Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Benefits and costs of using HPV testing to screen for cervical cancer.

CONTEXT Despite quality assurance standards, Papanicolaou (Pap) test characteristics remain less than optimal. OBJECTIVE To compare the societal costs and benefits of human papillomavirus (HPV) testing, Pap testing, and their combination to screen for cervical cancer. DESIGN, SETTING, AND POPULATION A simulation model of neoplasia natural history was used to estimate the societal costs and quality-adjusted life expectancy associated with 18 different general population screening strategies: Pap plus HPV testing, Pap testing alone, and HPV testing alone every 2 or 3 years among hypothetical longitudinal cohorts of US women beginning at age 20 years and continuing to 65 years, 75 years, or death. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Discounted costs per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) saved of each screening strategy. RESULTS Maximal savings in lives were achieved by screening every 2 years until death with combined HPV and Pap testing at an incremental cost of $76 183 per QALY compared with Pap testing alone every 2 years. Stopping biennial screening with HPV and Pap testing at age 75 years captures 97.8% of the benefits of lifetime screening at a cost of $70 347 per QALY. Combined biennial HPV and Pap testing to age 65 years captures 86.6% of the benefits achievable by continuing to screen until age 75 years. Human papillomavirus screening alone was equally effective as Pap testing alone at any given screening interval or age of screening cessation but was more costly and therefore was dominated. In sensitivity analyses, HPV testing would be more effective and less costly than Pap testing at a cost threshold of $5 for an HPV test. CONCLUSIONS Screening with HPV plus Pap tests every 2 years appears to save additional years of life at reasonable costs compared with Pap testing alone. Applying age limits to screening is a viable option to maintain benefits while reducing costs.
Mutational analysis of the Escherichia coli spoT gene identifies distinct but overlapping regions involved in ppGpp synthesis and degradation

The spoT gene of Escherichia coli encodes a guanosine 3′,5′‐bis(diphosphate) 3′‐pyrophosphohydrolase (ppGppase) as well as an apparent guanosine 3′,5′‐bis(diphosphate) synthetase (designated PSII). To determine the regions of the SpoT protein that are required for these two competing activities, we analysed plasmid‐borne deletion mutations for their ability to complement chromosomal mutations defective in each activity. We found that a region containing the first 203 amino acids of the 702‐amino‐acid SpoT protein was sufficient for ppGppase activity while an overlapping region containing residues 67–374 was sufficient for PSII activity. These data indicate that the catalytic sites involved in the two activities are separate but closely linked in the primary sequence of the SpoT protein. A ppGppase‐defective Δ1–58 deletion mutant strain failed to synthesize ppGpp in response to nutrient limitation, also supporting the notion that PSII activity from wild‐type SpoT does not increase in response to nutrient limitation. Using a strain lacking PSII activity but retaining ppGppase activity, we determined the contribution of the RelA protein (ppGpp synthetase I, PSI) to ppGpp synthesis following glucose starvation. We found that the RelA protein activity accounts for the initial burst of ppGpp synthesis at the onset of glucose starvation but that this source of synthesis is absent when amino acids are present during glucose starvation.
HARM: A Numerical Scheme for General Relativistic Magnetohydrodynamics

We describe a conservative, shock-capturing scheme for evolving the equations of general relativistic magnetohydrodynamics. The fluxes are calculated using the Harten, Lax, & van Leer scheme. A variant of constrained transport, proposed earlier by Tóth, is used to maintain a divergence-free magnetic field. Only the covariant form of the metric in a coordinate basis is required to specify the geometry. We describe code performance on a full suite of test problems in both special and general relativity. On smooth flows we show that it converges at second order. We conclude by showing some results from the evolution of a magnetized torus near a rotating black hole.
Infectious Mononucleosis Hepatitis in Young Adults: Two Case Reports

