Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of four peak spinal loading exposure measurement methods and their association with low-back pain.

OBJECTIVES This paper examines the performance of 4 different methods of estimating peak spinal loading and their relationship with the reporting of low-back pain. METHODS The data used for this comparison was a subset of subjects from a case-referent study of low-back-pain reporting in the automotive industry, in which 130 random referents and 105 cases (or job-matched proxies) were studied. The peak load on the lumbar spine was determined using a biomechanical model with model inputs coming from a detailed self-report questionnaire, a task-based check list, a video digitization method, and a posture and load sampling technique. RESULTS The methods were directly comparable through a common metric of newtons or newton meters of spinal loading in compression, shear, or moment modes. All the methods showed significant and substantial associations with low-back pain in all modes (odds ratios 1.6-2.3). The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) showed strong similarities between the checklist and video digitized techniques (ICC 0.84-0.91), moderate similarities between these techniques and the work sampling method (ICC 0.49-0.52), and poor correlations (ICC 0.16-0.40) between the self-report questionnaire and the observer recorded measures. CONCLUSIONS While all the methods detected significant odds ratios, they cannot all be used interchangeably for risk assessment at the individual level. Peak spinal compression, moment, and shear are important risk factors for low-back pain reporting, no matter which measurement method is used. Questionnaires can be used for large-scale studies. At the individual level a task-based checklist provides biomechanical model inputs at lower cost and equal performance compared with the criterion video digitization system.
Dual emission of temperature-induced betacarboline self-associated hydrogen bond aggregates

A systematic study of the influence of the gradual temperature decrease on the UV-vis absorption andfluorescence emission spectra of betacarboline, 9 H -pyrido[3,4-b]indole, BC, and other model systems, such as BC plus N _9-methyl-9 H -pyrido[3,4-b]indole, MBC, and BC plus pyridine, PY, has been carried out in 2-methylbutane, 2MB. These studies have allowed the conclusion that the temperature decrease favours the formation of hydrogen-bonded self-associated BC aggregates. The initial red shifts of the absorption and emission bands and the fluorescence quenching have been ascribed to the formation of hydrogen bond BC dimers with a proton transfer structure, PTC. In these adducts, the fluorescence is quenched by an electron-driven proton transfer process. However, because the quenching rate constant decreases upon decreasing the temperature, the emission intensity later increases without modification of the wavelength maxima. At the lowest temperatures, these dimeric PTC complexes further aggregate. We propose that they form ground state cyclic tetrameric adducts in which both nitrogen atoms of each BC unit are hydrogen bonded. The tautomeric forms of these tetrameric complexes, generated by a quadruple proton transfer, emit dual fluorescence, from its locally excited state, LE, and its intramolecular charge transfer state, ICT.
Low Rate of babA2 Genotype among Iranian Helicobacter pylori Clinical Isolates.

INTRODUCTION The Blood Group Antigen-Binding Adhesion (babA), Outer Inflammatory Protein (oipA) and Sialic Acid-Binding Adhesin (sabA) as outer membrane proteins involved in Helicobacter pylori adherence to gastric mucosa have been suggested to have a role in the pathogenesis. AIM To investigate the frequency of H. pylori isolates babA2, oipA and sabA genes in Iranian dyspeptic patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS DNAs were extracted from H. pylori -positive cultures taken from 100 different dyspeptic patients. Genotyping was performed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), using the specific primers for babA2, oipA and sabA genes. Chi square test was used to investigate association between variables, p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS All (100%) isolates possessed oipA and sabA genotypes, whereas babA2 was detected in 22% of isolates. There was no significant relationship between presence of genes with clinical outcome. The combined genotype oipA +/sabA +/ babA2- was correlated with gastritis. The rate of babA2 genotype in our isolates was lower than other Iranian reports. CONCLUSION Frequency of babA2 genotype among H. pylori isolates from Southwest of Iran is considerably less than other regions of Iran. Due to heterogeneity of H. pylori strains in different geographic regions, further work will be needed to understand the role of these virulence genes in H. pylori pathogenesis and their possible association with disease outcome.
Human Monoclonal Antibodies to Pseudomonas aeruginosa Alginate That Protect against Infection by Both Mucoid and Nonmucoid Strains1

Two fully human mAbs specific for epitopes dependent on intact carboxylate groups on the C6 carbon of the mannuronic acid components of Pseudomonas aeruginosa alginate were found to promote phagocytic killing of both mucoid and nonmucoid strains as well as protection against both types of strains in a mouse model of acute pneumonia. The specificity of the mAbs for alginate was determined by ELISA and killing assays. Some strains of P. aeruginosa did not make detectable alginate in vitro, but in vivo protection against lethal pneumonia was obtained and shown to be due to rapid induction of expression of alginate in the murine lung. No protection against strains genetically unable to make alginate was achieved. These mAbs have potential to be passive therapeutic reagents for all strains of P. aeruginosa and the results document that alginate is a target for the proper type of protective Ab even when expressed at low levels on phenotypically nonmucoid strains.
Isolation, molecular characterization and antibiotic resistance of Shiga Toxin–Producing Escherichia coli (STEC) from buffalo in India

