Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pertussis Prevalence in Adult Population in Greece: A Seroprevalence Nationwide Study

The reported cases of pertussis vary considerably globally. In the present nationwide study, we aimed to record the Bordetella pertussis prevalence in Greece by measuring serum IgG specific antibody levels to pertussis toxin (anti-PT IgG). General practitioners and laboratories participated in this study from 12 regions of Greece. A geographically stratified sampling plan based on regional units (NUTS level 2) was applied in order to produce a representative sample, taking into consideration age group (30–39, 40–49, 50–59, 60–69, 70–79 and 80+) and sex. In total, 1169 subjects participated in the study. The percentage of participants with anti-PT IgG antibodies higher than 50 IU/mL was 3.7%. The levels of anti-PT IgG antibodies of total sample ranged between 1.46 IU/mL to 126.60 IU/mL, with mean 17.74 IU/mL and standard deviation 14.03 U/mL (p-value < 0.001). The total seroprevalence of Greek regions for pertussis disease varied significantly among prefectures. The region with the highest seroprevalence was Peloponnese 21.3%, followed by the region of Central Greece 15.3%. The proportion of adults who have pertussis specific antibodies <50 IU/mL has been >90%, suggesting that a large number of adults may be vulnerable to infection of pertussis despite well-established vaccination programs in Greece. Despite the fact that vaccination reduced the number of reported pertussis cases in the last decades in Greece, our seroprevalence study may indicate that the herd immunity level among Greek adults is suboptimal.
The problem of optimum stratification

Abstract O. The problems of optimum stratification in stratified sampling have been studied by Dalenius and other authors. Their work is reviewed briefly in § 1. We examine this work on the theory of optimum points of stratification from the point of view of their applications and we point out inherent logical difficulties in the procedures in § 2. In § 3, we propose a type of two-stage stratified sampling procedure to overcome the logical difficulties and study the actual performance in numerical terms of the proposed sampling procedure as applied to two probability density functions. In §§ 4 and 5 we comment respectively on the salient features of the proposed sampling procedure and on the significance of the results of the investigations carried out here.
Tranexamic Acid and Intraoperative and Postoperative Accumulative Bleeding in Elective Degenerative Spine Surgery

Purpose Spinal surgeries are often associated with a high incidence of perioperative blood loss, which poses several complications. Much current research focuses on the importance of antifibrinolytic drugs during spinal surgeries to reduce blood loss, which can also reduce the risk of the need for blood transfusions. We evaluated the effects of prophylactic, low-dose tranexamic acid (TXA) in spinal fusion surgeries on blood loss, blood transfusions, and associated complications. Materials and Methods TXA was administered to 90 patients at a constant infusion rate of 10 mg/kg for 20 minutes after anesthesia induction, followed by a maintenance dose of 1 mg/kg/h until the end of the operation. An additional 91 patients were included as controls. Results There were no significant differences between the study groups in terms of intraoperative blood loss, which was 500 mL for both groups (p>0.999). Also, intraoperative blood transfusion requirements were similar between both groups (p=0.330). Mean blood transfusion amounts were 125±35 mL for patients in the TXA group and 85±25 mL in the control group. However, there was a significant reduction in postoperative blood transfusion (p=0.003) in the TXA group. Only three cases in the TXA group required blood transfusion, while 15 cases in the control group did. Conclusion We confirmed that low dose TXA has no effect on intraoperative blood loss volume or blood transfusion requirements and that it can significantly reduce the need for postoperative blood transfusions.
MITIGATING SALINITY ADVERSE EFFECTS ON GUAR GROWN IN SANDY SOIL USING RHIZOBIUM INOCULATION AND P-APPLICATION

