Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A randomised trial of sheathed versus standard forceps for obtaining uncontaminated biopsy specimens of microbiota from the terminal ileum

Background The study of intestinal microbiota has been revolutionised by the use of molecular methods, including terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis. Microbiota studies of Crohn's disease patients have examined samples from stool or from the neoterminal ileum with a standard biopsy forceps, which could be contaminated by colonic bacteria when the forceps passes through the colonoscope channel. Objective To determine whether sheathed biopsy forceps are able to obtain terminal ileal microbiota samples with less colonic bacterial contamination compared with unsheathed (standard) biopsy forceps. Design Prospective randomised single-centre study. Patients and methods Four (paired) biopsy specimens were obtained from adjacent locations in the terminal ileum using the sheathed and standard forceps of 27 consecutive subjects undergoing colonoscopy and the microbiota were characterised using T-RFLP. The Bray–Curtis similarity index between samples (sheathed vs unsheathed forceps) was calculated within patients and significant differences were tested for across all patients. Results There was not a significant difference in the microbial diversity of samples obtained using sheathed versus unsheathed forceps. The difference in microbial diversity between patients was much greater than the variability within patients by proximal versus distal site or by forceps type. Limitations T-RFLP is based on PCR amplification, so it is not always sensitive to rare bacterial species. Conclusion Standard unsheathed forceps appear to be sufficient for microbiota sample collection from the terminal ileum.
Comparing botulinum toxin A with casting for treatment of dynamic equinus in children with cerebral palsy

The purpose of this study was to compare the cumulative efficacy (three treatment sessions) of botulinum toxin A (BTX‐A) alone, casting alone, and the combination of BTX‐A and casting in the management of dynamic equinus in ambulatory children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP). Thirty‐nine children with spastic CP (mean age 5y 10mo, range 3 to 9y) were enrolled in the study. A multicenter, randomized, double blind, placebo‐controlled prospective study was used. Children were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: BTX‐A only (B), placebo injection plus casting (C), or BTX‐A plus casting (B+C). The dosage for the BTX‐A injections was 4U/kg per extremity. Assessments were performed at baseline, 3,6,7.5, and 12 months with a total of three treatments administered after the evaluations at baseline, 3, and 6 months. Primary outcome measures were ankle kinematics, velocity, and stride length. Secondary outcome measures were ankle spasticity, strength, range of motion, and ankle kinetics. Group B made no significant change in any variable at any time. Groups C and B+C demonstrated significant improvements in ankle kinematics, spasticity, passive range of motion, and dorsiflexor strength. Results of this 1‐year study indicate that BTX‐A alone provided no improvement in the parameters measured in this study, while casting and BTX‐A/casting were effective in the short‐ and long‐term management of dynamic equinus in children with spastic CP.
Overall job satisfaction among dentists in Sweden and Denmark: A comparative study, measuring positive aspects of work

Abstract Objective. Human service work differs from industrial work, which should be considered when organizing work. Previous research has shown organizational differences in the perceptions of work, often with a focus on negative aspects. The aim of this study was to analyse the overall job satisfaction among private- and public-practising dentists in Sweden and Denmark. This also implied a description of the questionnaire Swedish and Danish Dentists' Perceptions of Good Work about opportunities and positive and rewarding aspects of work. Material and methods. A questionnaire covering the multidimensional concept of good work was developed. A total of 1835 dentists randomly sampled from the dental associations were sent a questionnaire in November 2008. A special non-response study was performed. Principal components analysis (PCA) was used to create a measure of overall job satisfaction, comparing four organizational subgroups. Results. The average net response rate was 68% (n = 1226). The special non-response study of the Danish private practitioners showed more males, managers and dentists with more working hours than the respondents. PCA of three satisfaction questions showed a stable one-factor solution. There were differences in job satisfaction, with Danish public dentists ranked highest in overall job satisfaction and Swedish public dentists lowest. Conclusions. There were organizational differences in the perception of job satisfaction. Further analysis of how the human service is organized in the different groups is needed.
Maximizing the Effectiveness of Advertising Campaigns on Twitter

