Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Topical silver for treating infected wounds.

BACKGROUND Topical silver treatments and silver dressings are increasingly used for the local treatment of contaminated or infected wounds, however, there is a lack of clarity regarding the evidence for their effectiveness. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effects on wound healing of topical silver and silver dressings in the treatment of contaminated and infected acute or chronic wounds. SEARCH STRATEGY We sought relevant trials from the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), the Cochrane Wounds Group Specialised Register in March 2006 and in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and digital dissertations databases up to September 2006. In addition, we contacted companies, manufacturers and distributors for information to identify relevant trials. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effectiveness of topical silver in the treatment of contaminated and infected acute or chronic wounds. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Eligibility of trials, assessment of trial quality and data extraction were undertaken by two authors independently. Disagreements were referred to a third author. MAIN RESULTS Three RCTs were identified, comprising a total of 847 participants. One trial compared silver-containing foam (Contreet) with hydrocellular foam (Allevyn) in patients with leg ulcers. The second trial compared a silver-containing alginate (Silvercel) with an alginate alone (Algosteril). The third trial compared a silver-containing foam dressing (Contreet)) with best local practice in patients with chronic wounds.The data from these trials show that silver-containing foam dressings did not significantly increase complete ulcer healing as compared with standard foam dressings or best local practice after up to four weeks of follow-up, although a greater reduction of ulcer size was observed with the silver-containing foam. The use of antibiotics was assessed in two trials, but no significant differences were found. Data on pain, patient satisfaction, length of hospital stay, and costs were limited and showed no differences. Leakage occurred significantly less frequently in patients with leg ulcers and chronic wounds treated with a silver dressing than with a standard foam dressing or best local practice in one trial. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Only three trials with a short follow-up duration were found. There is insufficient evidence to recommend the use of silver-containing dressings or topical agents for treatment of infected or contaminated chronic wounds.
Methodological strategies for transgene copy number quantification in goats (Capra hircus) using real‐time PCR

Taking into account the importance of goats as transgenic models, as well as the rarity of copy number (CN) studies in farm animals, the present work aimed to evaluate methodological strategies for accurate and precise transgene CN quantification in goats using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Mouse and goat lines transgenic for human granulocyte‐colony stimulating factor were used. After selecting the best genomic DNA extraction method to be applied in mouse and goat samples, intra‐assay variations, accuracy and precision of CN quantifications were assessed. The optimized conditions were submitted to mathematical strategies and used to quantify CN in goat lines. The findings were as follows: validation of qPCR conditions is required, and amplification efficiency is the most important. Absolute and relative quantifications are able to produce similar results. For normalized absolute quantification, the same plasmid fragment used to generate goat lines must be mixed with wild‐type goat genomic DNA, allowing the choice of an endogenous reference gene for data normalization. For relative quantifications, a resin‐based genomic DNA extraction method is strongly recommended when using mouse tail tips as calibrators to avoid tissue‐specific inhibitors. Efficient qPCR amplifications (≥95%) allow reliable CN measurements with SYBR technology. TaqMan must be used with caution in goats if the nucleotide sequence of the endogenous reference gene is not yet well understood. Adhering to these general guidelines can result in more exact CN determination in goats. Even when working under nonoptimal circumstances, if assays are performed that respect the minimum qPCR requirements, good estimations of transgene CN can be achieved. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog. , 30:1390–1400, 2014
Cardiac SSFP imaging at 3 Tesla

Balanced steady‐state free precession (SSFP) techniques provide excellent contrast between myocardium and blood at a high signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR). Hence, SSFP imaging has become the method of choice for assessing cardiac function at 1.5T. The expected improvement in SNR at higher field strength prompted us to implement SSFP at 3.0T. In this work, an optimized sequence protocol for cardiac SSFP imaging at 3.0T is derived, taking into account several partly adverse effects at higher field, such as increased field inhomogeneities, longer T1, and power deposition limitations. SSFP contrast is established by optimizing the maximum amplitude of the radiofrequency (RF) field strength for shortest TR, as well as by localized linear or second‐order shimming and local optimization of the resonance frequency. Given the increased SNR, sensitivity encoding (SENSE) can be employed to shorten breath‐hold times. Short‐axis, long‐axis, and four‐chamber cine views obtained in healthy adult subjects are presented, and three different types of artifacts are discussed along with potential methods for reducing them. Magn Reson Med 51:799–806, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Sulf-2: an extracellular modulator of cell signaling and a cancer target candidate