A pot trial was performed in the summer seasons of 1997 and 1998 at the greenhouse of National Research Centre, , Dokki , Cairo, Egypt to study the effect of Rhizobium inoculation, P , various salinity levels and their interactions on growth, yield and chemical composition of guar grown in sandy soil. The obtained results show that Rhizobium inoculation, P-fertilization and their combinations significantly augmented growth parameters and the yield and its components, the highest increase was recorded due to the combined effect of both Rhizobium and P. A remarkable decrease in growth and yield parameters was observed due to the high salinity levels (6000 & 8000 ppm) where the percentages of decrease reached 46.4% and 91.9% respectively in plant height. Plants treated with 8000 ppm salinity level failed to form any pods while the decrease in seed yield/ plant treated with 6000 ppm salinity level reached 72.4% compared to the control. Inclusion of both Rhizobium and P to different salinity levels mitigated their effects on plant growth and its yield, where the plants treated with 8000 ppm recovered their ability for pod formation. Chemical composition of seeds and mineral contents of leaves were increased owing to Rhizobium and P- application except Na content in leaves. Gradual decrease was recorded N, P, K, Ca, Mg and Fe content in leaves with increasing salinity level while both Na and Zn were increased. The addition of both Rhizobium and P to the diverse salinity levels increased, to some extent, leaves content of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and Fe while relative decreases in Na content was recorded in comparison with the corresponding salinity levels.
The Case Against Race-Based GFR

Since measured GFR is expensive and lengthy, we currently use creatinine as a filtration marker to estimate GFR using the CKD-EPI and Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equations.4 Both equations include adjustments based on age, sex, and race. An eGFR of less than 90 mL/min/1.73 m2 is categorized into five stages of chronic kidney disease with initiation of dialysis at stage 5 (Figure 1).
Androgen Receptor Splice Variants Contribute to the Upregulation of DNA Repair in Prostate Cancer

Simple Summary Ligand-independent androgen receptor splice variants emerge during androgen deprivation therapy and are suspected to render prostate carcinomas castration-resistant. In a retrospective analysis of a large cohort of primary and advanced prostate tumors, we observed increased expression of androgen receptor splice variants in therapy refractory tumors. Our hypothesis was that AR splice variants exert their tumor-promoting activity by modulating the intrinsic DNA repair machinery. In the sequence from primary over advanced tumors under androgen-deprivation therapy to castration resistance, AR splice variant expression increases and is linked to increased expression of DNA repair genes. This effect of AR splice variants appeared independent of their known impact on tumor cell proliferation. These clinical findings were validated in an androgen-sensitive prostate cancer cell line that mimics a castration-resistant phenotype by overexpression of AR-V7. Modulated DNA repair gene expression in the presence of AR splice variants is linked to increased DNA repair activity, pointing at a novel therapeutic approach for castration-resistant prostate cancer. Abstract Background: Canonical androgen receptor (AR) signaling regulates a network of DNA repair genes in prostate cancer (PCA). Experimental and clinical evidence indicates that androgen deprivation not only suppresses DNA repair activity but is often synthetically lethal in combination with PARP inhibition. The present study aimed to elucidate the impact of AR splice variants (AR-Vs), occurring in advanced or late-stage PCA, on DNA repair machinery. Methods: Two hundred and seventy-three tissue samples were analyzed, including primary hormone-naïve PCA, primary metastases, hormone-sensitive PCA on androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and castration refractory PCA (CRPC group). The transcript levels of the target genes were profiled using the nCounter platform. Experimental support for the findings was gained in AR/AR-V7-expressing LNCaP cells subjected to ionizing radiation. Results: AR-Vs were present in half of hormone-sensitive PCAs on androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and two-thirds of CRPC samples. The presence of AR-Vs is highly correlated with increased activity in the AR pathway and DNA repair gene expression. In AR-V-expressing CRPC, the DNA repair score increased by 2.5-fold as compared to AR-V-negative samples. Enhanced DNA repair and the deregulation of DNA repair genes by AR-V7 supported the clinical data in a cell line model. Conclusions: The expression of AR splice variants such as AR-V7 in PCA patients following ADT might be a reason for reduced or absent therapy effects in patients on additional PARP inhibition due to the modulation of DNA repair gene expression. Consequently, AR-Vs should be further studied as predictive biomarkers for therapy response in this setting.
Recurrence of Small Bowel Obstruction in Adults After Operative Management of Adhesive Small Bowel Obstruction: A Systematic Review