Infectious mononucleosis due to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection sometimes causes acute hepatitis, which is usually self-limiting with mildly elevated transaminases, but rarely with jaundice. Primary EBV infection in children is usually asymptomatic, but in a small number of healthy individuals, typically young adults, EBV infection results in a clinical syndrome of infectious mononucleosis with hepatitis, with typical symptoms of fever, pharyngitis, lymphadenopathy, and hepatosplenomegaly. EBV is rather uncommonly confirmed as an etiologic agent of acute hepatitis in adults. Here, we report two cases: the first case with acute hepatitis secondary to infectious mononucleosis and a second case, with acute hepatitis secondary to infectious mononucleosis concomitantly infected with hepatitis A. Both cases involved young adults presenting with fever, pharyngitis, lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, and atypical lymphocytosis confirmed by serologic tests, liver biopsy and electron microscopic study.
Location, Location, Location: The Impact of Geolocation on Web Search Personalization

To cope with the immense amount of content on the web, search engines often use complex algorithms to personalize search results for individual users. However, personalization of search results has led to worries about the Filter Bubble Effect, where the personalization algorithm decides that some useful information is irrelevant to the user, and thus prevents them from locating it. In this paper, we propose a novel methodology to explore the impact of location-based personalization on Google Search results. Assessing the relationship between location and personalization is crucial, since users' geolocation can be used as a proxy for other demographic traits, like race, income, educational attainment, and political affiliation. In other words, does location-based personalization trap users in geolocal Filter Bubbles? Using our methodology, we collected 30 days of search results from Google Search in response to 240 different queries. By comparing search results gathered from 59 GPS coordinates around the US at three different granularities (county, state, and national), we are able to observe that differences in search results due to personalization grow as physical distance increases. However these differences are highly dependent on what a user searches for: queries for local establishments receive 4-5 different results per page, while more general terms exhibit essentially no personalization.
Clinical comorbidity in patients with osteoarthritis: a case-control study of general practice consulters in England and Wales

Objectives: To determine patterns of clinical comorbidity in general practice consulters with OA and compare them with comorbidity in consulters without OA. Methods: A case-control study nested in a one-year prevalence survey of consultations in 60 general practices in England and Wales. Cases were 11 375 subjects aged 50 and over who had consulted with OA during the study year. Controls were 11 780 subjects matched for age and sex who had consulted during the study year, but not for OA. Morbidity outcomes were based on a standard clinical classification system. Results: After adjusting for age, sex, and social class, cases were significantly more likely to have high levels of comorbidity than controls (2.35; 2.16 to 2.55). Significant OA comorbid associations with other musculoskeletal conditions included arthropathies (OR 2.26; 99% CI 1.50 to 3.41), upper limb sprain (2.04; 1.38 to 3.00), synovial and tendon disorders (2.03; 1.54 to 2.68), and other joint disorders (2.00; 1.71 to 2.32). OA non-musculoskeletal associations were with obesity (2.25; 1.73 to 2.92), gastritis (1.98; 1.46 to 2.68), phlebitis (1.80; 1.28 to 2.52), diaphragmatic hernia (1.80; 1.29 to 2.51), ischaemic heart disease (1.73; 1.13 to 2.66) and intestinal diverticula (1.63; 1.20 to 2.23). Conclusions: Comorbidity for OA was extensive, with musculoskeletal as well as non-musculoskeletal conditions. Age, sex, and social class did not explain this comorbidity but propensity to consult may be a part explanation. An important question remains as to whether comorbidity in general practice significantly adds to the disability or further impairs the health of patients with OA.
Occurrence and Characteristics of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Methicillin Resistant Coagulase-negative Staphylococci in Raw Milk Manufacturing