Importance of the field: Sulf-1 and Sulf-2 are sulfatases that edit the sulfation status of heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) on the outside of cells and regulate a number of critical signaling pathways. The Sulfs are dysregulated in many cancers with Sulf-2 in particular implicated as a driver of carcinogenesis in NSCLC, pancreatic cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma. Areas covered in this review: This review describes the novel activity of the Sulfs in altering the sulfation pattern of HSPG chains on the outside of cells. Thereby, the Sulfs can change the binding of growth factors to these chains and can either promote (e.g., Wnt) or inhibit (e.g., fibroblast growth factor-2) signaling. The review focuses on the widespread upregulation of both Sulfs in cancers and summarizes the evidence that Sulf-2 promotes the transformed behavior of several types of cancer cells in vitro as well as their tumorigenicity in vivo. What the reader will gain: Sulf-2 is a bonafide candidate as a cancer-causing agent in NSCLC and other cancers in which it is upregulated. Take home message: Sulf-2 is an extracellular enzyme and as such would be an attractive therapeutic target for the treatment of NSCLC and other cancers.
Ranks of a Constrained Hermitian Matrix Expression with Applications

We establish the formulas of the maximal and minimal ranks of the quaternion Hermitian matrix expression where is a Hermitian solution to quaternion matrix equations , , and . As applications, we give a new necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of Hermitian solution to the system of matrix equations , , , and , which was investigated by Wang and Wu, 2010, by rank equalities. In addition, extremal ranks of the generalized Hermitian Schur complement with respect to a Hermitian g-inverse of , which is a common solution to quaternion matrix equations and , are also considered.
Data literacy: in search of a name and identity

Purpose – The role of data literacy is discussed in the light of such activities as data a quality, data management, data curation, and data citation. The differing terms and their relationship to the most important literacies are examined. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – By stressing the importance of data literacy in fulfilling the mission of the contemporary academic library, the paper centres on information literacy, while the characteristics of other relevant literacies are also examined. The content of data literacy education is explained in the context of data-related activities. Findings – It can be concluded that there is a need for data literacy and it is advantageous to have a unified terminology. Data literacy can be offered both to researchers, who need to become data literate science workers and have the goal to educate data management professionals. Several lists of competencies contain important skills and abilities, many of them indicating the close r.
Predictors of COPD symptoms: does the sex of the patient matter?

Although chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients frequently report symptoms, it is not known which factors determine the course of symptoms over time and if these differ according to the sex of the patient. The current study investigated predictors for presence, development and remission of COPD symptoms in 816 males and 312 females completing 3-yr-follow-up in the European Respiratory Society Study on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (EUROSCOP). The following were included in generalised estimating equations logistic regression analyses: explanatory variables of treatment; pack-yrs smoking; age, forced expiratory volume in one second % predicted (FEV1 % pred); annual increase in FEV1 and number of cigarettes smoked; body mass index; and phadiatop. Interaction terms of sex multiplied by explanatory variables were tested. Over 3 yrs, similar proportions of males and females reported symptoms. In males only, higher FEV1 % pred was associated with reduction in new symptoms of wheeze and dyspnoea, and symptom prevalence was reduced with annual FEV1 improvement and phlegm prevalence reduced with budesonide treatment (odds ratio 0.66; 95% confidence interval 0.52–0.83). Additionally an increase in the number of cigarettes smoked between visits increased the risk of developing phlegm (1.40 (1.14–1.70)) and wheeze (1.24 (1.03–1.51)) in males but not females. The current study shows longitudinally that symptom reporting is similar by sex. The clinical course of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can differ by sex, as males show greater response to cigarette exposure and treatment.
What Are the Main Characteristics of High Performance Teams for Software Development?

This paper presents a discussion in relation to current training approaches to software development and their relation to high performance team formation. We performed an ad hoc literature review about training approaches in Software Engineering and a systematic literature review about the characteristics of high performance software development teams. Based on what was found we reflect on the challenges of training high performance teams for software development projects and to what extent the current training approaches overcome such challenges.
The clinical significance of major depression following mild traumatic brain injury.

OBJECTIVE The authors assessed the association of major depression with behavioral outcome following mild traumatic brain injury. METHOD Consecutive patients with mild traumatic brain injury (N=170) were assessed for major depression. Those with major depression were compared with those without on self-report measures of psychosocial dysfunction, psychological distress, and postconcussive symptoms in addition to examiner-rated neurobehavioral disturbance. RESULTS Major depression was seen in 15.3% (N=26) of the subjects after traumatic brain injury, and these individuals showed subjective and objective evidence of poorer outcome. CONCLUSIONS Major depression is associated with poor outcome across multiple domains. This study highlights the need for the early diagnosis and prompt treatment of major depression following mild traumatic brain injury.
Training Community Health Workers to Enhance Disaster Resilience