The objective of this article is to review the existing literature on postoperative recurrence of adhesive small bowel obstruction (ASBO). We performed a systematic review following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, searching PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar, to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies investigating recurrence after operative management of ASBO. Our search yielded one RCT, one prospective study, and eight retrospective studies, totaling 36,178 patients. We used Cochrane risk-of-bias tool and the Newcastle-Ottawa scale to assess the risk of bias in the reviewed studies (RCTs and observational studies, respectively). Operative management was associated with a lower risk of recurrence than conservative management, while the difference in recurrence between laparoscopic and open surgery was inconclusive. Diffuse adhesions were associated with a greater risk of recurrence than single band adhesions. We conclude that the “common knowledge” that surgery increases the risk for recurrence of ASBO is outdated and should no longer be applied when determining treatment modalities for ASBO. While conservative treatment still has its place, we need not fear the possibility of shifting patients to operative management earlier.
Palynostratigraphy and palynofacies analysis of subsurface Permian sediments in Talcher Coalfield, Orissa

Palynological analysis of subsurface sediments in bore-hole TCC-19 near Chhendipada, Talcher Coalfield, Orissa reveals the presence of a Permian palynoflora both below and above the key marker horizon-a conglomeratic pebble bed. The presence of acritarchs in the assemblage suggests brackish water conditions; the palynofacies analysis indicates low energy lacustrine conditions during the deposition of these sediments.
RESPONSE OF TWO STRAWBERRY CULTIVARS TO BIO- AND CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS AND THEIR EFFECT ON PESTS INFESTATION

This study was conducted at the Horticulture Research Station of Barrage (1999-2000) and (2000-2001) seasons to study the effect of the partial substitution of nitrogen and phosphorus chemical fertilizers with the biofertilizer "Microbein" on yield, fruit quality (weight, firmness, T.S.S., titratable acidity and ascorbic acid %) and fruit chemical constituents (N, P, K) of Camarosa and Oso Grande strawberry cultivars.Morever, to study their susceptibility to infestation by Tetranychus urticae, Bemisia tabaci and Myzus persicae. Each cultivar received five fertilizer treatments [Microbein alone, Microbein + (25, 50 & 75 % of the recommended doses of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers (RNPF), and the control (check) one (100 % of the recommended doses of nitrogen and phosphorus without Microbein) Camarosa cv. gave higher yield than Oso Grande cv. Data indicated that Camarosa cv. gave higher fruit weight, firmness and titratable acidity and high fruit percentage of phosphorus and potassium. Whereas Oso Grande cv. showed higher values of T.S. S. , ascorbic acid and high percentage of nitrogen fruit content. Results indicated that combined Microbein with 50 and 75 % of the RNPF showed no significant differences on yield as compared as the control treatment during the first season. Whereas in the second season, treatment of Microbein + 75 % RNPF showed significant yield increase over the control treatment.Chmical fertilizers combined with Microbein as well as Microbein alone gave similar or even higher fruit weight and firmness during April as compared with the control one. On the other hand, the control treatment showed the highest value of T.S. S. during March 2001.Whereas in April 2001, no significant differences were observed between all fertilizer treatments with regard to fruit titratable acidity and ascorbic acid contents. Nitrogen and phosphorus fruit contents significantly increased with Microbein treatments as compared with the control one. Potassium fruit content was higher in the control treatment than in the other ones. The treatment of Microbein + 75 % (RNPF) showed the least infestation of the two strawberry cultivars by T. urticae and M. persicae throughout the two seasons followed by the control treatment. The highest infestation was recorded in Microbein treatment alone, while the control was applied for B. tabaci infestation. Camarosa cv. was characterized by its high infestation with M. persicae, while Oso Grande cv. was more attacked by T. urticae and B. tabaci. The peak infestation with T. urticae was recorded in April, while M. persicae and B. tabaci were in February.
Preparation and Characterization of Rutin–Loaded Zein–Carboxymethyl Starch Nanoparticles