Influence Maximization (IM) has received lots of attention from academia as well as industry. In this work, we study a specific influence maximization problem, selecting a set of seed users to maximize the effectiveness of advertising campaigns on Twitter. This problem requires that the information diffusion model must have the capability to support: (a) an active user can make multiple attempts to activate his neighbors, and (b) a user can accept an advertising message many times. Considering the characteristics of advertisement propagation on Twitter, we propose a diffusion model that inherits the classic independent cascade model and removes the constraints such as single attempt in activating neighbors and taking single influence from other users. The influence probability is calculated based on users' action history including tweet, favorite, reply and retweet. Influence decay is also introduced to reflect the temporal features associated with influence. A new metric "advertising effectiveness" is defined as the maximization objective. Several existing seed selection algorithms are analyzed based on the proposed diffusion model against a real dataset from Twitter including 3,292 users in Darwin city in Australia. Experimental results and analysis are provided to show the soundness of the proposed model.
Spectral karyotyping of fresh, non-inseminated oocytes.

The object of this study was to determine the mechanisms producing aneuploidy in female meiosis I by analysing the whole chromosome complement of human non-inseminated and unfertilized fresh oocytes. For this purpose, 131 fresh oocytes were obtained from 16 oocyte donors (24-48 years old). These oocytes were fixed immediately after retrieval and 47 good quality metaphases from 13 donors were analysed by spectral karyotyping to identify all 23 chromosome types. The data was divided into two maternal age groups, 24-34 (n = 31) and > or = 35 years (n = 16). More non-disjunction (13 and 25%), unbalanced predivision (10 and 44%, P < 0.01) and balanced predivision (6 and 62%, P < 0.001) events were found in the older group of oocytes. There was an increase in balanced predivision with decreasing chromosome size (P < 0.001). The present results are the first obtained in fresh oocytes where all chromosomes were specifically identified, and support previous theories that predivision of chromatids is a major factor causing aneuploidy. Previous reports with inseminated, non-fertilized oocytes fixed > or = 24 h after retrieval suffered from artefactual predivision of chromatids triggered by in-vitro ageing of oocytes.
Performance and Endocrine Responses to Differing Ratios of Concurrent Strength and Endurance Training

Abstract Jones, TW, Howatson, G, Russell, M, and French, DN. Performance and endocrine responses to differing ratios of concurrent strength and endurance training. J Strength Cond Res 30(3): 693–702, 2016—The present study examined functional strength and endocrine responses to varying ratios of strength and endurance training in a concurrent training regimen. Thirty resistance trained men completed 6 weeks of 3 d·wk−1 of (a) strength training (ST), (b) concurrent strength and endurance training ratio 3:1 (CT3), (c) concurrent strength and endurance training ratio 1:1 (CT1), or (d) no training (CON). Strength training was conducted using whole-body multijoint exercises, whereas endurance training consisted of treadmill running. Assessments of maximal strength, lower-body power, and endocrine factors were conducted pretraining and after 3 and 6 weeks. After the intervention, ST and CT3 elicited similar increases in lower-body strength; furthermore, ST resulted in greater increases than CT1 and CON (all p ⩽ 0.05). All training conditions resulted in similar increases in upper-body strength after training. The ST group observed greater increases in lower-body power than all other conditions (all p ⩽ 0.05). After the final training session, CT1 elicited greater increases in cortisol than ST (p = 0.008). When implemented as part of a concurrent training regimen, higher volumes of endurance training result in the inhibition of lower-body strength, whereas low volumes do not. Lower-body power was attenuated by high and low frequencies of endurance training. Higher frequencies of endurance training resulted in increased cortisol responses to training. These data suggest that if strength development is the primary focus of a training intervention, frequency of endurance training should remain low.
Efficacy of an mHealth intervention to stimulate physical activity in COPD patients after pulmonary rehabilitation