Community health workers (CHWs) have significant potential to contribute to public health in the United States by promoting disaster preparedness, speeding postdisaster recovery, and building disaster resilience in their communities. To maximize this potential, however, they must undergo rigorous and relevant training. As part of the Gulf Region Health Outreach Program, an appropriate curriculum was developed and delivered in several training sessions conducted from 2013 to 2016. This article provides insights into the primary issues associated with such training and offers a detailed elaboration of the basic and specialized curricula as presented and adapted over the course of the program. We present lessons learned from these training experiences, as reflected in participants' initial ratings and comments, training staff debriefings, and feedback from CHWs working in the field. Informed by this feedback, as well as additional research and conceptual development, we offer recommendations aimed at expanding and refining CHW training curricula in the areas of chronic disease, psychosocial symptoms, community resilience, and environmental health. In addition to curriculum changes, we review policy implications aimed at promoting and facilitating the inclusion of CHWs in disaster response and recovery teams.
Smart Hydrogel Micromechanical Resonators with Ultrasound Readout for Biomedical Sensing.

One of the main challenges for implantable biomedical sensing schemes is obtaining a reliable signal while maintaining biocompatibility. In this work, we demonstrate that a combination of medical ultrasound imaging and smart hydrogel micromechanical resonators can be employed for continuous monitoring of analyte concentrations. The sensing principle is based on the shift of the mechanical resonance frequencies of smart hydrogel structures induced by their volume-phase transition in response to changing analyte levels. This shift can then be measured as a contrast change in the ultrasound images due to resonance absorption of ultrasound waves. The concept eliminates the need for implanting complex electronics or employing transcutaneous connections for sensing biomedical analytes in vivo. Here we present proof-of-principle experiments that monitor in vitro changes in ionic strength and glucose concentration to demonstrate the capabilities and potential of this versatile sensing platform technology.
Size and Orientation of Masticatory Muscles in Patients with Mandibular Laterognathism

Size measurements of jaw muscles reflect their force capabilities and correlate with facial morphology. Using MRI, we examined the size and orientation of jaw muscles in patients with mandibular laterognathism in comparison with a control group. We hypothesized that the muscles of the deviated side would be smaller than those of the non-deviated side, and that the muscles of both sides would be smaller than in controls. In patients, a comparison of deviated and non-deviated sides showed, in orientation, differences for masseter and medial pterygoid muscles, but, in size, differences only for the masseter muscle. Nevertheless, muscle sizes in patients were much smaller than in controls. Lateral displacement of the mandible can explain the orientation differences, but not the smaller muscle size, in patients. It is possible that the laterodeviation initiates an adaptive process in the entire jaw system, resulting in extensive atrophy of the jaw muscles.
Performance of a CO2 water to water heat pump with less charge: Inlet temperature effects

A CO2 water to water heat pump system was used to investigate the effects of cooling and chilling water inlet temperature at reduced charge capacity (approximately 75% of the full charge). The temperature were adjusted between 10 °C to 30 °C in nine steps while the throttle valve opening adjusted between 100%, 50% and 25%. It was observed that the as the cooling water inlet temperature increased, the heat output and general performance of the system diminished but as the chilling water temperature increased, there was an improvement of the system performance. Therefore, the best temperature combination was cooling - chilling water temperature of 10 °C - 30 °C. The opposite, i.e. cooling - chilling water temperature of 30 °C - 10 °C was the worst. Nevertheless, the effects of the cooling water temperature were higher on the system performance than the effect of the chilling water temperature. These observations were true in all throttle valve settings, where, the smaller the throttle valve opening, the higher the performance.
Analysis of shock-induced polysilicon MEMS failure: a multi-scale finite element approach

MEMS can be exposed to shock loadings, since they are often designed for portable devices. We recently investigated the effects of shocks on polysilicon inertial MEMS sensors within the framework of a top-down, uncoupled multi-scale approach, explicitly exploring three length-scales: a macroscopic one (package length-scale); a mesoscopic one (sensor length-scale); and a microscopic one (polycrystal length-scale). In this work we focus on meso-scale analyses, and suggest possible enhancements of their predictive capabilities. Specifically, we discuss: homogenization procedures to upscale (from micro-scale to meso-scale) the mechanical properties of the polysilicon film constituting the movable parts of the MEMS; a reduced-order model to efficiently track the vibrations of the whole MEMS sensor, without resorting to time demanding finite element simulations.
Novel Mechanism for In-Pipe Robot Based on a Multiaxial Differential Gear Mechanism

This paper presents a mechanism for an in-pipe robot, called the Multifunctional Robotic crawler for In-pipe inspection VII (MRINSPECT VII), which is under development for the inspection of gas pipelines. Applicable pipeline diameters are from 150 to 200 mm. The robot is based on a multiaxial differential gear mechanism and designed to adapt to the varying inside geometries of pipelines, such as elbows, by mechanically modulating the velocities of active wheels without any control effort. In addition to the differential gear mechanism, the MRINSPECT VII is equipped with an active adhesion mechanism for improving traction ability and a rescue mechanism for easy retrieval of the robot in the case of trouble inside pipelines. In this paper, the multiaxial differential gear mechanism is mainly explained, and the construction of the robot mechanism is detailed. Finally, the effectiveness of the mechanism is experimentally demonstrated with the MRINSPECT VII.
Adding by Subtracting: The Relationship Between Performance Feedback and Resource Reconfiguration Through Divestitures