In this work, rutin (RT)–loaded zein–carboxymethyl starch (CMS) nanoparticles were successfully prepared by the antisolvent precipitation method. The effect of CMS on composite nanoparticles at different concentrations was studied. When the ratio of zein–RT–CMS was 10:1:30, the encapsulation efficiency (EE) was the highest, reaching 73.5%. At this ratio, the size of the composite nanoparticles was 196.47 nm, and the PDI was 0.13, showing excellent dispersibility. The results of fluorescence spectroscopy, FTIR, XRD, and CD showed that electrostatic interaction, hydrogen bonding, and hydrophobic interaction were the main driving forces for the formation of nanoparticles. It can be seen from the FE–SEM images that the zein–RT–CMS nanoparticles were spherical. With the increase in the CMS concentration, the particles gradually embedded in the cross–linked network of CMS (10:1:50). After RT was loaded on zein–CMS nanoparticles, the thermal stability and pH stability of RT were improved. The results showed that zein–CMS was an excellent encapsulation material for bioactive substances.
Early Anthropogenic Impacts on the Indian Summer Monsoon Induced by Land‐Use and Land‐Cover Changes

The impacts of anthropogenic forcing on Indian summer monsoon (ISM) rainfall are obscure, partly due to limited availability of highly resolved hydroclimate proxy records as well as the highly regionalized nature of precipitation. Here, we report an annually‐resolved speleothem oxygen isotope record from Xianren Cave, southwestern China, which represents rainfall change over the broad ISM region. We find that the region has endured at least six decadal‐scale weak monsoon events in the past three hundred years. One of them, lasting from the early to mid 19th century, shares the similar gradual, persistent trend as the most recent decline in ISM rainfall and both have a magnitude substantially larger than the others dominated by natural variability. This early weak monsoon event occurred during a historical time of intensive deforestation in the region. We conclude that the ISM trend could have been altered by the changes in land‐use and land‐cover since the early 19th century.
From star rating to sentiment rating: using textual content of online reviews to develop more effective reputation systems for peer-to-peer accommodation platforms

ABSTRACT Star ratings on P2P accommodation platforms are highly positive. Such biases have led many users to utilise selective processing strategies to evaluate the textual content of online reviews. However, when many reviews are available for a product or a service, these strategies would be suboptimal at best, posing several challenges to the users of peer-to-peer (P2P) accommodation platforms. To enable the guests to perform more informed evaluations and overcome the challenges that the skewed distribution of star ratings creates for decision-making, we employ content analysis tools to derive an aggregated sentiment score for each listing. Using this score, we define a new measure, called “sentiment rating”, that compares a listing with other similar listings based on their textual reviews. Our choice-based conjoint experiment suggests that unlike users’ initial perception about the function of star rating as the most salient factor in evaluating P2P listings, users actually attribute more importance to sentiment ratings of P2P accommodations. Therefore, a text-based summary of online reviews would indeed help users in evaluating alternatives on a P2P platform and in decision making. We argue that a text-based quantitative summary of user reviews could be a useful supplements to (or substitutes for) star ratings on P2P accommodation platforms and even online retailing websites.
A reflexive hereditarily indecomposable space with the hereditary invariant subspace property

A separable Banach space X satisfies the invariant subspace property (ISP) if every bounded linear operator T∈ℒ(X) admits a non‐trivial closed invariant subspace. In this paper, we present the first known example of a reflexive Banach space 𝔛ISP satisfying the ISP. Moreover, this is the first known example of a Banach space satisfying the hereditary ISP, namely every infinite‐dimensional subspace of it satisfies the ISP. The space 𝔛ISP is hereditarily indecomposable (HI) and every operator T∈ℒ(𝔛ISP) is of the form λ I+S with S a strictly singular operator. The critical property of the strictly singular operators of 𝔛ISP is that the composition of any three of them is a compact one. The construction of 𝔛ISP is based on saturation methods and it uses as an unconditional frame Tsirelson space. The new ingredient in the definition of the space is the saturation under constraints, a method initialized in a fundamental work of Edward Odell and Thomas Schlumprecht.
Spectrum to all orders of Polchinski-Strominger {Effective} String Theory of Polyakov-Liouville Type