Physical inactivity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with poor health status and increased disease burden. The present study aims to test the efficacy of a previously developed mobile (m)Health intervention to improve or maintain physical activity in patients with COPD after pulmonary rehabilitation. A randomised controlled trial was performed in 32 physiotherapy practices in the Netherlands. COPD patients were randomised into intervention or usual care groups. The intervention consisted of a smartphone application for the patients and a monitoring website for the physiotherapists. Measurements were performed at 0, 3, 6 and 12 months. Physical activity, functional exercise capacity, lung function, health-related quality of life and body mass index were assessed. 157 patients started the study and 121 completed it. There were no significant positive effects of the intervention on physical activity (at 0 months: intervention 5824±3418 steps per weekday, usual care 5717±2870 steps per weekday; at 12 months: intervention 4819±2526 steps per weekday, usual care 4950±2634 steps per weekday; p=0.811) or on the secondary end-points. There was a significant decrease over time in physical activity (p<0.001), lung function (p<0.001) and mastery (p=0.017), but not in functional exercise capacity (p=0.585). Although functional exercise capacity did not deteriorate, our mHealth intervention did not improve or maintain physical activity in patients with COPD after a period of pulmonary rehabilitation. mHealth intervention does not improve or maintain physical activity in COPD patients after pulmonary rehabilitation http://ow.ly/SS2T301BA85
Situational, Psychosocial, and Physical Health—Related Correlates of HIV/AIDS Risk Behaviors in Homeless Men

A biopsychosocial perspective is employed to assess associations among situational and psychosocial variables related to health, health care, and HIV/AIDS risk behaviors among 479 homeless men (aged 18-64 years). Poor health was not significantly associated with sexual risk behaviors and was only modestly associated with injection drug use (IDU). Health care was not significantly associated with sexual risk behavior or IDU. HIV/AIDS risk behaviors were highly associated with homelessness severity and posttraumatic stress disorder. IDU was significantly associated with greater emotional distress and was more likely among younger men and among White men. Sexual risk behavior was more frequent among those who had particularly poor-quality housing such as living on the street or in abandoned buildings. Because interactions with the medical community are limited and not associated with HIV/AIDS risk, outreach in areas in which homeless men congregate, mental health and substance abuse treatment, and permanent supportive housing may help reduce HIV risk among homeless men more effectively.
PRENATAL DIAGNOSIS OF DIASTEMATOMYELIA: CASE REPORTS AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Diastematomyelia is a rare malformation characterized by complete or incomplete division of the spinal cord by osseous or fibrocartilaginous septum. Most cases are seen in association with other anomalies of the vertebral column such as spina bifida, kyphoscoliosis, butterfly vertebra, and hemivertebra. In this report we describe two cases of isolated diastematomyelia detected at routine second‐trimester detailed ultrasound scan, the most striking feature being the detection of an echogenic focus in the posterior aspect of the spine in association with widening of the interpedicular vertebral space. The prenatal literature is reviewed to assess the clinical significance of this finding. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluation of Acute Normovolemic Hemodilution and Autotransfusion in Neurosurgical Patients Undergoing Excision of Intracranial Meningioma

