Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Editorial peer review for improving the quality of reports of biomedical studies.

BACKGROUND Scientific findings must withstand critical review if they are to be accepted as valid, and editorial peer review (critique, effort to disprove) is an essential element of the scientific process. We review the evidence of the editorial peer-review process of original research studies submitted for paper or electronic publication in biomedical journals. OBJECTIVES To estimate the effect of processes in editorial peer review. SEARCH STRATEGY The following databases were searched to June 2004: CINAHL, Ovid, Cochrane Methodology Register, Dissertation abstracts, EMBASE, Evidence Based Medicine Reviews: ACP Journal Club, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PubMed. SELECTION CRITERIA We included prospective or retrospective comparative studies with two or more comparison groups, generated by random or other appropriate methods, and reporting original research, regardless of publication status. We hoped to find studies identifying good submissions on the basis of: importance of the topic dealt with, relevance of the topic to the journal, usefulness of the topic, soundness of methods, soundness of ethics, completeness and accuracy of reporting. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Because of the diversity of study questions, viewpoints, methods, and outcomes, we carried out a descriptive review of included studies grouping them by broad study question. MAIN RESULTS We included 28 studies. We found no clear-cut evidence of effect of the well-researched practice of reviewer and/or author concealment on the outcome of the quality assessment process (9 studies). Checklists and other standardisation media have some evidence to support their use (2 studies). There is no evidence that referees' training has any effect on the quality of the outcome (1 study). Different methods of communicating with reviewers and means of dissemination do not appear to have an effect on quality (3 studies). On the basis of one study, little can be said about the ability of the peer-review process to detect bias against unconventional drugs. Validity of peer review was tested by only one small study in a specialist area. Editorial peer review appears to make papers more readable and improve the general quality of reporting (2 studies), but the evidence for this has very limited generalisability. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS At present, little empirical evidence is available to support the use of editorial peer review as a mechanism to ensure quality of biomedical research. However, the methodological problems in studying peer review are many and complex. At present, the absence of evidence on efficacy and effectiveness cannot be interpreted as evidence of their absence. A large, well-funded programme of research on the effects of editorial peer review should be urgently launched.
Precursor B‐cell lymphoblastic lymphoma involving the skin

Precursor B‐cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (B‐LBL) is a rare neoplasm composed of immature lymphocytes that demonstrate lymphoblastic morphology and express precursor and B‐cell marker. It usually affects people of younger age group and causes multiple nodules on the head and neck area. The neoplasm is rare in old age. We report a case of B‐LBL occurring in a 65‐year‐old man. He presented with multiple skin nodules on the scalp, the neck and the arm for 2 months. Histopathologic examination demonstrated diffuse dermal and subcutaneous monotonous infiltrates of medium‐sized lymphoid cells with starry‐sky pattern. Immunohistochemical study showed that the lymphoid cells of infiltrate showed precursor B‐cell type. The patient has received combination chemotherapy three times and is being followed‐up at the outpatient clinic.
Pathological Internet use, cyberbullying and mobile phone use in adolescence: a school-based study in Greece

Abstract Purpose This study investigated the prevalence of Internet addiction (IA) and cyberbullying and examined profiles of adolescents with increased risk to develop pathological behaviors. Methods In this cross-sectional, school-based study, 8053 students of 30 middle and 21 high schools (12–18 years old) were invited to participate, based on a multistage stratified random sampling technique. The Internet aiddiction test (IAT) was used along with information on socio-demographics, Internet activities and cyberbullying experience. Results Five thousand five hundred and ninety students participated (response rate 69.4%). Pathological Internet use (IAT ≥50) was found in 526 (10.1%), while 403 (7.3%) experienced cyberbullying as victims and 367 (6.6%) as perpetrators during the last year. In multivariable models, the odds of IA increased with online hours on mobile phones and Internet use during weekends, Internet café visits, chatrooms usage and engagement in cyberbullying. Cyberbullying victims were more likely to be older, female, Facebook and chatrooms users, while perpetrators were more likely to be male, older Internet users and fans of pornographic sites. A perpetrator was significantly more likely to have also been a victim [odds ratio (OR) = 5.51, confidence interval (CI): 3.92–7.74]. Hours of daily Internet use on a mobile phone was independently associated with IA and cyberbullying (OR) 1.41, 95% CI 1.30, 1.53 and OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.01, 1.21, respectively. Conclusions Cyberbullying is associated with IA and the hours spent online on a mobile phone affected both conditions. The increasing Internet access through mobile phones or other devices should be accompanied by the appropriate education of both parents and adolescents on safe Internet use.
Isotonic regression in general dimensions

