Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CONSORT-EHEALTH: Improving and Standardizing Evaluation Reports of Web-based and Mobile Health Interventions

Background Web-based and mobile health interventions (also called “Internet interventions” or "eHealth/mHealth interventions") are tools or treatments, typically behaviorally based, that are operationalized and transformed for delivery via the Internet or mobile platforms. These include electronic tools for patients, informal caregivers, healthy consumers, and health care providers. The Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) statement was developed to improve the suboptimal reporting of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). While the CONSORT statement can be applied to provide broad guidance on how eHealth and mHealth trials should be reported, RCTs of web-based interventions pose very specific issues and challenges, in particular related to reporting sufficient details of the intervention to allow replication and theory-building. Objective To develop a checklist, dubbed CONSORT-EHEALTH (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials of Electronic and Mobile HEalth Applications and onLine TeleHealth), as an extension of the CONSORT statement that provides guidance for authors of eHealth and mHealth interventions. Methods A literature review was conducted, followed by a survey among eHealth experts and a workshop. Results A checklist instrument was constructed as an extension of the CONSORT statement. The instrument has been adopted by the Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR) and authors of eHealth RCTs are required to submit an electronic checklist explaining how they addressed each subitem. Conclusions CONSORT-EHEALTH has the potential to improve reporting and provides a basis for evaluating the validity and applicability of eHealth trials. Subitems describing how the intervention should be reported can also be used for non-RCT evaluation reports. As part of the development process, an evaluation component is essential; therefore, feedback from authors will be solicited, and a before-after study will evaluate whether reporting has been improved.
Effect of trimetazidine on preventing contrast-induced nephropathy in diabetic patients with renal insufficiency.

BACKGROUND Our study sought to assess the effect of trimetazidine (TMZ) on preventing contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) in diabetic patients with renal insufficiency. MATERIALS AND METHODS 106 diabetic patients with renal insufficiency who were undergoing coronary angiography (CAG) and/or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were enrolled in this study. Standard hydration was administered to both groups (the TMZ group and the control group). In the TMZ group, patients were orally administered TMZ for 48 hours before and 24 hours after CAG and/or PCI. Serum creatinine (Scr), cystatin C and the glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were measured before as well as 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours after contrast media injection. The incidence of CIN and major cardiovascular events (MACE) was also evaluated in both groups. RESULTS Scr, cystatin C and the eGRF in the TMZ group were better than those in the control group after 24 hours (OR: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.54-0.82; OR: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.62-0.73; OR: 1.2, 95% CI: 1.02-1.53, respectively), 48 hours (OR: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.52-0.73; OR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.69-0.84; OR: 1.5, 95% CI: 1.25-1.68, respectively) and 72 hours (OR: 0.82, 95% CI: 0.77-0.91; OR: 0.85, 95% CI: 0.71-0.92; OR: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.33-1.72, respectively). The incidence of CIN (9.26% vs 16.67%) and MACE (7.41% vs 18.51%) in the TMZ group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Our study suggests that TMZ could reduce the incidence of CIN and MACE in diabetic patients with renal insufficiency who are undergoing CAG and/or PCI.
Evaluation of Antioxidant Activity of Solvent Extracted Pomegranate Peel and its Effect against Plant Pathogenic Bacteria and Fungi

Pomegranate peel the byproduct of pomegranate industry when extracted with different solvents revealed that methanol: water (80:20) and acetone: water (80:20) to be equally effective solvents for extraction of various antioxidants. The peel extract of Ganesh variety of pomegranate had more amount of antioxidant viz . , phenol, proathocyanidin and flavonoid with more antioxidant activity in terms DPPH and FRAP value when compared with the synthetic butylated hydroxyl toluene (BHT). The methanolic extract when tested against different plant pathogens viz., Xanthomonas spp. ( Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. punicae, Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. malvacearum and Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri ), Aspergillus flavous and Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceri was found to inhibit the growth of bacteria and fungi.
Sevoflurane for Sedation in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