In total, 363 Escherichia coli were isolated from 165 faecal samples of healthy buffaloes in West Bengal, India. Twenty‐four of these isolates (6·61%) were found to carry at least one gene characteristic for Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli (STEC). These STEC strains belonged to 13 different O‐serogroups. The stx1 gene was present in 23 (95·8%) of total STEC isolates, whereas 20 (83·3%) STEC isolates carried the gene stx2. Twelve strains of E. coli (50% of total STEC isolates) possessed enterohaemolysin (ehxA) gene in combination with others. Fourteen (58·33%) isolates found to possess saa gene. However, no E. coli was detected harbouring gene for intimin protein (eaeA). Of 23 stx1‐positive isolates, seven (30·43%) were positive for genes of the stx1C subtype. Of the 20 isolates with the stx2 gene, 25% (5/20) possessed stx2C and 10% (2/20) possessed stx2d gene. The phylogenetic analysis after RAPD of STEC strains revealed six major clusters. The isolated STEC strains were resistant most frequently to erythromycin (95·83%), cephalothin (62·5%), amikacin (54·17%), kanamycin (45·83%) and gentamicin (41·67%) group of antibiotics. No ESBL‐producing (blaCTXM, blaTEM, blaSHV) or quinolone resistance gene (qnrA) was detected in the STEC isolates.
Matching between motoneurone and muscle unit properties in rat medial gastrocnemius.

1. Electrical and contractile (isometric) properties were studied for sixty‐six motoneurone‐muscle unit combinations from rat medial gastrocnemius (MG). The animals were anaesthetized with pentobarbitone. 2. The muscle units were classified into S (slow) and F (fast) on the basis of measurements of speed and fatigue resistance: the 'slow' category comprised units with an initial twitch contraction time exceeding those found among fatigue‐sensitive units (border value 20 ms). 3. Twitch speed was assessed by three different measures: (i) contraction time (time to peak, range 11.4‐28.0 ms), (ii) half‐relaxation time (8.4‐56.5 ms), and (iii) total twitch duration (34‐116 ms). All three measures were mutually highly correlated and their respective values showed a continuous and unimodal distribution across the unit population. 4. The motoneurones were investigated with regard to their time course and amplitude of post‐spike after‐hyperpolarization (AHP; range of total durations 30‐116 ms, amplitudes 0.9‐8.0 mV), rheobase (0.8‐17.1 nA), input resistance (0.8‐5.1 M omega) and axonal conduction velocity (33‐85 m/s). 5. Motoneurones of slow‐twitch muscle units (type S) had, on average, a significantly slower time course of AHP, a smaller rheobase, a higher input resistance and more slowly conducting axons than those innervating fast‐twitch muscle units. 6. Across the whole neuronal sample, input conductance (reciprocal of input resistance) correlated well with rheobase (r = 0.74). However, the differences in rheobase did not seem to be caused exclusively by the associated differences in input conductance. 7. Throughout the sampled population, the relative slowness of AHP showed a continuous and highly significant correlation with the relative slowness of the corresponding unit twitch. The absolute duration of AHP was close to that of the twitch. In the Discussion it is argued that this 'speed match' between motoneurone and muscle unit would help ensure that barely recruited motoneurones start firing at a frequency that is optimally suited for the subsequent rate gradation of force. 8. AHP amplitude was, on average, significantly smaller for fast‐twitch than for slow‐twitch motoneurones. Calculations indicated that these differences were almost completely caused by the associated differences in input resistance; the computed value for the conductance change underlying the AHP was nearly the same for fast‐ and slow‐twitch motoneurones. 9. A simple neurone model was used to calculate the consequences of the differences in AHP amplitude and duration for repetitive discharge properties of fast and slow cell categories. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
The Use of Transgenic Animals in the Study of Diabetic Kidney Disease

Diabetic nephropathy is one of the most common diseases leading to fibrosis and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) world wide. Under normal conditions, a delicate equilibrium exists between synthesis, composition, and removal of extracellular matrix (ECM). If this is disturbed, ECM accumulation and fibrosis may result. The fragile balance between synthesis and removal of ECM is crucial for the prognosis of glomerular as well as interstitial pathological processes. Some features may favor ECM accumulation and progression to ESRD (dialysis and transplantation), whereas other elements may favor ECM removal and resolution (recovery). Pathogenetic mechanisms and the cellular sources of ECM in the glomerular basement membrane as well as in the tubulointerstitial space are still under investigation. Among several growth factors, transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) plays a major role. We consider the use of living animals necessary for our understanding of the complex biological processes that occur during the development of ESRD. The present review will discuss the glomerular as well as interstitial accumulation of ECM and the use of transgenic animals in studying the pathogenetic mechanisms with special emphasis on diabetic kidney disease and TGF-beta1.
Cluster and firm-specific antecedents of organizational innovation