We study the least squares regression function estimator over the class of real-valued functions on $[0,1]^d$ that are increasing in each coordinate. For uniformly bounded signals and with a fixed, cubic lattice design, we establish that the estimator achieves the minimax rate of order $n^{-\min\{2/(d+2),1/d\}}$ in the empirical $L_2$ loss, up to poly-logarithmic factors. Further, we prove a sharp oracle inequality, which reveals in particular that when the true regression function is piecewise constant on $k$ hyperrectangles, the least squares estimator enjoys a faster, adaptive rate of convergence of $(k/n)^{\min(1,2/d)}$, again up to poly-logarithmic factors. Previous results are confined to the case $d \leq 2$. Finally, we establish corresponding bounds (which are new even in the case $d=2$) in the more challenging random design setting. There are two surprising features of these results: first, they demonstrate that it is possible for a global empirical risk minimisation procedure to be rate optimal up to poly-logarithmic factors even when the corresponding entropy integral for the function class diverges rapidly; second, they indicate that the adaptation rate for shape-constrained estimators can be strictly worse than the parametric rate.
Effects of LH-RH on Plasma Levels of LH and FSH in Anorexia Nervosa*

The effects of the recently synthesized decapeptide LH/RH (Pyro.Glu -His- Trp-Ser-Tyr- Gly-Leu-Arg- Pro-Gly. NH 2) on the release of LH and FSH could be verified by radioimmunoassay of these hormones in plasma of human beings (Schally, Ari· mura, Kastin,
The Roles of Ingroup Identification and Outgroup Entitativity in Intergroup Retribution

A new aspect of intergroup conflict was investigated— vicarious retribution—in which neither the agent of retribution nor the target of retribution are directly involved in the initial intergroup provocation. The underlying processes involved in vicarious intergroup retribution were tested correlationally (Study 1) and experimentally (Study 2). Both ingroup identification and outgroup entitativity predict the degree of vicarious retribution. In both studies, there was evidence of motivated cognition, specifically that highly identified individuals perceived the outgroup as higher in entitativity than individuals low in identification. Structural equation modeling demonstrated that part of the effect of identification on retribution against the outgroup was mediated through perceptions of entitativity.
The efficacy of erythropoietin in treating experimental traumatic brain injury: a systematic review of controlled trials in animal models.

OBJECT Erythropoietin (EPO) shows promise as a neuroprotective agent in animal models of traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, clinical trials of the efficacy of EPO treatment in patients with TBI yield conflicting results. The authors conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the effect of EPO in experimental animal models of TBI, the goal being to inform the design of future clinical trials. METHODS The authors identified eligible studies by searching PubMed, Web of Science, MEDLINE, Embase, and Google Scholar in October 2013. Data were pooled using the random-effects model, and results were reported in terms of standardized mean difference. Statistical heterogeneity was examined using both I(2) and chi-square tests, and the presence of small study effects was investigated with funnel plots and Egger tests. In-depth analyses were performed for lesion volume and neurobehavioral outcome, and the studies' methodological quality was also evaluated. RESULTS Of a total of 290 studies, 13 found an effect of EPO on lesion volume and neurobehavioral outcome. Overall, the methodological quality of the studies was poor, and there was evidence of statistical heterogeneity among the publications as well as small-study effects. However, in-depth analyses showed statistically significant findings in favor of a beneficial effect of EPO after TBI. CONCLUSIONS Despite limitations of this systematic review that may have influenced the findings, the authors conclude that EPO might be beneficial in treating experimental TBI in terms of reducing lesion volume and improving neurobehavioral outcome. However, this review also indicates that more well-designed and well-reported animal studies are needed.
Optimization of nanostructured lipid carriers for topical delivery of nimesulide using Box–Behnken design approach