Rationale: Sevoflurane improves gas exchange, and reduces alveolar edema and inflammation in preclinical studies of lung injury, but its therapeutic effects have never been investigated in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Objectives: To assess whether sevoflurane would improve gas exchange and inflammation in ARDS. Methods: We did a parallel, open‐label single‐center randomized controlled trial at three intensive care units from a French university hospital between April 2014 and February 2016. Adult patients were randomized within 24 hours of moderate‐to‐severe ARDS onset to receive either intravenous midazolam or inhaled sevoflurane for 48 hours. The primary outcome was the PaO2/FiO2 ratio on Day 2. Secondary endpoints included alveolar and plasma levels of cytokines and soluble form of the receptor for advanced glycation end‐products, and safety. Investigators who did the analyses were masked to group allocation. Analysis was by intention to treat. Measurements and Main Results: Twenty‐five patients were assigned to the sevoflurane group and 25 to the midazolam group. On Day 2, PaO2/FiO2 ratio was higher in the sevoflurane group than in the midazolam group (mean ± SD, 205 ± 56 vs. 166 ± 59, respectively; P = 0.04). There was a significant reduction over time in cytokines and soluble form of the receptor for advanced glycation end‐products levels in the sevoflurane group, compared with the midazolam group, and no serious adverse event was observed with sevoflurane. Conclusions: In patients with ARDS, use of inhaled sevoflurane improved oxygenation and decreased levels of a marker of epithelial injury and of some inflammatory markers, compared with midazolam. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials. gov (NCT 02166853).
Multi-breed genetic evaluation of beef bulls used in dairy herds – Emphasis on newest development

Since 2018, Nordic Cattle Genetic Evaluation (NAV) routinely estimates across breed breeding values for beef sires based on data from their offspring when used on dairy cows and since 2019, the Nordic farmers have access to the Nordic Beef × Dairy overall economic Index (NBDI). To fulfill requests expressed by the industry, the NAV Beef × Dairy evaluation traits portfolio has recently been expanded to include two new trait groups, youngstock survival and gestation length. The aim of this paper is to describe the current Nordic routine evaluation for beef bulls used on dairy cows with focus on the recent developments.
A semi-implicit multiscale scheme for shallow water flows at low Froude number

A new large time step semi-implicit multiscale method is presented for the solution of low Froude-number shallow water flows. While on small scales which are under-resolved in time the impact of source terms on the divergence of the flow is essentially balanced, on large resolved scales the scheme propagates free gravity waves with minimized diffusion. The scheme features a scale decomposition based on multigrid ideas. Two different time integrators are blended at each scale depending on the scale-dependent Courant number for gravity wave propagation. The finite-volume discretization is based on a Cartesian grid and is second order accurate. The basic properties of the method are validated by numerical tests. This development is a further step in the development of asymptotically adaptive numerical methods for the computation of large scale atmospheric flows.
Anti-VEGF Agents with or without Antimetabolites in Trabeculectomy for Glaucoma: A Meta-Analysis

Purpose We aimed to evaluate the intraoperative application of antimetabolites compared with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents with or without antimetabolites in trabeculectomy (Trab) for glaucoma. Methods Relevant studies were selected through extensive search using PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases in August 2013. The primary efficacy estimate was measured using weighted mean difference of the percentage of intraocular pressure reduction (IOPR%) from baseline to end-point, and the secondary efficacy estimates were odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for complete success rate and qualified success rate. ORs were also used to measure the tolerability estimate for adverse events. Meta-analyses of fixed or random effects models were conducted using RevMan software 5.2 to pool the results of the studies included. Heterogeneity was assessed using Chi2 test and the I2 measure. Results Nine studies enrolling a total of 349 patients were included. The weighted mean difference of IOPR% from baseline was 7.23 (95% CI: 2.57–11.89) for antimetabolites vs. anti-VEGF agents and 3.96 (95% CI: −4.18–12.10) for antimetabolites vs. anti-VEGF agents plus antimetabolites. The pooled ORs comparing antimetabolites with anti-VEGF agents were 2.37 (95% CI: 0.78, 7.21) for the complete success rate and 1.93 (95% CI: 0.52, 7.16) for qualified success rate. The pooled ORs comparing antimetabolites with anti-VEGF agents plus antimetabolites were 1.43 (95% CI: 0.48, 4.29) for the complete success rate and 2.11 (95% CI: 0.12, 37.72) for qualified success rate. The rates of adverse events did not significantly differ between antimetabolites and anti-VEGF agents, with pooled ORs of 0.86 (0.28–2.69) for bleb leakage, 3.01 (0.45–20.10) for choroidal effusion, 0.96 (0.23–3.98) for flat anterior chamber, and 0.90 (0.12–6.60) for hypotony. Further, the rates of adverse events were similar between antimetabolites and anti-VEGF agents plus antimetabolites, with pooled ORs of 0.40 (0.08–2.00) and 8.00 (0.93–68.59) for bleb leakage and hypotony, respectively. Conclusions In comparison with anti-VEGF agents, antimetabolites were more effective in lowering IOP in Trab, while the intraoperative application of these two types of agents did not indicate statistically significant differences in the complete success rate, qualified success rate, or incidence of adverse events.
Antibiotic Treatment of Animals Infected with Borrelia burgdorferi