This paper draws from performance feedback theory and the resource-based view of the firm to study divestiture activity. We argue that the extent and nature of resource reconfiguration through divestiture may be affected by both high and low extremes of performance relative to a firm's historical aspirations. Based on analysis of divestiture counts, we find that firms with increasing performance, especially when they also have high levels of performance, appear to use divestitures in a "complementary Penrose effect" that frees resources firms can use for future growth, with the greatest impact on the number of partial rather than full divestitures. With more limited data on divestiture value, we find relationships of both increasing and decreasing performance with divestiture activity. The study uses longitudinal segment-level data for firms operating in the global pharmaceutical industry between 1999 and 2009.
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, Insight and Therapeutic Action

It has often been observed that, in general, different psychotherapies do equally well. Some have taken this as good evidence that therapeutic action in psychotherapy rests not on the factors specific to individual therapies, but on common factors. I argue against this view in favor of a theory of therapeutic action deriving from psychodynamic psychotherapy. This identifies the therapeutic relationship (and with it, many so-called common factors) and 'psychodynamic insight' as therapeutic factors. I review the evidence from outcome studies and from studies into two concepts related to insight, viz. reflection function and psychological defense. I argue that the best interpretation of the evidence supports the claim that insight, in interrelation with the therapeutic relationship, contributes to therapeutic action.
Stress lactate in mitochondrial myopathy under constant, unadjusted workload

As it is under debate if determination of lactate during cycle ergometry (lactate stress testing, LST) under a continuous, unadjusted, low workload is a valuable diagnostic tool for mitochondrial myopathy (MMP), the present study aimed to investigate how sensitive the LST is in a large cohort of patients with indications for MMP (MMP patients). Serum lactate was determined once before, three times during, and once after a 15‐min, constant 30 W‐workload on a bicycle ergometer in 115 healthy controls, 166 patients with neurological disorders other than MMP, and 291 MMP patients. Serum lactate's upper reference limit at rest, 5, 10, 15 min after starting, and 15 min after finishing the exercise was 2.0, 2.0, 2.1, 2.0 and 1.7 mmol/l, respectively. Resting lactate was increased in 75 MMP patients (26%). The specificity of resting lactate determination was 84%. The sensitivity of the LST was 66% and the specificity 84%. Among the 192 MMP patients with abnormal LST, 120 (63%) had a normal resting lactate. The LST is abnormal in two thirds of the MMP patients. The sensitivity of the LST is higher than that of resting lactate determination. The LST is a simple and cheap but effective and reliable screening method for detecting the impaired oxidative metabolism in MMP.
Distribution and correlates of plasma fibrinogen in middle-aged women. Initial findings of the Postmenopausal Estrogen/Progestin Interventions (PEPI) study.

Fibrinogen levels have been reported in cohort and case-control studies to be positively related to the development of coronary heart disease. This report presents the distribution and determinants of fibrinogen in women enrolling in a 3-year randomized trial of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), the Postmenopausal Estrogen/Progestin Interventions (PEPI) trial. Fasting plasma fibrinogen levels were measured in 874 postmenopausal women, aged 45 to 65 years, who had not used HRT for at least 3.5 months. Mean (+/- SD) fibrinogen level was 2.83 +/- 0.45 g/L. There was a significant positive association between fibrinogen and age (P = .03). Significantly higher (P < .005) fibrinogen levels were seen in current smokers versus nonsmokers (2.94 versus 2.81 g/L), in women who reported consuming fewer than 12 alcoholic drinks in the 12 months before the baseline visit versus higher consumption (2.90 versus 2.79 g/L), and in women who reported never versus ever having used HRT (2.90 versus 2.77 g/L). Self-reported leisure time physical activity (LTPA) was negatively associated (P = .0001) with fibrinogen levels as follows: inactive (2.84 g/L), light (2.89 g/L), moderate (2.80 g/L), and heavy (2.60 g/L), with significantly (P = .0001) lower levels in women who reported heavy LTPA versus each of the other categories and in women reporting moderate versus light LTPA. A strong positive correlation was found between fibrinogen and body mass index (BMI) (r = .32; P < .0001). In a model that included age, smoking, alcohol intake, prior HRT, LTPA, and BMI, LTPA was no longer a statistically significant predictor of fibrinogen level, while associations with other variables remained significant. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)