Abstract Objective: The aim of the present study was to develop and optimize topically applied nimesulide-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers. Materials and methods: Box–Behnken experimental design was applied for optimization of nanostructured lipid carriers. The independent variables were ratio of stearic acid: oleic acid (X1), poloxamer 188 concentration (X2) and lecithin concentration (X3) while particle size (Y1) and entrapment efficiency (Y2) were the chosen responses. Further, skin penetration study, in vitro release, confocal laser scanning microscopy and stability study were also performed. Results and discussion: The optimized nanostructured lipid carriers of nimesulide provide reasonable particle size, flux, and entrapment efficiency. Optimized formulation (F9) with mean particle size of 214.4 ± 11 nm showed 89.4 ± 3.40% entrapment efficiency and achieved mean flux 2.66 ± 0.09 μg/cm2/h. In vitro release study showed prolonged drug release from the optimized formulation following Higuchi release kinetics with R2 value of 0.984. Confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed an enhanced penetration of Rhodamine B-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers to the deeper layers of the skin. The stability study confirmed that the optimized formulation was considerably stable at refrigerator temperature as compared to room temperature. Conclusion: Our results concluded that nanostructured lipid carriers are an efficient carrier for topical delivery of nimesulide.
Purification and characterization of major antigens from a Mycobacterium bovis culture filtrate

Ten major antigens from Mycobacterium bovis culture filtrate of 39, 32, 30, 25, 24, 22 (a and b forms), 19, 15, and 12 kDa have been purified and characterized by classical physicochemical methods. With monoclonal antibodies and/or N-terminal amino acid sequencing data, it was found that the antigens of 32, 30, 24, 22 (a), 19, and 12 kDa are related to M. bovis or M. tuberculosis antigens P32, MPB59, MPB64, MPB70, 19 kDa, and 12 kDa, respectively. The 39-, 25-, 22 (b)-, and 19-kDa antigens showed concanavalin A-binding properties and were positive in a glycan detection test, suggesting that they are glycoproteins. The 25- and 22 (b)-kDa proteins were found to be glycosylated forms of MPB70.
[Occurrence of Shiga toxigenic Escherichia coli strains in pigs and cattle at slaughterhouses in the Czech Republic in 2013].

OBJECTIVES This study was performed in cooperation with the State Veterinary Administration (SVA) in order to monitor the occurrence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli isolates in swabs from the carcasses of pigs and cattle at slaughterhouses. MATERIAL AND METHODS From June to August 2013, SVA staff took 168 swabs from cattle and 318 from pigs at 157 different slaughters in the Czech Republic. Basic processing of the samples was carried out in the State Veterinary Institutes (SVIs) in Prague, Jihlava and Olomouc according to the methodical process coordinated by the National reference laboratory (NRL) for Escherichia coli (Czech Ministry of Agriculture). The procedure was based on the guideline ISO TS 13136. RESULTS Out of the 486 swabs, twenty-two positive samples were detected. There were a total of 22 isolates of Shiga toxigenic E. coli (STEC) and 1 strain with the characteristic of enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC). Genes typical for enteroaggregative E. coli (EAggEC) were not found in any of the isolates. Most STEC strains originated from pigs. The stx1 gene was detected twice (stx1a, stx1d) and the stx2 gene 13 times (12 times stx2e, once stx2a). Seven STEC isolates were detected from samples of cattle origin. One strain was stx1 (stx1a) -positive, the stx2 gene was found 6 times (4 stx2e, 1 stx2a and 1 stx2c). One isolate carried simultaneously both stx1a and stx2a. Each of the serogroups O91, O113 and O146 described as etiological agents of severe disease in humans were detected only once. None of these strains harbored additional virulence factors typical for strains causing serious illness. CONCLUSION RESULTS of this study show the overall prevalence of Shiga toxigenic E. coli of 4.5 % and 0.2 % of enterohemorrhagic strains in the studied samples. Raw meat originating from local farms does not currently represent an important source of STEC for humans.
Mosaic Structure of the smpB-nrdEIntergenic Region of Salmonella enterica