Background: Several blood conservation strategies have been tried with the purpose of reducing homologons blood transfusion. Patients & Methods: In a prospective randomized study, the potential benefits of acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH) with autologous transfusion were investigated as a blood conservation technique in surgical excision of intracranial meningioma. Over a period of 2 years, 40 patients undergoing excision of intracranial meningioma were randomly assigned to two groups of 20 patients each. Group I (Control Group) received conventional homologous blood intraoperatively and were not subjected to ANH. In Group II (ANH Group), Acute Normovolemic Hemodilution was initiated to a target hematocrit of 30% after induction of anesthesia. Parameters studied included changes in hemoglobin, hematocrit and hemodynamic parameters. Results: The mean value of blood withdrawn in ANH group was 802.5 ± 208 ml. This was replaced simultaneously with an equal volume of 6% Hydroxyethyl starch to maintain normovolemia. There was no statistically significant variation in mean hemoglobin levels between the two groups at various stages of study. Hematocrit decreased significantly in both the groups at various stages as compared to preoperative values , the decrease being more but insignificant in group II. Changes in heart rate and mean blood pressure were similar and without statistically significant differences in either group at various stages of study. The amount of surgical blood loss in group I was 835.29 ± 684.37 ml, as compared to 865 + 409.78 ml in group II. The difference was statistically insignificant (p>0.05). The mean volume of homologous blood transfused in group I was 864.71 ± 349.89 ml, as compared to 165 ± 299.6 ml in group II which was statistically significant (p<0.05). In group II (ANH Group) only 5 patients (25%) required homologous blood whereas in group I I all patients (100%) needed homologous blood. Conclusion: We conclude that acute normovolemic hemodilution up to a target hematocrit of 30% is safe and effective in reducing the need for homologous blood in neurosurgical patients undergoing excision of intracranial meningioma.
Genetic Variants of Anaplasma phagocytophilum Infecting Dogs in Western Washington State

ABSTRACT Eight dogs from western Washington State suspected of being infected with Anaplasma phagocytophilum because of the finding of morulae in peripheral blood neutrophils were studied for determination of the etiologic agent of disease. All cases were diagnosed between April 2003 and April 2004. Six of the eight dogs had no travel history during the 6 months prior to presentation. Two dogs had traveled within the Northwest United States and Canada. Fever, lethargy, and anorexia were the most common clinical signs in the dogs. Lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia, and an elevated activity of alkaline phosphatase in the serum were the most common laboratory findings. All dogs tested during the acute phase of clinical signs were seropositive for A. phagocytophilum antibodies but negative for Ehrlichia canis antibodies. PCR amplification and direct sequencing of portions of the 16S rRNA gene from the whole blood of all seven dogs that were tested yielded A. phagocytophilum after a comparison to bacterial sequences available in the GenBank database. Five genetic variants were identified based on one or two nucleotide differences in the 16S rRNA gene sequences at nucleotide positions 54, 84, 86, and 120. Individual dogs were infected with more than one variant. Treatment with doxycycline or tetracycline resulted in a rapid resolution of clinical signs. The occurrence of canine granulocytic anaplasmosis in western Washington State suggests that A. phagocytophilum infection should be considered in differential diagnoses of dogs presenting with lethargy, anorexia, fever, and lameness, particularly in the context of lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia, and increased serum alkaline phosphatase. The zoonotic importance of A. phagocytophilum should support an increase in surveillance for horses and people residing in this area.
Diagnosis of Hemophilia B Carriers Using Two Novel Dinucleotide Polymorphisms and Hha I RFLP of the Factor IX Gene in Japanese Subjects

Summary We identified two novel dinucleotide polymorphisms in intron A at nucleotide 192 (FIX 192) and in the 5’ flanking region at nucleotide -793 (FIX-793) of the factor IX gene, which are present in normal Japanese. The Hha I restriction fragment length polymorphism (FIX-Hhal) located 8 kb 3’ to the factor IX gene was also found to be an efficient marker for detecting carriers in a Japanese family with hemophilia B. Each of these polymorphisms was able to be rapidly ascertained by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. In 22 Japanese families with hemophilia B, 18 families (81.8%) were heterozygous for at least one of these polymorphisms, whereas 11 (50%) were informative for the extragenic DXS99/Sac I RFLP which was previously reported as a useful gene marker for Japanese hemophilia B. Using all 4 polymorphisms together, the informative rate improved to 86.4%. Carrier detection and, possibly, the prenatal diagnosis of hemophilia B can be achieved effectively and rapidly in Japanese with these polymorphisms.
Effects of walking and other exercise programs upon blood pressure in normal subjects