SUMMARY Despite resolution of the objective manifestations of Lyme disease after antibiotic treatment, a minority of patients have fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, and/or difficulties with concentration or short-term memory of uncertain etiology; these are called post-Lyme disease symptoms or, in more severe cases, post-Lyme disease syndrome or “chronic Lyme disease. ” Several recent studies in which Borrelia burgdorferi-infected animals were treated with antibiotic therapy have demonstrated the presence of PCR positivity for B. burgdorferi DNA in the absence of culture positivity. In mice that were treated with antibiotic therapy, residual spirochetes could be taken up by ticks during a blood meal and could be transmitted to SCID mice. These spirochetes are attenuated; their presence is not associated with either inflammation or disease. In this review the methodology and findings of these studies are critically analyzed, and the significance of the results with regard to human Lyme disease is evaluated, with special emphasis on whether these studies provide useful insights into post-Lyme disease syndrome. A serious methodological concern is the failure to consider the pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic properties of the antibiotic in choosing the dosage regimen used. We conclude that there is no scientific evidence to support the hypothesis that such spirochetes, should they exist in humans, are the cause of post-Lyme disease syndrome.
GPS Imaging of vertical land motion in California and Nevada: Implications for Sierra Nevada uplift

We introduce Global Positioning System (GPS) Imaging, a new technique for robust estimation of the vertical velocity field of the Earth's surface, and apply it to the Sierra Nevada Mountain range in the western United States. Starting with vertical position time series from Global Positioning System (GPS) stations, we first estimate vertical velocities using the MIDAS robust trend estimator, which is insensitive to undocumented steps, outliers, seasonality, and heteroscedasticity. Using the Delaunay triangulation of station locations, we then apply a weighted median spatial filter to remove velocity outliers and enhance signals common to multiple stations. Finally, we interpolate the data using weighted median estimation on a grid. The resulting velocity field is temporally and spatially robust and edges in the field remain sharp. Results from data spanning 5–20 years show that the Sierra Nevada is the most rapid and extensive uplift feature in the western United States, rising up to 2 mm/yr along most of the range. The uplift is juxtaposed against domains of subsidence attributable to groundwater withdrawal in California's Central Valley. The uplift boundary is consistently stationary, although uplift is faster over the 2011–2016 period of drought. Uplift patterns are consistent with groundwater extraction and concomitant elastic bedrock uplift, plus slower background tectonic uplift. A discontinuity in the velocity field across the southeastern edge of the Sierra Nevada reveals a contrast in lithospheric strength, suggesting a relationship between late Cenozoic uplift of the southern Sierra Nevada and evolution of the southern Walker Lane.
Computational Complexity of Graphs

Computational complexity of graphs is the smallest number of union and intersection operations required to generate them when starting from simplest sets of edges: stars or cliques. An intriguing aspect of this measure is its connection to circuit complexity of Boolean functions and, in particular, with the P versus NP question. We survey this connection as well as known bounds on the complexity of explicit graphs.
Assessment of macropore geometry and factors affecting water and chemical movement through no-tillage and plowed soils /

