Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Seroprevalence of Bovine Brucellosis in Ethiopia: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract Brucellosis is an infectious and widespread zoonotic disease caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella and can induce considerable human suffering and huge economic losses in animals. Thus, the aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis on the seroprevalence of bovine brucellosis in Ethiopia. PubMed, Science Direct, African Journals Online, and Google Scholar were used to search the articles. All references were screened and articles, which reported seroprevalence of bovine brucellosis in Ethiopia were included in the study. Meta-analysis using random-effects models was made to calculate the pooled seroprevalence of brucellosis. This review included 15 papers. The estimated pooled seroprevalence of brucellosis was found to be 3.0% (95% CI: 2.0, 4.0). The subgroup analysis showed that there was a statistically significant association between the disease and geographical location, setting, laboratory technique employed and study years. Also, there was some evidence of publication bias (Egger’s test, p = 0.0003) on studies reporting the prevalence of brucellosis in Ethiopia. This review proves a high seroprevalence of brucellosis in the country and appropriate control strategies are recommended. Moreover, further study on the risk factors is also required to develop cost-effective preventive strategies.
DFT studies on key intermediates in thiamin catalysis

The diphosphate ester (ThDP) of thiamin (vitamin B1) is an important cofactor of enzymes within the carbohydrate metabolism. From experiments of site-specific variants and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies, it is known that the protonation of the N1′ atom is a significant step in the coenzyme activation by the enzymatic environment. Therefore, we have performed density functional theory (DFT) calculations on the B3LYP/6-31G* level of N1′H and N1′CH3 thiamin as model systems to study the protonation and methylation effect on the structure and the electronic properties of the 4′-amino group. The relaxed rotational barriers related to the C4′-4′N bond are correlated with findings of 1H NMR studies and proton/deuterium exchange experiments. Moreover, the effect of N1′ protonation was studied in more detail on the hydroxyethyl-thiamin carbanion (HETh−), a key intermediate during catalysis of some ThDP-dependent enzymes. The relaxed rotational barriers related to the C2C2α bond and the reaction coordinates of the proton transfer 4′NHC2α of HETh− and N1′H-HETh− show that they are significantly determined by the protonation at N1′ of HETh−. The influence of the apoenzyme environment on the active coenzyme conformation is modeled in a very simple way. The characteristic torsion angles ΦT and ΦP are considered to be restricted in terms of their values in the corresponding enzyme as well as free optimization parameters. Frequency calculations were performed to characterize the minima and transition state structures, respectively. The applicability of the DFT method was checked by comparing calculations on the MP2-HF-SCF/6-31G* level. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2004
Gaseous electrical discharge characteristics in air and nitrogen at cryogenic temperature

In designing superconducting electrical power apparatus, the knowledge of cryogenic gas and liquid insulation characteristics is essential. The authors have studied the discharge characteristics of relatively long-gap configurations in air and nitrogen at a cryogenic temperature. A sphere-to-sphere electrode with a gap length of 20 to 150 mm is used for measurements in uniform electric field. The breakdown voltage characteristics basically obey Paschen's law at cryogenic temperature for 50 Hz, AC, DC and lightning impulse voltage applications. A rod-to-plane electrode with a gap length of 20 to 330 mm is used for measurements in nonuniform electric field. In air at cryogenic temperature and nitrogen gas at both room and cryogenic temperature, streamer-like corona discharge appears near the tip of the rod electrode before the breakdown, and the breakdown voltage increases linearly with gap length. In air at room temperature thin film-like corona discharge, however, appears near the tip of the rod electrode before breakdown, and the breakdown voltage becomes higher than the other case. In order to examine the variation of corona discharge characteristics, some additional experiments are conducted. As a result, it becomes clear that thin film-like glow corona discharge appears when electronegative gas is contained and sufficient electrons are supplied from the cathode.
In situ quantitative analysis of stress and texture development in forsterite aggregates deformed at 6 GPa and 1373 K