ABSTRACT The Salmonella enterica smpB-nrdE intergenic region contains about 45 kb of DNA that is not present in Escherichia coli. This DNA region was not introduced by a single horizontal transfer event, but was generated by multiple insertions and/or deletions that gave rise to a mosaic structure in this area of the chromosome.
Methods for fuzzy classification and accuracy assessment of historical aerial photographs for vegetation change analyses. Part I: Algorithm development

Image classification of historical aerial photographs is very useful for the study of medium‐to‐long term (10–50 years) vegetation changes. To determine the quality of information derived from the classification process, accuracy assessment of the classification is implemented. Error matrix, which is primarily used in remote sensing for accuracy assessment, is typically based on an evaluation of the derived classification against some ‘ground truth’ or reference dataset. Regrettably ‘ground truths’ for some old historical photographs are rarely available. To solve this problem we formulate, in this Part I, methods of classification of aerial photographs and computation of accuracy assessment parameters of classification products in the absence of ground data, using the fuzzy classification technique. In addition, since point estimates of these accuracy parameters require associated standard errors, in order to be useful for statistical analysis, the method of computation of standard errors of accuracy measures using the bootstrap resampling techniques is presented. These methods are tested with historical aerial photographs, of part of Adulam Nature Reserve, Israel, spanning a period of 51 years. Results illustrate the applicability and efficiency of the proposed methods.
Basis selection in the presence of noise

We consider procedures to enhance the reliability of basis selection procedures with particular attention being given to methods based on minimizing diversity measures. To deal with noise in the data, basis selection procedures based on a Bayesian framework are considered. An algorithm based on the MAP estimation procedure is developed which leads to a regularized version of the FOCUSS algorithm. Another approach considered is to select basis vectors over multiple measurement vectors thereby achieving an averaging effect and enhancing the reliability. New diversity measures are presented for this purpose, and algorithms are derived for minimizing them.
Ion Pathways in the Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Ca2+-ATPase*

The sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) is a transmembrane ion transporter belonging to the PII-type ATPase family. It performs the vital task of re-sequestering cytoplasmic Ca2+ to the sarco/endoplasmic reticulum store, thereby also terminating Ca2+-induced signaling such as in muscle contraction. This minireview focuses on the transport pathways of Ca2+ and H+ ions across the lipid bilayer through SERCA. The ion-binding sites of SERCA are accessible from either the cytoplasm or the sarco/endoplasmic reticulum lumen, and the Ca2+ entry and exit channels are both formed mainly by rearrangements of four N-terminal transmembrane α-helices. Recent improvements in the resolution of the crystal structures of rabbit SERCA1a have revealed a hydrated pathway in the C-terminal transmembrane region leading from the ion-binding sites to the cytosol. A comparison of different SERCA conformations reveals that this C-terminal pathway is exclusive to Ca2+-free E2 states, suggesting that it may play a functional role in proton release from the ion-binding sites. This is in agreement with molecular dynamics simulations and mutational studies and is in striking analogy to a similar pathway recently described for the related sodium pump. We therefore suggest a model for the ion exchange mechanism in PII-ATPases including not one, but two cytoplasmic pathways working in concert.
Chlamydial heat shock proteins and trachoma

Two chlamydial proteins (HSP-60 and HSP-70) have marked homology with bacterial and mammalian heat shock proteins. Previous studies have indicated that when inoculated into the eyes of immune animals, a Triton X-100 extract of chlamydia containing HSP-60 induces an ocular delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction. The potential for HSP-70 to induce a similar reaction was tested in six cynomolgus monkeys that had been sensitized to both antigens by previous ocular chlamydial infection. Whereas the chlamydial extract containing HSP-60 induced a marked clinical response within 24 h of inoculation, no response followed inoculation of HSP-70 in the contralateral eye. The lack of a response to HSP-70 suggests that further assessment of its potential as a trachoma vaccine is warranted.
Eect of Dierent Gravity Environments on DNA Fragmentation and Cell Death in KalanchoeÈ Leaves