Granovsky, A.V. , E.L. McCoy, W.A. Dick, W.M. Edwards, and M.J. Shipitalo. 1990. Preferential transport of water and chemicals as influenced by tillage. Agron. Abstr. p.212. Granovsky, A.V. , E.L. McCoy, and R.J, Roseberg. 1991. Lateral sorptivity of soil macropores as influenced by tillage. Agron. Abstr. p.219. Granovsky, A.V. , E.L. McCoy, and F.W, Simmons, 1992. Field scale characterization of macropore hydraulics. Agron. Abstr. p.217. Granovsky, A.V. , E.L. McCoy, 1993. Exploring the hydraulic behavior of a USGA putting green soil profile. Agron. Abstr. p.158. iii
MST radar and polarization lidar observations of tropical cirrus

Abstract. Significant gaps in our understanding of global cirrus effects on the climate system involve the role of frequently occurring tropical cirrus. Much of the cirrus in the atmosphere is largely due to frequent cumulus and convective activity in the tropics. In the Indian sub-tropical region, the deep convective activity is very prominent from April to December, which is a favorable period for the formation of deep cumulus clouds. The fibrous anvils of these clouds, laden with ice crystals, are one of the source mechanisms for much of the cirrus in the atmosphere. In the present study, several passages of tropical cirrus were investigated by simultaneously operating MST radar and a co-located polarization lidar at the National MST Radar Facility (NMRF), Gadanki (13.45° N, 79.18° E), India to understand its structure, the background wind field and the microphysics at the cloud boundaries. The lidar system used is capable of measuring the degree of depolarization in the laser backscatter. It has identified several different cirrus structures with a peak linear depolarization ratio (LDR) in the range of 0.1 to 0.32. Simultaneous observations of tropical cirrus by the VHF Doppler radar indicated a clear enhancement of reflectivity detected in the vicinity of the cloud boundaries, as revealed by the lidar and are strongly dependent on observed cloud LDR. An inter-comparison of radar reflectivity observed for vertical and oblique beams reveals that the radar-enhanced reflectivity at the cloud boundaries is also accompanied by significant aspect sensitivity. These observations indicate the presence of anisotropic turbulence at the cloud boundaries. Radar velocity measurements show that boundaries of cirrus are associated with enhanced horizontal winds, significant vertical shear in the horizontal winds and reduced vertical velocity. Therefore, these measurements indicate that a circulation at the cloud boundaries suggest an entrainment taking place close to these levels. The analysis of simultaneous lidar and MST Radar observations can thus yield valuable information on the structure and dynamics of the cirrus, specifically near the boundaries of such clouds. Key words. Atmospheric composition and structure (cloud physics and chemistry; instruments and technique) - Meteorology and atmospheric dynamics (tropical meteorology)
Comparison of a Modifiable Cranial Cup versus Repositioning and Cervical Stretching for the Early Correction of Deformational Posterior Plagiocephaly

Background: Deformational occipital flattening is the most common cause of abnormal head shape. Current treatment calls for repositioning and cervical stretching in infants younger than 5 months. The authors assessed the effectiveness of a modifiable cranial cup compared to repositioning and cervical stretching to correct early deformational plagiocephaly. Methods: This nonrandomized, prospective clinical trial used historical controls. The treatment and control groups consisted of infants, younger than 4 months, referred for deformational posterior plagiocephaly. The control children were managed by repositioning and cervical stretching exercises. An adjustable concave cranial cup was used in the treated group. Infants were examined at the initial and final visits by a single examiner. Calvarial asymmetry was measured using a large cranial caliper. Active head rotation and degree of rotational asymmetry were estimated to the nearest 10 degrees. Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the control (n = 23) and treatment groups (n = 24) with respect to gestational age at birth, age at initial visit, initial head rotational asymmetry, initial transcranial difference, final head rotational asymmetry, and age at final evaluation. Mean time between initial and final evaluation was 56.3 days for the treatment group and 61.6 days for the control group. The mean transcranial difference decreased from 11.2 to 3.5 mm in the treatment group, and from 9.0 to 8.0 mm in the control group (p = 0.000). Conclusion: The cranial cup, a modifiable concave resting surface, is significantly more effective than repositioning and physical therapy for correcting early deformational plagiocephaly.
Calcium and calmodulin regulate lipopolysaccharide-induced alveolar macrophage production of tumor necrosis factor and procoagulant activity.

