Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stakeholder views regarding patient discharge from intensive care: Suboptimal quality and opportunities for improvement.

OBJECTIVE To provide the first description of intensive care unit (ICU) discharge practices from the perspective of Canadian ICU administrators, and ICU providers from Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. METHODS The authors identified 140 Canadian ICUs and administered a survey to ICU administrators (unit manager, director) to obtain an institutional perspective. Also surveyed were members of professional critical care associations in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom, using membership distribution lists, to obtain a provider perspective. RESULTS A total of 118 ICU administrators (114 ICUs [81%]) and 737 ICU providers (denominator unknown) responded to the survey. Administrator and provider respondents reported that ICU physicians are primarily responsible for determining the timing (70% and 77%, respectively) and safety (94% and 96%) for patients discharged from ICU. The majority of respondents indicated that patient summaries (87% and 85%) and medication reconciliation (78% and 79%) were part of their institutions' discharge process. One-half of respondents reported the use of discharge protocols, while a minority indicated that checklists (46% and 44%), electronic tools (19% and 28%) or outreach follow-up (44% and 33%) were used. The majority of respondents rated current ICU discharge practices to be of medium quality (57% and 58% scored 3 on a five-point scale). Suggested opportunities for improvement included the information provided to patients and families (71% and 59%) and collaboration among hospital units (65% and 66%). CONCLUSION Findings from the present study revealed the complexity of the ICU discharge process, considerable practice variation, perception of only medium quality and several proposed opportunities for improvement.
RT-PCR analysis of Tecta, Coch, Eya4 and Strc in mouse cochlear explants

Tecta, Coch, Eya4 and Strc are mouse orthologs of four human deafness-associated genes. Their expression is markedly restricted to specific cell types in cochleae. Cochleae were dissected on embryonic day 15 and cultured in vitro. Relative messenger RNA abundance of each gene was quantified by RT-PCR and compared in-vivo cochleae of equivalent embryonic age. After 48 h in culture, in-vivo and explant Strc expression levels were equivalent, Eya4 level reduced in explanted tissues, and expression of Tecta and Coch did not show the expected temporal rise. Expression of these genes was detectable even after 96 h. These results suggest that it is feasible to test the expression of inner ear specific genes in explanted cochleae.
Comparison of ANN and P&O MPPT methods for PV applications under changing solar irradiation

This paper presents an artificial neural network (ANN) maximum power point tracking (MPPT) method which is fast and precise in finding and tracking the maximum power point (MPP) in photovoltaic (PV) applications, under rapidly changing of solar irradiation, and is stable under slowly changing of solar irradiation. ANN and P&O MPPT algorithms, and other components of the MPPT control system which are PV module and DC-DC boost converter, are simulated in MATLAB-Simulink, and their performances under rapidly and slowly changing of solar irradiation are compared as well. Simulation results show that ANN method has very fast and more precise response under fast changes of solar irradiation. In addition, this method performs with less power oscillation under constant or slow changes of solar irradiation.
Thyroid hormone‐induced morphological differentiation and maturation of astrocytes involves activation of protein kinase A and ERK signalling pathway

Thyroid hormone (TH) has a profound effect on astrocyte differentiation and maturation. Astrocytes cultured under TH‐deficient conditions fail to transform from flat polygonal morphology to mature, process‐bearing, stellate cells. Supplementation of physiological concentrations of TH initiate gradual transformation of the cells and the process takes ≈ 48 h to complete. The signal transduction pathways associated with TH‐mediated maturation of astrocytes have been investigated. TH treatment caused an initial activation of protein kinase A (PKA), with a peak activity at 2 h which fell back to basal level there after. Although there was no visible change in morphology of the cells during the observed activation of PKA, it was sufficient to drive the process of transformation to completion, suggesting the involvement of downstream regulators of PKA. PKA inhibitors as well as the MEK inhibitor PD098059 attenuated the TH‐induced morphological transformation. Further studies showed that TH treatment resulted in a biphasic response on the cellular phospho‐MAP kinase (p‐MAPK or p‐ERK) level: an initial decline in the p‐ERK level followed by an induction at 18–24 h, both of which could be blocked by a PKA inhibitor. Such sustained activation of p‐ERK levels by TH at this later stage coincided with initiation of morphological differentiation of the astrocytes and appeared to be critical for the transformation of astrocytes. The nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor 7‐NI inhibited this induction of p‐ERK activity. Moreover, the induction was accompanied by a parallel increase in phospho‐CREB activity which, however, persisted at the end of the transformation of the astroglial cells.
Luxury Hotels: Concept and New Trends