The investigation of materials plastic properties at high pressure is a fast-growing field, owing to the coupling of high-pressure deformation apparatuses with X-ray synchrotron radiation. In such devices, materials strain and strain rate are measured by time-resolved radiography, while differential stress is deduced from the elastic response of the d spacing of the crystallographic planes as measured by X-ray diffraction. Here a new protocol is presented, which allows the in situ measurement of stress and texture development in aggregates deformed at high pressure for experiments carried out with the recently installed ten-element energy-dispersive detector at the X17B2 beamline of the National Synchrotron Light Source (Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, USA). Cycling deformation of a forsterite specimen was carried out at a pressure of ∼6 GPa and a temperature of ∼1373 K, using a deformation-DIA apparatus. Diffraction peak energies are analysed in terms of differential stress and principal stress direction, while the intensities of peaks obtained at different azimuths are analysed in terms of lattice preferred orientation (LPO). The development and evolution of a marked LPO, with the (010) plane perpendicular to the compression axis, is observed in situ during the run and is confirmed by electron backscatter diffraction measurements on the run product.
An Auxin-Mediated Regulatory Framework for Wound-Induced Adventitious Root Formation in Tomato Shoot Explants.

Adventitious roots (ARs) are produced from non-root tissues in response to different environmental signals, such as abiotic stresses, or after wounding, in a complex developmental process that requires hormonal crosstalk. Here, we characterized AR formation in young seedlings of Solanum lycopersicum cv. 'Micro-Tom' after whole root excision by means of physiological, genetic and molecular approaches. We found that a regulated basipetal auxin transport from the shoot and local auxin biosynthesis triggered by wounding are both required for the re-establishment of internal auxin gradients within the vasculature. This promotes cell proliferation at the distal cambium near the wound in well-defined positions of the basal hypocotyl and during a narrow developmental window. In addition, a pre-established pattern of differential auxin responses along the apical-basal axis of the hypocotyl and an as of yet unknown cell-autonomous inhibitory pathway contribute to the temporal and spatial patterning of the newly formed ARs on isolated hypocotyl explants. Our work provides an experimental outline for the dissection of wound-induced AR formation in tomato, a species that is suitable for molecular identification of gene regulatory networks via forward and reverse genetics approaches. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Softening of the symmetric breathing mode in gold particles by laser-induced heating

The symmetric breathing mode in spherical gold particles has been examined by time-resolved spectroscopy using different intensity pump laser pulses. The results show that the period of the breathing mode increases as the pump laser power increases, up to pump laser powers of 2−3 μJ/pulse. This is attributed to softening of the elastic properties of the particles due to laser-induced heating. At pump laser powers greater than ∼3 μJ/pulse the period versus intensity data flatten off. This most likely arises from saturation of the sample absorption at high pump intensities. The particles studied in these experiments were relatively largebetween 50 and 100 nm in diameter. Large particles were chosen because they have slower heat dissipation times, which means that the temperature in the particles is better defined during the course of the experiment. The particle temperatures were estimated from the laser power density, the heat capacity of gold, and the absorption at the pump wavelengthassuming that the sam.
Reiterative infusions of MSCs improve pediatric osteogenesis imperfecta eliciting a pro‐osteogenic paracrine response: TERCELOI clinical trial

Abstract Background Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a rare genetic disease characterized by bone fragility, with a wide range in the severity of clinical manifestations. The majority of cases are due to mutations in the COL1A1 or COL1A2 genes, which encode type I collagen. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), as the progenitors of the osteoblasts, the main type I collagen secreting cell type in the bone, have been proposed and tested as an innovative therapy for OI with promising but transient outcomes. Methods To overcome the short‐term effect of MSCs therapy, we performed a phase I clinical trial based on reiterative infusions of histocompatible MSCs, administered in a 2.5‐year period, in two pediatric patients affected by severe and moderate OI. The aim of this study was to assess the safety and effectiveness of this cell therapy in nonimmunosuppressed OI patients. The host response to MSCs was studied by analyzing the sera from OI patients, collected before, during, and after the cell therapy. Results We first demonstrated that the sequential administration of MSCs was safe and improved the bone parameters and quality of life of OI patients along the cell treatment plus 2‐year follow‐up period. Moreover, the study of the mechanism of action indicated that MSCs therapy elicited a pro‐osteogenic paracrine response in patients, especially noticeable in the patient affected by severe OI. Conclusions Our results demonstrate the feasibility and potential of reiterative MSCs infusion for two pediatric OI and highlight the paracrine response shown by patients as a consequence of MSCs treatment.
Synthesis in inverse emulsion and properties of water-soluble associating polymers