BACKGROUND Alterations in macrophage (M phi) function are responsible, in part, for adult respiratory distress syndrome and multiple organ failure developing in patients with sepsis. Elucidation and control of these M phi mechanisms during sepsis are crucial to our understanding of this disease and, ultimately, to improving survival of these patients. OBJECTIVE To investigate the involvement of calcium flux in endotoxin-induced alveolar M phi production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and procoagulant (PC) activity. DESIGN Rabbit alveolar M phi obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage were exposed to endotoxin in the form of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) extracted from Escherichia coli 0111:B4 in the presence of different specific calcium agonists and antagonists. The TNF expression was measured in the supernatant by L929 bioassays. The PC activity was determined in cell lysates by a one-step coagulation assay. RESULTS Macrophages activated by LPS produce enormous levels of TNF and PC. Either W7 (20 mumol/L), a calmodulin antagonist, or TMB-8 (50 mumol/L), which prevents calcium release from the endoplasmic reticulum, inhibited production of both TNF and PC activity. Verapamil (50 mumol/L) alone or combined with TMB-8 significantly inhibited both TNF and PC production by LPS-stimulated M phi. Elevating intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i), using the calcium ionophore, A23187, or thapsigargin alone, did not induce M phi production of TNF but significantly augmented LPS-stimulated TNF production. CONCLUSION Our results indicate that increased intracellular calcium causing signal transduction activation through the calmodulin pathway is a necessary, but insufficient, component of the LPS signaling in M phi.
The RNA Binding Domain of the Hantaan Virus N Protein Maps to a Central, Conserved Region

ABSTRACT The nucleocapsid (N) protein of hantaviruses encapsidates both viral genomic and antigenomic RNAs, although only the genomic viral RNA (vRNA) is packaged into virions. To define the domain within the Hantaan virus (HTNV) N protein that mediates these interactions, 14 N- and C-terminal deletion constructs were cloned into a bacterial expression vector, expressed, and purified to homogeneity. Each protein was examined for its ability to bind the HTNV S segment vRNA with filter binding and gel electrophoretic mobility shift assays. These studies mapped a minimal region within the HTNV N protein (amino acids 175 to 217) that bound vRNA. Sequence alignments made from several hantavirus N protein sequences showed that the region identified has a 58% identity and an 86% similarity among these amino acid sequences. Two peptides corresponding to amino acids 175 to 196 (N1) and 197 to 218 (N2) were synthesized. The RNA binding of each peptide was measured by filter binding and competition analysis. Three oligoribonucleotides were used to measure binding affinity and assess specificity. The N2 peptide contained the major RNA binding determinants, while the N1 peptide, when mixed with N2, contributed to the specificity of vRNA recognition.
Isolation and Characterization of Lytic Bacteriophage ( ϕϕϕϕϕ STIz1) against Salmonella enterica serovars Typhimurium

One new bacteriophage against Salmonella Typhimurium designated ϕϕϕϕϕ STIz1 was isolated from sewage of poultry farm located at Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh. Ultrastructural (Transmission Electron Microscopy; TEM) analysis revealed that phage had round head with diameter of 52.95±3 nm, and long, noncontractile tail with length of 190.28±5 nm indicating that it belonged to the order Caudovirales and family Siphoviridae morphotype B2. The isolated bacteriophage was found to be double-stranded DNA. SDS-PAGE profile of bacteriophage revealed four structural proteins ranging from 59 KDa to 16 KDa. Host range analysis indicated that the bacteriophage was lytic to 9 of the 12 isolates of Salmonella tested and did not show lytic activity against S . Saintpaul, S . Virchow, Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli. The phage was found to be stable between the pH 4 to 11 and temperature between 4 o C to 60 o C.