Abstract This chapter treats the luxury hotel concept and practice and its recent trends in the tourism industry. This niche market is expanding rapidly with changing global income structures and increasing complexity of the hospitality sector. Its clientele comprises quality-seeking, prestige-striving, and high-spending customers. The chapter first explores the concept of luxury in relation to hotels. It further groups various associated assets into tangibles and intangibles to discuss their recent trends across the world. It is suggested that companies and destinations active in the luxury hotel market or contemplating entry take these trends into account to gain and/or maintain competitiveness.
Autorstvo/koautorstvo/lažno autorstvo

Autorstvo je od najveceg znacaja za evaluaciju rada naucnika. Kako je savremenanauka multidisciplinarna i multiprofesionalna, jedan naucni clanakje rezultat rada vise saradnika, pa se u listi (ko)autora pojavljuje sve vecibroj osoba. Iz te cinjenice pojavljuje se novi pojam u istoriji nauke – lažnoautorstvo, t.j., pripisivanje autorstva saradnicima koji nisu znacajno intelektualnodoprineli nastanku naucnog clanka. Kako ova pojava visestruko stetii naucnicima i nauci u celini, udruženja urednika naucnih casopisa donelasu kriterijume za sticanje autorstva. Međutim, smatra se da ovi uslovi, iakomnogo puta reprodukovani u vecini međunarodnih i domacih casopisa, nisudovoljno poznati, ili da ih se neki autori ne pridržavaju. Razlozi za ovo suvisestruki, ali je krajnji ishod – krsenje visokih etickih principa nauke – dobrenaucne prakse. Najvažniji korak ka poboljsanju klime u naucnoistraživackomradu je edukacija mlađih saradnika o etici nauke, sto je zadatak svih glavnihucesnika u procesu publikovanja.
A new preparation for recording single-channel currents from skeletal muscle

Spherical vesicles of sarcolemma (median diameter, 78 μm) were prepared from frog skeletal muscle by prolonged exposure to enzymes (collagenase, then protease) and to isotonic KC1 solutions, which promote swelling of muscle fibres. Patch clamp recording was used to measure unitary K and Na currents from this preparation. Na and K channels had conductances around 15 pS and their kinetic properties appeared unaltered by vesicle formation.
Large deletions involving the regulatory upstream regions of A4GALT give rise to principally novel P1PK‐null alleles

Cells of the clinically important p histo‐blood group phenotype lack P1, Pk, and P glycosphingolipid antigens. All cases investigated so far are due to alterations in the 4‐α‐galactosyltransferase‐encoding Exon 3 of A4GALT. Repetitive elements in the genome can mediate DNA rearrangements, the most abundant being the Alu family of repeats.
Nucleotide sequence of a gene encoding sunflower ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase small subunit (rbcs).