Based on the idea of the tourist destination as a cluster, this paper proposes a model to explain the relationships between exploration and exploitation capabilities – whether originating in the cluster or firm-specific – and a firm’s organizational innovation. This study turns to the resource-based view to provide a theory-based concept of shared capabilities accumulated in a tourist destination or cluster, together with valid measurement instruments to capture them. Our conceptual model highlights the theoretical and practical benefits for firms of being embedded in a cluster to develop both exploration and exploitation capabilities. The study also analyses the interaction between cluster-shared capabilities and firm-specific capabilities in exploration and exploitation to obtain two types of firm organizational innovation: radical and incremental. Some implications for managers and policy-makers are presented, highlighting the importance of tight integration in managing firm and cluster resources and capabilities.
Followup of Psychoanalysis Five to Ten Years After Termination: I. Stability of Change

Seven out of 17 patients interviewed in a long-term followup of psychoanalysis showed either improvement in psychological functioning or a retention of psychological gains they had made during the course of psychoanalysis. Six patients deteriorated in their psychological functioning, but their gains were restored with subsequent treatment. Four patients deteriorated in psychological functioning without restoration, whether or not treatment was reentered. Neither analysts' assessments at the time of termination nor patients' assessments of themselves or assessments based on psychological tests one year after termination predicted which patients would improve or retain psychological change. No causal generalizations about factors related to psychological change can be made from these data. Different factors in interaction are suggested to account for the stability and instability of psychological change.
Interferon Alfa‐2b or Not 2b? Significant Differences Exist in the Decision‐Making Process between Melanoma Patients Who Accept or Decline High‐Dose Adjuvant Interferon Alfa‐2b Treatment

BACKGROUND Patients with thick (Breslow >4 mm) primary melanoma and/or regional nodal metastasis have a high risk of tumor recurrence. High-dose adjuvant interferon (IFN) alfa-2b offers ≤10% improvement in relapse-free survival and overall survival with significant toxicity. OBJECTIVE The objective was to determine which prognostic factors and patient characteristics are significant in the decision to undergo IFN therapy. METHODS Of 781 patients who underwent sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy, 135 of 781 (17.3%) had positive SLN or thick melanomas and were informed of a ≥50% risk of recurrence/disease-related mortality and offered IFN. Telephone surveys delineated reasons behind patients' decisions to accept IFN. RESULTS Acceptors, 60 of 135 (45%), decided to take IFN alfa-2b whereas 75 of 135 (55%) declined. Being female (OR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.17–5.03; p=.017) and positive SLN status (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.01–4.97; p=.048) were strongly associated with patients who chose IFN. Acceptors of IFN were younger, more influenced by physicians, and less affected by depression and side effect profile (p<.05 for all). Decliners were more concerned by strained relationships with family and social life (p<.05). CONCLUSIONS Gender and positive SLN were predictive of high-risk melanoma patients' acceptance of IFN treatment. Physician insight into melanoma patients' therapeutic decision-making process can guide patients through this difficult disease.
Pharmacologic and behavioral interventions to improve cardiovascular risk factors in adults with serious mental illness: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE Individuals with serious mental illness have high rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and mortality. This systematic review was conducted to evaluate pharmacologic and behavioral interventions to reduce CVD risk in adults with serious mental illness. DATA SOURCES MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched from January 1980 to July 2012 for English language studies. Examples of search terms used include schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, antipsychotics, weight, glucose, lipid, and cardiovascular disease. STUDY SELECTION Two reviewers independently screened citations and identified 33 randomized controlled trials of at least 2 months' duration that enrolled adults with serious mental illness and evaluated pharmacologic or behavioral interventions targeting weight, glucose, or lipid control. DATA EXTRACTION Reviewers extracted data, assessed applicability, and evaluated study quality; the team jointly graded overall strength of evidence. RESULTS We included 33 studies. Most studies targeted weight control (28 studies). Compared with control groups, weight control was improved with behavioral interventions (mean difference = -3.13 kg; 95% CI, -4.21 to -2.05), metformin (mean difference = -4.13 kg; 95% CI, -6.58 to -1.68), anticonvulsive medications topiramate and zonisamide (mean difference = -5.11 kg; 95% CI, -9.48 to -0.74), and adjunctive or antipsychotic switching to aripiprazole (meta-analysis not possible). Evidence was insufficient for all other interventions and for effects on glucose and lipid control. The small number of studies precluded analyses of variability in treatment effects by patient characteristics. CONCLUSIONS Few studies have evaluated interventions addressing 1 or more CVD risk factors in people with serious mental illness. Glucose- and lipid-related results were mainly reported as secondary outcome assessments in studies of weight-management interventions. Comparative effectiveness studies are needed to test multimodal strategies, agents known to be effective in nonserious mental illness populations, and antipsychotic-management strategies.
The impact of governing networks - the role of context, organizing and trust