Vyletělova �M. ,�Vlkova �H. ,�MangaI. �(2011):�Occurrence and characteristics of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureusand methicillin resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci in raw milk manu - facturing . �CzechJ. �FoodSci. ,�29�(SpecialIssue): �S11-S16. � FormonitoringtheoccurrenceofMRSA� (methicillinresistantStaphylococcus aureus )� andMR-CNS� (methicillin� resistantcoagulase-negativestaphylococci), �cow's, �goat's, �andsheep'smilks�(bulkmilksandindividualsamples) �were� investigated. �Humannasalandthroatswabsofthefarmstaffandnasalswabsofanimalswerealsoinvestigatedaswell. � Intotal �1729�sampleswereexaminedand�634�strainswereisolatedbymeansofthecultivationmethodandusedinthis� study. �GenericidentificationofthestaphylococciisolateswasdoneperformedbybiochemicaltestsandallS. aureus � andCNSisolateswerecheckedbythePCRmethodforthepresenceofmecagenewhichisresponsibleformethicil- linresistance. �Thepresenceofthestaphylococcalcassettechromosomemec�(SCCmec),�Panton-Valentineleukocidin� (pvl )�andgenesencodingtoxicshocksyndrometoxin �(tst )�wasdetectedinallstrainsconfirmedasMRSA. �Thespecies� werealsoexaminedforantimicrobialsusceptibilitybyusingdiskdiffusionmethodwithantibioticdisks. �S. aureuswas� themostfrequentlyidentifiedspeciesfromthesamplestested �(n�=�557;�32.2%),�followedbyS. haemolyticus �(n�=�32;� 1.9%),�S. chromogenes �(n�=�24;�1.4%),�S. epidermidis �(n�=�20;�1.2%),�andS. caprae �(n = 1;�0.16%). �Amongtheresistant� staphylococci � (n� =� 49),� S. aureus � (n = 25;� 51%)� wasfoundthemostfrequently, � followedbyS. epidermidis � (n�=�17;� 34.7%),� S. chromogenes � (n = 6;� 12.2%),� andS. haemolyticus � (n = 1;� 2%). � Theresistant Staphyloccocussp. � occurred� mainlyincow'smilk �(MRSA,�S. epidermidis ,�S. chromogenes ,�S. haemolyticus )�andinanimal'sswabs �(S. epidermidis ). � OneMRSAwasalsofoundingoat'smilkandonewasisolatedfromhumanswab. �Noresistantstrainswerefoundin� sheep'smilk. �Thenegativeresultsoftheanalysedgenespresence �(pvl, tst )�wereidenticalwithallMRSAtested. �The� staphylococcalcassettechromosomemec�(SCCmec)�wasclassifiedastypeIVorV. �
Effect of saliva contamination on shear bond strength and microleakage of one-bottle etch-and-rinse and self-etch adhesives: scanning electron and confocal laser microscopic analyses

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of saliva contamination on shear bond strength, microleakage, and microstructure of the adhesive interface in two different adhesive systems by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser microscopy (CLSM). Materials and methods: Randomly, 228 third molars were allocated to six groups for an etch-and-rinse adhesive One-Step Plus (Bisco Inc.) and a self-etch adhesive G Bond (GC Corp.): Group 1 – manufacturer’s instructions were followed; Group 2 – involved contamination and drying before adhesive application; Group 3 – involved contamination, washing, and blot drying before adhesive application; Group 4 – involved contamination, etching, washing, and blot drying before adhesive application; Group 5 – involved contamination and drying after adhesive application, followed by adhesive reapplication; Group 6 – involved contamination and washing after adhesive application, followed by adhesive reapplication. Shear bond strength was tested after specimens were stored in distilled water at 37 °C for 24 h. Specimens were evaluated under a stereomicroscope for microleakage. Dentin–resin interfaces were evaluated by SEM and CLSM. Results: Group 2 for One-Step Plus and Group 3 for G Bond showed significantly lower bond strengths than control groups. Microleakage values were significantly greater at dentin than at enamel margins for all groups. In Group 2, for both adhesive systems, the highest microleakage was observed at dentin margins. Further, dentin–adhesive interfaces were not uniform and gaps were found by SEM and CLSM. Conclusions: The SEM and CLSM images demonstrated high variability of dentin–resin interfaces among saliva-contaminated groups. Rinsing the saliva and re-applying adhesive might be the best way to reduce the effect of saliva contamination on bond strength and microleakage.
Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy may promote periodontal healing through multiple mechanisms.