The spectrum of a Polchinski-Strominger type effective string theory, extended to all orders, herein called an effective string theory of the \emph{Polyakov-Liouville Type} (for obvious reasons) is investigated to all orders in the small parameter $R^{-1}$. Here $R$ is the length of the \emph{closed} string. It is established that to \emph{all orders} the spectrum of this theory is \emph{identical} to that of the free bosonic string theory. While the latter is consistent only in the critical dimension $D_c=26$, the PS- type effective string theories are by construction consistent in \emph{all} dimensions. This work extends earlier results by Drummond, and, by Hari Dass and Matlock to order $R^{-3}$. When combined with Drummond's results about absence of candidate actions at orders $R^{-4},R^{-5}$, our results imply that the spectrum of \emph{all} effective string theories coincides with that of free bosonic string theories to order $R^{-5}$. This agrees with the recent results by Aharony and Karzbrun. Our work is the first all order analysis of any effective string theory.
On some microthyriaceous fungi from a tertiary lignite of South India

The paper deals with some well-preserved remains of fruit bodies of the microthyriaceous fungi recovered from the Upper Tertiary (U. Miocene) Warkalli lignite of Kerala state. Nototllyrites, Callimothallus, Asterina, Eutllyrites and Plochmopeltinites represent the common taxa in the material examined. The following are the species recorded, viz. Notothyrites setiferus, N. airensis, N. denticulatus sp. nov., Callimothallus pertusus, C. raoi sp. nov., Asterina eocenica, Asterotllyrites sp. , Euthyrites keralensis sp. nov., and Plochmopeltillites cooksonii sp. novo Numerous germlings of microthyriaceous fungi have also been encountered in the lignite samples. The common occurrence of diverse types of microthyriaceous fungi in the Warkalli deposits clearly points toward the tropical humid climate in Kerala during the Upper Tertiary period. The paper also discusses briefly the geological history of the mierothyriaceous fungi.
Diffusion at the Magnetopause: A Theoretical Perspective

This paper discusses theoretical aspects of cross-field wave-particle transport at the magnetopause. The basic framework for calculating the transport based on second order-theory is reviewed. Instabilities that give rise to the waves which then lead to particle scattering and diffusion are discussed, and in particular, the lower hybrid drift instability is emphasized. The linear and nonlinear properties of this instability are presented, along with results from revelant computer simulations. Other potential diffusion processes at the magnetopause are also described. The overall conclusion, supported by wave and particle observations, is that wave-particle diffusion is a relatively weak process at the magnetopause. Further, it is argued that this line of research, while illuminating potential new mechanisms, cannot address the more important question of diffusion and transport on a spatial scale of many ion gyroradii over a temporal scale of many ion gyroperiods. A new paradigm to examine the global aspects of magnetopause transport on ion scales using hybrid code methods is presented. Results of two-dimensional hybrid simulations show that the structure of the magnetopause for northward interplanetary magnetic field is reproduced, and the resulting transport in this case is due to waves below the ion gyrofrequency. Diffusion in the presence of viscousmore » transport due to the kinetic Kelvin-Helmholtz instability is then discussed. The potential for the study of particle diffusion, viscous interactions and magnetic reconnection simultaneously through this paradigm is also addressed. « less
Prime Ideal Theorems and systems of finite character

\font\jeden=rsfs7 \font\dva=rsfs10 We study several choice principles for systems of finite character and prove their equivalence to the Prime Ideal Theorem in ZF set theory without Axiom of Choice, among them the Intersection Lemma (stating that if $\text{\jeden S}$ is a system of finite character then so is the system of all collections of finite subsets of $\bigcup \text{\jeden S}$ meeting a common member of $\text{\jeden S}$), the Finite Cutset Lemma (a finitary version of the Teichm"uller-Tukey Lemma), and various compactness theorems. Several implications between these statements remain valid in ZF even if the underlying set is fixed. Some fundamental algebraic and order-theoretical facts like the Artin-Schreier Theorem on the orderability of real fields, the Erdos-De Bruijn Theorem on the colorability of infinite graphs, and Dilworth's Theorem on chain-decompositions for posets of finite width, are easy consequences of the Intersection Lemma or of the Finite Cutset Lemma.