While our knowledge on the form and functioning of governing networks steadily increases, there are still holes in our knowledge of the impact of these networks. Using a multidimensional approach to measuring impacts, this article reports the perceived effects of the so-called regional councils in Norway. Impact is measured along four dimensions: impact on service provision, capacity to solve border-crossing problems, capacity to influence external actors and ability to develop collaborative relations in the network. As shown by earlier studies, trust between participants in the network play a crucial role in creating impact. In addition, consensus in the networks seems to be an equally important predictor of impact. Also, contextual elements like network size, economic asymmetry and interdependence, as well as organizational elements like administrative capacity and network age, have several direct effects on the perceived impacts, although not always in the predicted direction. Consequences for the role of managing networks are discussed, as well as the limits of the networks themselves.
Stochastic Processes and Statistics.

is defined. If the probability that (1) is true is independent of translations of the t-axis, the process is called stationary. Let Q be any space in which a probability measure2 is defined. Let { TJ, c < t < , be a set of one to one transformations of Q into itself, such that Tt, + t2 = TI,Tt2. If X is an element of Q, the set of elements { Ttw}, Co<. t < o is called a path curve. These path curves have been studied, and many results, such as the ergodic theorem, obtained. It was shown by Khintchinel that there is a formal analogy between this study and that of stochastic processes. It will be shown in this paper that the two theories are abstractly identical. An example of a stochastic process can be obtained as follows. Let Q, 'Tt be defined as in the preceding paragraph, and let sp(w) be a measurable function on U. A chance variable is, by definition, a measurable function on a space on which a probability measure is defined. We define x(t) as the function qo(Tiw). The probability that (1) is true is then the measure of the set of elements w such that
Adaptive Neural Control of Uncertain MIMO Nonlinear Systems With State and Input Constraints

An adaptive neural control strategy for multiple input multiple output nonlinear systems with various constraints is presented in this paper. To deal with the nonsymmetric input nonlinearity and the constrained states, the proposed adaptive neural control is combined with the backstepping method, radial basis function neural network, barrier Lyapunov function (BLF), and disturbance observer. By ensuring the boundedness of the BLF of the closed-loop system, it is demonstrated that the output tracking is achieved with all states remaining in the constraint sets and the general assumption on nonsingularity of unknown control coefficient matrices has been eliminated. The constructed adaptive neural control has been rigorously proved that it can guarantee the semiglobally uniformly ultimate boundedness of all signals in the closed-loop system. Finally, the simulation studies on a 2-DOF robotic manipulator system indicate that the designed adaptive control is effective.
Incidence and case‐fatality rates resulting from the 1998 enterovirus 71 outbreak in Taiwan

In 1998, an epidemic of hand‐foot‐and‐mouth disease and herpangina caused by enterovirus 71 occurred in Taiwan, leaving many fatalities and severely handicapped survivors in its wake. The reasons this rather common pathogen would cause such a large‐scale epidemic remain unknown. A seroepidemiological survey to elucidate the epidemiological characteristics of this outbreak, including its incidence and case‐fatality rates was undertaken. Microneutralization tests for antibodies against enterovirus 71 were used to screen four collections of serum samples: 1) 202 specimens taken from individuals ≥ 4 years old in 1994; 2) 245 specimens collected from individuals of all ages in 1997; 3) 1,258 specimens collected from individuals of all ages in 1999; and 4) sera samples from a birth cohort of 81 children who had yearly blood samples taken from 1988–98. After the maternal antibody had declined, the seropositive rates began to increase with age. Approximately half of all children aged 6 years or older were enterovirus 71 seropositive. Significantly higher seropositive rates were noted in 1999 than in 1997, in children aged 0.5–3 years. The incidence of enterovirus 71 infection during the epidemic was estimated to be 13–22%, with the higher rates in younger children. The case‐fatality rate was highest (96.96 per 100,000) in infants aged 6–11 months, and declined in older children. The results showed that enterovirus 71 is endemic in Taiwan. The apparent lack of large‐scale enterovirus 71 activity in the 3 years before 1998 might have been the prelude to the epidemic's appearance in 1998, and might suggest that enterovirus 71 infection will reappear every few years. The lack of a protective antibody in younger children may account for the high incidence and case‐fatality rate in this age group. J. Med. Virol. 67:217–223, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.