BACKGROUND Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) as an adjunctive treatment in addition to scaling and root planing for the treatment of periodontitis has been shown to be clinically useful. Its beneficial effect is reported to be due to its potent bactericidal activity. However, aPDT treatment has the potential to inactivate bacterial and host factors that contribute to disease. In this report, we demonstrate that aPDT treatment can simultaneously kill Porphyromonas gingivalis and inactivate its virulence-associated protease. It also inactivates host destructive cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin (IL)-1 beta. METHODS We developed a 96-well-based bacterial killing and protease inactivation assay that determined aPDT bactericidal and protease inactivation from the same sample. A cytokine inactivation assay that measured E-selectin expression in response to TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta was developed to measure the ability of aPDT to inactivate cytokine function. RESULTS A single aPDT treatment in vitro potently inactivated protease activity and resulted in a 4-log(10) reduction in the viability of P. gingivalis. Dose and time-of-exposure experiments revealed that protease inactivation occurred at lower concentrations of photosensitizer and less time of light exposure. Also, aPDT treatment potently and functionally inactivated IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha. CONCLUSIONS aPDT treatment may augment periodontal treatment by increasing bacterial killing, inactivating bacterial virulence factors, and inactivating host cytokines that impair periodontal restoration. Therefore, aPDT treatment may provide a more favorable healing environment.
Is There WiFi Yet? How Aggressive WiFi Probe Requests Deteriorate Energy and Throughput

WiFi offloading has emerged as a key component of cellular operator strategy to meet the data needs of rich, mobile devices. As such, mobile devices tend to aggressively seek out WiFi in order to provide improved user Quality of Experience (QoE) and cellular capacity relief. For home and work environments, aggressive WiFi scans can significantly improve the speed on which mobile nodes join the WiFi network. Unfortunately, the same aggressive behavior that excels in the home environment incurs considerable side effects across crowded wireless environments. In this paper, we show through empirical studies at both large (stadium) and small (laboratory) scales how aggressive WiFi scans can have significant implications for energy and throughput, both for the mobile nodes scanning and other nearby mobile nodes. We close with several thoughts on the disjoint incentives for properly balancing WiFi discovery speed and ultra-dense network interactions.
Coordinated Population Activity Underlying Texture Discrimination in Rat Barrel Cortex

Rodents can robustly distinguish fine differences in texture using their whiskers, a capacity that depends on neuronal activity in primary somatosensory “barrel” cortex. Here we explore how texture was collectively encoded by populations of three to seven neuronal clusters simultaneously recorded from barrel cortex while a rat performed a discrimination task. Each cluster corresponded to the single-unit or multiunit activity recorded at an individual electrode. To learn how the firing of different clusters combines to represent texture, we computed population activity vectors across moving time windows and extracted the signal available in the optimal linear combination of clusters. We quantified this signal using receiver operating characteristic analysis and compared it to that available in single clusters. Texture encoding was heterogeneous across neuronal clusters, and only a minority of clusters carried signals strong enough to support stimulus discrimination on their own. However, jointly recorded groups of clusters were always able to support texture discrimination at a statistically significant level, even in sessions where no individual cluster represented the stimulus. The discriminative capacity of neuronal activity was degraded when error trials were included in the data, compared to only correct trials, suggesting a link between the neuronal activity and the animal's performance. These analyses indicate that small groups of barrel cortex neurons can robustly represent texture identity through synergistic interactions, and suggest that neurons downstream to barrel cortex could extract texture identity on single trials through simple linear combination of barrel cortex responses.
An Unfolding Case with a Linked Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE): A Curriculum in Inpatient Geriatric Medicine