Rational use of non‐pharmacological therapy for elevated blood pressure requires some knowledge of dose‐effect relationships to optimise regimens. We investigated the effects on blood pressure of: one hour of walking at 50% of predetermined maximal work capacity (Wmax); 15 minutes of cycling at 80%–90% of Wmax (high‐intensity cycling; HIC) — each performed five days per week; and three 30‐minute cycling sessions per week at 65%–70% of Wmax (moderate‐intensity cycling; MIC) which we have previously found lowers blood pressure in both normotensive and hypertensive people. Design: The three exercise interventions and a period of normal sedentary activity were performed for four weeks each, by 14 normotensive volunteers (seven male, seven female) in a randomised 4 × 4 Latin‐square design. Results: MIC produced the greatest blood pressure reduction relative to the period of normal sedentary activity — mean 5/3 mmHg; standard error of the difference (SE‐diff) 2/1 mmHg; P<0.05 in the supine position, and 4/5 mmHg; SE‐diff 2/2 mmHg; P<0.05 standing. Walking induced smaller blood pressure reductions — 3/2 mmHg; SE‐diff, 2/1 mmHg (P<0.05 for systolic pressure), and 2/1 mmHg; SE‐diff, 2/2 mmHg for the supine and standing positions, respectively. The HIC did not change blood pressure. Heart rate reduction with training was proportional to exercise intensity. Cardiac output, body weight, 24‐hour urinary sodium excretion, cholesterol and triglyceride levels did not alter with any of the interventions. Conclusions: Effects of exercise on blood pressure vary according to the intensity and duration of training bouts. Moderate exercise levels may be optimal, but walking is also effective.
Extending a Smooth Parameter Model to Firm Location Analyses: The Case of Natural Gas Establishments in the United States

This paper extends recent developments in regional growth modeling that use spatial regime switching functions to a count regression model of firm location events. The smooth parameter count model (SPCM) allows for a parsimonious parameterization of locally varying coefficients while simultaneously attending to excess‐zero count events. An empirical application examines natural gas establishment growth between 2005 and 2010. The smooth parameter model appears to outperform a standard zero‐inflated count model. The SPCM may be extended to the location analysis of other industries with the identification of transition variables related to the supply or demand oriented cost structure of the sector.
[AQP5 gene silencing inhibits proliferation and migration of ectopic endometrial glandular epithelial cells in endometriosis].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of aquaporin 5(AQP5) on proliferation and migration of ectopic endometrial epithelial cells. METHODS AQP5 shRNA interference fragments were designed and transfected into ectopic endometrial epithelial cells stably by lentivirus technology. Fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to detect the AQP5 mRNA and protein expression, respectively. The cell proliferation and migration were determined by using MTT method and Transwell system, respectively. Levels of phosphorylated AKT(p-AKT) and total AKT were examined by Western blotting. The nude mice model of endometriosis was constructed and the endometrial cell nodule formation was observed. RESULTS AQP5 shRNA transfection inhibited cell proliferation and migration compared with control group (both P<0.05). The activation of AKT in AQP5 shRNA transfected cells was lower than that in control cells (P<0.01). Compared to control group, the endometrial cells nodule formation was suppressed in mice inoculated with AQP5 shRNA-silencing ectopic endometrial epithelial cells. CONCLUSION Down-regulation of AQP5 expression can suppress the proliferation and migration of ectopic endometrial epithelial cells and endometrial cell nodule formation in nude mice, in which AKT pathway may be involved.
Critical success factors for enterprise search

Enterprise search is now an essential tool for employees. In this article, I introduce 12 factors critical to the successful implementation and sustainability of quality search applications. Ranging from content quality, the position of search in an integrated information management strategy and adequate support for users, perhaps the most important is recognizing that the process of ensuring that search is meeting user requirements never comes to an end. That few organizations have made a considered commitment to ensuring that employees can find the information they need when they need it is highlighted by large-scale surveys of the state of enterprise search. The result is confusion and inefficiency whilst ideally users want to find information that they can trust to make decisions that count. This can be removed if the introduction of a search tool is planned within an organizational information management strategy and with a clear understanding of user needs.