ATGCTACTCCTTTAGAAGATGAGATMGATATTTTGAGCAATGTGCATTTGACAOGG CTCCATTTCTGGTGGCTATATGATAAGTCTTCAA 100 ATTGCAATTATATTATGTACACTATGCATGAAATTCAAGAGCACAACATA TTTT 200 TTGGATGGCAGGCAGCTCATGTACAAGTATTATATATACAGCTCATMTCACTAAAGTCACTCATTGGATTCGAAAAGGAAGACAAAGATTATCGTA 300 ATGGCTTCGA C T G GOCAACATACCGGCCTTAAGTCCAACGcCCT 400 H A S I S S S V A T V S R T A P A 0 A N M V A P F T G L K S N A A g 500 _ _ _ pCAACTTAATATAGATTAGGGTT F P T T K K A N D F S T L P S N G G R V 0 Ct N K TTTATATCTAAATATCAAATATATCTCTAGAAACTAAAGTGTGGTATAATTTCTTGTTCAGGTGTGGCCACCACTTGGATTGAAGAAGTAeGMACC 600 V 11 P P L G L K K Y I T MITOGAiCTACTTGC=GAAAAAAGGGTCCTCmGMTTTGAGT 700 L S Y L P P L T E T O L A K I V D Y L L R K K I V P C L E F I L I TGTATATAGATTATTTTGAATGGTCTATGTATATAGATTfTTAGTTGAATTAGACCACTACCTCAT(M lUTTATTGTTTTAATAAAAATTTATACAATC 800 ATACATGATAATATACAAAGATATC ATCAAAATGTTICTAGATGTA CC TATTG C TATA 900 CATTTTAAAAAIDCAATTTGAGACA _TTYGAACTTGGTTTTTCATOCATAACGACACATCATATAIC^ATCATSACTTAAGTSAGGTAjijiiOCTAACZ 1000 AATAAGATGTGTAGATATTAAA _1100 H G F V Y R I N AW R ATcCICGGATACTATGACGGAAGATACT0GACAATGTGAMTTGTATGIGUMTTGCA CTCACAAGTGATG IGGCTTGCTGAATGC 1200 S P G Y Y D G R Y 0 T N W K L P H F G C T D S A 0 V H K I L A I C AAQ_GACCTACCXCAGGXTGGAT=ATCMTOGGATTTGACAATGTTCGTCAAGTTC AATGTATCAT GTTCAnZTTGGCTCCAGCAGATGGTTACT 1300 K K I Y P 0 A N I R I I G F D N V R 0 V 0 C I N F I A S R P D G Y'I AAGCAAATTMAGAATTATTCGATCTAA=ATATATGATGGGTCGGTTTGTTTGAATCT CTCGTCACTC TCAAATTTGGAAAT 1400
Concurrent execution of diagnostic fault simulation and equivalence identification during diagnostic test generation

Effective generation of diagnostic vectors can be assisted by a fast diagnostic fault simulator and an equivalence identification tool. Diagnostic fault simulation can be an expensive process for large circuits. If a large number of fault pairs are passed to an equivalence identification tool, it would take a long time. In this paper, a novel approach is proposed to concurrently execute diagnostic fault simulation and equivalence identification during diagnostic test generation, thereby reducing the overall execution time. Experimental results on industrial circuits and benchmark circuits demonstrate the potential of the proposed method.
Recombinant factor VIIa: review of efficacy, dosing regimens and safety in patients with congenital and acquired factor VIII or IX inhibitors

Summary. Recombinant factor (rF)VIIa has been available to clinicians since 1996 and has an excellent safety record after almost three‐quarters of a million doses have been administered. This paper will review the current clinical experience with rFVIIa dosing in acquired and congenital hemophilia with inhibitors and chronicle all spontaneous and clinical trial reports of thrombotic adverse events as of April 2003. Standard dosing of rFVIIa (90 µg kg−1) allows binding of FVIIa to the surface of an activated platelet and can directly activate factor X in the absence of tissue factor. Experience with bolus dosing suggests that higher dosing (>200 µg kg−1) may be more efficacious in treating hemophilia patients. Clinical trials are ongoing to validate this observation. Continuous infusion dosing may be efficacious for major surgery but high infusion rates (50 µg kg−1 h−1) might be needed. The relationship between dose of rFVIIa, amount of thrombin generated and measurable FVIIa level is still not known and perhaps newer testing which measures thrombin generation might be more advantageous. Relatively few thrombotic events have been associated with rFVIIa. Known factors predisposing to thrombosis were present in 20 of the 25 (80%) hemophilia patients who were reported spontaneously or who developed a thrombosis during a clinical trial. Additionally, thrombotic events have not increased despite a growing experience with higher dosing of rFVIIa.
Use of combination of monoclonal antibodies directed against three distinct epitopes of a tumor‐associated antigen: Analysis of cell binding and internalization

Three monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), MOv17, MOv 18 and MOv19 with tumor‐restricted specificity for human ovarian carcinoma, were tested alone or in double combination with the aim of analyzing their binding and internalization behavior on different In vitro cell lines. Biochemical studies indicated that the 3 MAbs were directed against 3 epitopes of the same 38 kDa surface molecule. By immuno‐electron‐microscopy they exhibited a different internalization behavior since MOv17 Induced evident endocytosis through coated vesicles, whereas MOv18 gave rise to occasional uncoated vesicles and MOv19 was completely unable to promote internalization of the relevant molecule. When tested 2 by 2 there was a binding synergy in one of the 9 possible combinations (125I‐labelled MOv18 and unlabelled MOv19), but no change in the internalization behavior. The binding synergy, which was highly reproducible, was temperature‐dependent and was also evident on glutaraldehyde‐fixed cells. A metabolism involvement is therefore unlikely. This could be attributed to an easier accessibility of the CaMOv18 due to a conformational change of the molecule after MOv19 MAb binding.
Intravitreal bevacizumab versus triamcinolone acetonide for macular edema due to branch retinal vein occlusion: a matched study.