As the percentage of time devoted to the care of older adults by internists continues to rise, the need for these physicians to be skilled at their care becomes even more critical. In fact, the Education Committee of the American Geriatrics Society has recommended the development of structured educational curricula to teach the principles of geriatric care. This article describes a comprehensive, evidence‐based curriculum for internal medicine house staff in inpatient geriatric medicine. The intervention encompasses a novel instructional method, defined skill and behavioral goals, and a competency‐based effectiveness evaluation. Moreover, the principles in this curricular model are those that may affect any hospitalized older adult and so will be important for all house staff taking care of inpatient geriatric patients, regardless of their future subspecialty choice.
Tubulin Folding Cofactors as GTPase-activating Proteins

In vivo, many proteins must interact with molecular chaperones to attain their native conformation. In the case of tubulin, newly synthesized α- and β-subunits are partially folded by cytosolic chaperonin, a double-toroidal ATPase with homologs in all kingdoms of life and in most cellular compartments. α- and β-tubulin folding intermediates are then brought together by tubulin-specific chaperone proteins (named cofactors A–E) in a cofactor-containing supercomplex with GTPase activity. Here we show that tubulin subunit exchange can only occur by passage through this supercomplex, thus defining it as a dimer-making machine. We also show that hydrolysis of GTP by β-tubulin in the supercomplex acts as a switch for the release of native tubulin heterodimer. In this folding reaction and in the related reaction of tubulin-folding cofactors with native tubulin, the cofactors behave as GTPase-activating proteins, stimulating the GTP-binding protein β-tubulin to hydrolyze its GTP.
Black holes in the early Universe

The existence of massive black holes (MBHs) was postulated in the 1960s, when the first quasars were discovered. In the late 1990s their reality was proven beyond doubt in the Milky way and a handful nearby galaxies. Since then, enormous theoretical and observational efforts have been made to understand the astrophysics of MBHs. We have discovered that some of the most massive black holes known, weighing billions of solar masses, powered luminous quasars within the first billion years of the Universe. The first MBHs must therefore have formed around the time the first stars and galaxies formed. Dynamical evidence also indicates that black holes with masses of millions to billions of solar masses ordinarily dwell in the centers of today's galaxies. MBHs populate galaxy centers today, and shone as quasars in the past; the quiescent black holes that we detect now in nearby bulges are the dormant remnants of this fiery past. In this review we report on basic, but critical, questions regarding the cosmological significance of MBHs. What physical mechanisms led to the formation of the first MBHs? How massive were the initial MBH seeds? When and where did they form? How is the growth of black holes linked to that of their host galaxy? The answers to most of these questions are works in progress, in the spirit of these reports on progress in physics.
Qubit stabilizer states are complex projective 3-designs

A complex projective $t$-design is a configuration of vectors which is ``evenly distributed'' on a sphere in the sense that sampling uniformly from it reproduces the moments of Haar measure up to order $2t$. We show that the set of all $n$-qubit stabilizer states forms a complex projective $3$-design in dimension $2^n$. Stabilizer states had previously only been known to constitute $2$-designs. The main technical ingredient is a general recursion formula for the so-called frame potential of stabilizer states. To establish it, we need to compute the number of stabilizer states with pre-described inner product with respect to a reference state. This, in turn, reduces to a counting problem in discrete symplectic vector spaces for which we find a simple formula. We sketch applications in quantum information and signal analysis.
Depression and socio-economic risk factors: 7-year longitudinal population study

Background Low socio-economic status is associated with a higher prevalence of depression, but it is not yet known whether change in socio-economic status leads to a change in rates of depression. Aims To assess whether longitudinal change in socio-economic factors affects change of depression level. Method In a prospective cohort study using the annual Belgian Household Panel Survey (1992–1999), depression was assessed using the Global Depression Scale. Socio-economic factors were assessed with regard to material standard of living, education, employment status and social relationships. Results A lowering in material standard of living between annual waves was associated with increases in depressive symptoms and caseness of major depression. Life circumstances also influenced depression. Ceasing to cohabit with a partner increased depressive symptoms and caseness, and improvement in circumstances reduced them; the negative effects were stronger than the positive ones. Conclusions The study showed a clear relationship between worsening socio-economic circumstances and depression.