0305-7364/0 * For corr versity of Ca 1819, e-mail m Dierent gravity environments have been shown to signi®cantly aect leaf-plantlet formation and asexual reproduction in KalanchoeÈ daigremontiana Ham. and Perr. In the present work, we investigated the eect of gravity at tissue and cell levels. Leaves and leaf-plantlets were cultured for dierent periods of time (min to 15 d) in dierent levels of gravity stimulation: simulated hypogravity (1 rpm clinostats; 2 10ÿ4 g), 1 g (control) and hypergravity (centrifugation; 20 and 150 g). Both simulated hypogravity and hypergravity aected cell death (apoptosis) in this species, and variations in the number of cells showing DNA fragmentation directly correlated with nitric oxide (NO) formation. Apoptosis in leaves was more common as gravity increased. Apoptotic cells were localized in the epidermis, mainly guard cells, in leaf parenchyma, and in tracheary elements undergoing terminal dierentiation. Exposures to acute hypergravity (up to 60 min) showed that chloroplast DNA fragmentation occurred prior to nuclear DNA fragmentation, marginalization of chromatin, nuclear condensation, and nuclear blebbing. Addition of sodium nitroprusside (NO donor) mimicked centrifugation. NO and DNA fragmentation decreased with N-monomethyl-Larginine (NO-synthase inhibitor). The variations in NO levels, nucleoid DNA fragmentation, and cell death show how chloroplasts, cells and leaves may respond (and adapt) to gravity changes. # 2000 Annals of Botany Company
The colour/pattern polymorphism of Philaenus spumarius (Hemiptera: Cercopidae) in the north-western Black Sea region of Turkey

The heritable elytral colour/pattern polymorphism of Philaenus spumarius in north-western Black Sea region of Turkey was investigated. A total of 2,530 adult spittlebugs, 1,020 females and 1,510 males were collected and analysed in terms of the 11 most common colour forms. Nine different phenotypes, expressed by six different alleles, were determined: populi (POP), typicus (TYP), trilineatus (TRI), marginellus (MAR), flavicollis (FLA), leucocephalus (LCE), gibbus (GIB), albomaculatus (ALB), and leucophtalmus (LOP). The common phenotypes lateralis (LAT) and quadrimaculatus (QUA) of previous studies were not encountered at all. The predominant phenotype was TYP (63%) in females and males followed by POP (31%). TRI (4%) and melanics (5%) were at close proportions. However, only one site had nine phenotypes altogether. The majority of the sites had only the POP and TYP morphs. The melanic forms were found only in females.
WHO HIV clinical staging or CD4 cell counts for antiretroviral therapy eligibility assessment? An evaluation in rural Rakai district, Uganda

The ability of WHO clinical staging to predict CD4 cell counts of 200 cells/μl or less was evaluated among 1221 patients screened for antiretroviral therapy (ART). Sensitivity was 51% and specificity was 88%. The positive predictive value was 64% and the negative predictive value was 81%. Clinical criteria missed half the patients with CD4 cell counts of 200 cells/μl or less, highlighting the importance of CD4 cell measurements for the scale-up of ART provision in resource-limited settings.
Letter regarding article by Michels et al, "Single-channel properties support a potential contribution of hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channels and If to cardiac arrhythmias".

To the Editor: “Funny” channels are responsible for generation of pacemaker activity and autonomic modulation of cardiac rate. Because of their low conductance (≈1 pS), single f-channels were elusive, and the first (cell-attached) recording published in 19861 was achieved thanks to a modification of the patch-clamp technique with 2 pipettes on the same cell, one to apply voltages and one to record single channels. With this arrangement there was no need to subtract capacitive transients in the patch pipette because there were none, which greatly increased the recording resolution. Cell-free inside-out f-channel recording was published later2 also with a modification (voltage steps delivered via the bath pellet) for improved resolution. Because our laboratory has been the only one to publish single f-channel data, I read with interest the recent article by Michels and colleagues on single-HCN (hyperpolarization-activated, cyclic nucleotide–gated; the molecular correlates of native pacemaker channels) and human f-channel properties.3 However, single channels recorded by Michels and coworkers do not appear to be the same as those published previously. …