BACKGROUND Branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) is a common retinal vascular disorder of the elderly and both intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (TA) and intravitreal bevacizumab were reported to be effective. The purpose of this study was to compare intravitreal bevacizumab with intravitreal TA for the treatment of macular edema resulting from BRVO. METHODS The retrospectively comparative interventional study included a bevacizumab group of 34 BRVO patients (1.25 mg bevacizumab) and a TA group of 34 BRVO patients (4.0 mg TA), and the two groups were matched by baseline best corrected visual acuity (BCVA). Examinations were designed to be carried out at 1 day, 3 days, 1 month, 2 months, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year after each injection. The mean follow-up was (148.43 +/- 130.56) days. Main outcome parameters were BCVA and morphometric measurements of the macula obtained by optical coherence tomography. RESULTS In all follow-ups, the mean changes of BCVA (LogMAR) between two groups were not significantly different (P > 0.10). Similarly, the rates of patients who got BCVA improvement > or = 2 lines or lost BCVA > or = 2 lines were not significantly different, either (P > 0.10). In both groups, compared with baseline, the mean central macular thickness (CMT) got reduction from 4 weeks to 1 year after initial injection, however, which lost statistical significance at 6-month follow-up in TA group (P = 0.25) and lost significance at 3-month and 6-month follow-up in bevacizumab group (P = 0.07, 0.21). The mean CMT between two groups differed at 3-month follow-up (P < 0.01), while almost kept parallel in other follow-ups (all P > 0.40). In TA group, retinal pigment epithelium tear occurred in 1 eye at 8 weeks after initial injection and 12 eyes (35.3%) got intraocular pressure > 21 mmHg. In bevacizumab group, no severe complications were observed. CONCLUSION For BRVO, intravitreal bevacizumab versus intravitreal TA causes a similar increase in visual acuity and reduction of macular edema (except 3-month follow-up) with minor complications during 1 year.
Depression with postpartum onset: a prospective cohort study in women undergoing elective cesarean section in Brasilia, Brazil.

PURPOSE It was to determine the prevalence of depressive symptoms in a sample of puerperal women from Brasília, Brazil, distinguishing cases with onset after delivery from those already present during pregnancy. METHODS A prospective cohort study with convenience sampling of patients submitted to elective cesarean section at two private hospitals. As an instrument for assessing depressive symptoms, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale with cutoff >13 was applied shortly before delivery and four to eight weeks after childbirth. RESULTS Among the 107 women who completed the study, 11 (10.3%) had significant depressive symptoms during pregnancy and 12 (11.2%) during the postpartum period. Among the 12 patients with postpartum symptoms, 6 had symptoms during pregnancy, so that 5.6% of the sample had postpartum onset of depression. The higher overall frequency of depression was significantly among single women than among married women (p=0.04), a fact mainly due to a higher frequency of single women experiencing persistent depressive symptoms both before and after delivery (p=0.002). The risk of depression was not influenced by age, parity or educational level. CONCLUSION Women with depression identified during the postpartum period comprise a heterogeneous group, in which symptoms may have started before pregnancy, during pregnancy or after childbirth. In this sample, half of the postpartum depression cases already presented symptoms during late pregnancy. Since depression can arise before and after childbirth, it may have different etiologies and, therefore, a different response to treatment, a possibility that should be considered by clinicians and researchers.
An aggregated linearised model of a grid-tied microgrid for stability studies

Microgrids comprising multiple distributed energy resources are being increasingly integrated into electricity networks. Considering the multiplicity of the distributed energy resources, it is impractical to represent them as detailed models in power system simulations. Hence, it will be attractive for electricity utilities to employ simplified models of microgrids in dynamic studies. This paper proposes a method for representing grid-tied microgrids as simplified models in such studies. The proposed aggregated modelling approach investigates the applicability of modal analysis as a tool for model aggregating of grid-tied microgrids. A new step to automate the selection of dominant modes is introduced in the model aggregating procedure. Validity of the reduced order dynamic equivalents is tested under different operating conditions. The paper demonstrates that the enhanced modal analysis reduces the model order and enables the representation of a hybrid microgrid in terms of the states of the microgrid PCC, while preserving the important dynamics.
Prostate MRI added to CAPRA, MSKCC and Partin cancer nomograms significantly enhances the prediction of adverse findings and biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy

