirrhotic rats, and was inhibited by ODQ or glibenclamide. Both pinacidil and 8‐bromo‐cyclic GMP induced a stronger vasodilator response in segments from cirrhotic rats. Pinacidil induced greater KATP currents in cirrhotic myocytes. Expression of RAMP1, calcitonin receptor‐like receptor, Kir 6.1 and SUR2B was not modified by liver cirrhosis. Liver cirrhosis increased CGRP release, but did not modify cGMP formation. The decreased vasoconstrictor response to EFS in cirrhosis is mediated by increased vasodilator response to CGRP, as well as increased KATP channel gating. This effect of CGRP may play a role in the splanchnic vasodilatation present in liver cirrhosis.
Photochemical Studies on Xanthurenic Acid¶

Abstract The tryptophan metabolite xanthurenic acid (Xan) has been isolated from aged human cataractous lenses. The photophysical properties of Xan were examined to determine if it is a potential chromophore for age-related cataractogenesis. We found that Xan produces singlet oxygen (ϕΔ = 0.17 in CD3OD) with the same efficiency as the lenticular chromophore N-formyl kynurenine and quenches singlet oxygen at a rate similar (2.1 × 107; CD3OD) to other tryptophan metabolites found in the eye. As the mechanisms of induction of cataracts may also involve redox reactions, the interactions of hydrated electrons (eaq−), the azide radical (N3·) and hydroxyl radical (OH·) with Xan were studied using the technique of pulse radiolysis. The reaction rate constants of eaq−, N3· and OH· with Xan were found to be of the same order of magnitude as other tryptophan metabolites. The rate constant for reaction of Xan with eaq− solvated electrons was found to be diffusion controlled (k = 1.43 × 1010 M−1 s−1); the reaction with N3· was very fast (k = 4.0 × 109 M−1 s−1); and with OH· was also near diffusion controlled (k = 1.0 × 1010 M−1 s−1). Superoxide O2·− production by irradiated Xan in methanol was detected by electron paramagnetic resonance and substantiated by determining that the enhanced rate of oxygen consumption of Xan irradiated in the presence of furfuryl alcohol was lowered by superoxide dismutase.
Catalysis at single-crystal Pt(110) surfaces: Global coupling and standing waves.

Recently various types of spatiotemporal concentration patterns have been observed in experimental studies of catalysis on single-crystal surfaces. One of the most interesting phenomena among these is the standing-wave pattern which has been seen in CO+${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$\ensuremath{\rightarrow}${\mathrm{CO}}_{2}$ on Pt(110). A kinetic model involving surface reconstruction has been proposed for this system by Eiswirth, Krischer, and Ertl [Appl. Phys. A 51, 79 (1990)]. Here, we add spatial-coupling terms due both to CO diffusion and to global gas-phase fluctuations and we study the possible wave patterns in this set of reaction-diffusion equations. We argue that the standing waves may be due to a self-induced parametric driving mechanism. Our analytical results as well as our numerical simulations are qualitatively consistent with the experimental findings.
Design of SPST/SPDT Switches in 65nm CMOS for 60GHz applications

This paper presents novel single-pole-single-throw (SPST) and single-pole-double-throw (SPDT) switches for 57-66 GHz band applications. At 60 GHz band, the SPST switch exhibits an insertion loss of 1.6 dB, a return loss of 16 dB, an isolation of 27 dB and an input 1-dB compression point (IP1dB) of 11 dBm; Correspondingly, the SPDT switch achieves an insertion loss of 3 dB/2.5 dB, a return loss of 12.5 dB/12 dB, an isolation of 22 dB/22 dB and an input P1 dB of 12 dBm/13 dBm in the Tx/Rx mode, respectively. The switches are designed and implemented with STMicroelectronics 1.2 V 65 nm CMOS RF process.
Normal Structure, Function, and Histology of the Spleen

The spleen is the largest secondary immune organ in the body and is responsible for initiating immune reactions to blood-borne antigens and for filtering the blood of foreign material and old or damaged red blood cells. These functions are carried out by the 2 main compartments of the spleen, the white pulp (including the marginal zone) and the red pulp, which are vastly different in their architecture, vascular organization, and cellular composition. The morphology of these compartments is described and, to a lesser extent, their functions are discussed. The variation between species and effects of aging and genetics on splenic morphology are also discussed.
On MIMO Performance Enhancement With Multisector Cooperation in a Measured Urban Environment

Capacity improvement of intrasite cooperative multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) using all three 120° sectors of a base station (BS) site is studied for the first time in a measured urban environment at 2.65 GHz. The results show that the mean uplink capacity gain exceeds 40% in as much as 1/4 of the coverage area, relative to the best single-sector link with no cooperation. In addition, a simple simulation model is developed for predicting the capacity gain from intrasite multisector cooperation. The model is used to unravel the respective roles of the BS antenna patterns and propagation mechanisms in determining cooperative performance .
Clinical Utility of Droplet Digital PCR for Human Cytomegalovirus

ABSTRACT Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) has historically been the major infectious cause of morbidity and mortality among patients receiving hematopoietic cell or organ transplant. Standard care in a transplant setting involves frequent monitoring of CMV viral load over weeks to months to determine when antiviral treatment may be required. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) is the standard molecular diagnostic method for monitoring. Recently, digital PCR (dPCR) has shown promise in viral diagnostics, although current dPCR systems have lower throughput than qPCR systems. Here, we compare qPCR and droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) for CMV detection in patient plasma samples. Droplet digital PCR exhibits increased precision over qPCR at viral loads of ≥4 log10 with equivalent sensitivity. However, retrospective analysis of longitudinal samples from transplant patients with CMV viral loads near therapeutic thresholds did not provide evidence that the improved precision of ddPCR would be of clinical benefit. Given the throughput advantages of current qPCR systems, a widespread switch to dPCR for CMV monitoring would appear premature.
Blood lead levels and enzymatic biomarkers of environmental lead exposure in children in Córdoba, Argentina, after the ban of leaded gasoline

Lead (Pb) is a developmental neurotoxicant found in industrial activities, many of them already prohibited worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate current blood Pb (PbB) levels in children in Cordoba, Argentina, and to compare these with similar studies performed before Pb was banned in gasoline in 1996. We also sought to identify mechanistically relevant biomarkers by measuring δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (δ-ALAD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activities. We finally aimed to determine whether sociodemographic characteristics are associated with Pb toxicity. Blood samples collected from 161 healthy children between September 2009 and February 2010 revealed mean PbB levels of 2.58 ± 0.30 µg/dl. Enzymatic δ-ALAD, CAT, and SOD activities showed no significant variations when plotted against PbB levels. Finally, children living in the suburbs have higher PbB levels than their city counterparts, while low socioeconomic status increased δ-ALAD inhibition compared with that of middle-income children. Overall, these results evidenced a substantial reduction in exposure to Pb in this pediatric population over a decade after Pb was restricted in gasoline and reveal the importance of pursuing novel biomarkers of toxicity along with the sociodemographic profile to complement Pb diagnosis.