Background To determine the added value of preoperative prostate multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) supplementary to clinical variables and their role in predicting post prostatectomy adverse findings and biochemically recurrent cancer (BCR). Methods All consecutive patients treated at HUS Helsinki University Hospital with robot assisted radical prostatectomy (RALP) between 2014 and 2015 were included in the analysis. The mpMRI data, clinical variables, histopathological characteristics, and follow-up information were collected. Study end-points were adverse RALP findings: extraprostatic extension, seminal vesicle invasion, lymph node involvement, and BCR. The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) nomogram, Cancer of the Prostate Risk Assessment (CAPRA) score and the Partin score were combined with any adverse findings at mpMRI. Predictive accuracy for adverse RALP findings by the regression models was estimated before and after the addition of MRI results. Logistic regression, area under curve (AUC), decision curve analyses, Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox proportional hazard models were used. Results Preoperative mpMRI data from 387 patients were available for analysis. Clinical variables alone, MSKCC nomogram or Partin tables were outperformed by models with mpMRI for the prediction of any adverse finding at RP. AUC for clinical parameters versus clinical parameters and mpMRI variables were 0.77 versus 0.82 for any adverse finding. For MSKCC nomogram versus MSKCC nomogram and mpMRI variables the AUCs were 0.71 and 0.78 for any adverse finding. For Partin tables versus Partin tables and mpMRI variables the AUCs were 0.62 and 0.73 for any adverse finding. In survival analysis, mpMRI-projected adverse RP findings stratify CAPRA and MSKCC high-risk patients into groups with distinct probability for BCR. Conclusions Preoperative mpMRI improves the predictive value of commonly used clinical variables for pathological stage at RP and time to BCR. mpMRI is available for risk stratification prebiopsy, and should be considered as additional source of information to the standard predictive nomograms.
Relative deficiency of nitric oxide-dependent vasodilation in salt-hypertensive Dahl rats: the possible role of superoxide anions

Objective The contribution of major vasoactive systems (renin–angiotensin system, sympathetic nervous system and nitric oxide) to blood pressure maintenance and the possible involvement of superoxide anions in the reduced efficiency of nitric oxide (NO)-dependent vasodilation to counterbalance sympathetic vasoconstriction were studied in salt-hypertensive Dahl rats. Design and methods We used Dahl salt-sensitive (SS/Jr) and salt-resistant (SR/Jr) female rats kept on a low-salt (0.3% NaCl) or high-salt diet (8% NaCl) for 6 weeks since weaning. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was measured in conscious animals subjected to acute consecutive blockade of the renin–angiotensin system (RAS) [captopril, 10 mg/kg intravenously (i.v.)], the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) (pentolinium, 5 mg/kg i.v.) and NO synthase (Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME), 30 mg/kg i.v. ). Before the consecutive blockade of vasoactive systems one-half of the animals in each experimental group was pre-treated with a stable membrane-permeable mimetic of superoxide dismutase (tempol, 25 mg/kg i.v.) which functions as a superoxide scavenger. Results Compared to normotensive SR/Jr animals, salt-hypertensive SS/Jr rats were characterized by an enhanced blood pressure (BP) fall after ganglionic blockade (− 104 ± 8 versus − 62 ± 5 mm Hg, P < 0.001) and by higher residual blood pressure recorded after the blockade of both RAS and SNS (70 ± 3 versus 43 ± 3 mmHg, P < 0.01), but there was only a borderline elevation of their BP response to acute NO synthase inhibition (67 ± 6 versus 49 ± 4 mmHg, P < 0.05). The acute tempol pre-treatment elicited the most pronounced reduction of basal BP (− 13 ± 1 mmHg, P < 0.001) in the salt-hypertensive SS/Jr group in which the BP rise after l-NAME administration was augmented by about 50%. On the contrary, tempol pre-treatment did not affect norepinephrine- or angiotensin II-dependent vasoconstriction. Conclusions The NO system is not able to counterbalance effectively the hyperactivity of the sympathetic nervous system in salt-hypertensive Dahl rats. The predominance of sympathetic vasoconstriction over NO-dependent vasodilation could be explained partially by enhanced NO inactivation due to augmented superoxide anion formation in hypertensive animals.