An inverse, free-radical emulsion polymerization technique was designed for the preparation of copolymers of acrylamide and sodium acrylate modified with low amounts (<0.5 mol %) of a series of amphiphilic comonomers, the isooctylphenoxy–poly(oxyethylene)(n) methacrylates (1 ≤ n ≤ 12). The products of the reaction were hydrophobically modified water-soluble polymers (HMWSPs) of high molecular weight encapsulated within water droplets dispersed in an organic medium. Kinetic studies showed that the full-conversion samples were rather homogeneous in composition because of the specificity of the process. A mechanistic scheme is proposed that accounts for the incorporation level of the amphiphilic comonomer as a function of its hydrophile–lipophile balance and the nature of the redox initiator (hydrophilic or lipophilic). The rheological properties of the HMWSPs in aqueous solutions were investigated as a function of the comonomer content and the nature of the initiator with steady-flow experiments. The thickening properties were directly correlated to the conditions of synthesis and were optimal when the initiator and the amphiphilic comonomer were located in two distinct phases. A maximum in viscosity was observed for a hydrophobe content of about 0.3 mol %. An examination of the viscosity as a function of the shear rate and time showed that these solutions had all the characteristics of associating polymers. The complex rheological behavior was the result of the balance between interchain and intrachain hydrophobic liaisons and the kinetics of disorganization and reorganization of the network structure. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 84: 1418–1430, 2002; DOI 10.1002/app.10337
A comparison of parametric propensity score‐based methods for causal inference with multiple treatments and a binary outcome

We consider comparative effectiveness research (CER) from observational data with two or more treatments. In observational studies, the estimation of causal effects is prone to bias due to confounders related to both treatment and outcome. Methods based on propensity scores are routinely used to correct for such confounding biases. A large fraction of propensity score methods in the current literature consider the case of either two treatments or continuous outcome. There has been extensive literature with multiple treatment and binary outcome, but interest often lies in the intersection, for which the literature is still evolving. The contribution of this article is to focus on this intersection and compare across methods, some of which are fairly recent. We describe propensity‐based methods when more than two treatments are being compared, and the outcome is binary. We assess the relative performance of these methods through a set of simulation studies. The methods are applied to assess the effect of four common therapies for castration‐resistant advanced‐stage prostate cancer. The data consist of medical and pharmacy claims from a large national private health insurance network, with the adverse outcome being admission to the emergency room within a short time window of treatment initiation.
EUS-guided pelvic drainage: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background and Objectives: EUS-guided pelvic abscess drainage (EUS-PAD) is a procedure that utilizes an echoendoscope to visualize an area of interest for needle insertion and placement of a stent, catheter, or both for drainage of the target abscess. The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis for the safety and efficacy of EUS-PAD. Materials and Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search of several databases and conference proceedings including PubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar, MEDLINE, SCOPUS, and Web of Science databases (earliest inception to February 2020). The primary outcomes for this study were the technical and clinical success of EUS-PAD. The secondary outcomes assessed for this study were adverse events of the procedure and subgroup analysis of individual adverse events. Results: Eight studies with a total of 135 patients combined were included in our analysis. The rate of technical success was 100% and the calculated pooled rate of clinical success was 92% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 87%, 98%; P = 0.31; I2 = 15%). The calculated pooled rate of adverse events was 9.4% (±17.9%), with stent migration (5.5 ± 18.06%) being the most common adverse event. Conclusion: EUS-PAD offers a viable alternative that can minimize the need for surgical intervention in the drainage of pelvic abscesses. EUS-PAD has also demonstrated long-term clinical success with an acceptable rate of complications.
Factors Associated with the Quality of Life of Patients with Cancer Undergoing Radiotherapy

Objective Approximately half of patients with cancer have comorbidities, such as adjustment disorder, major depressive disorder, and delirium. Radiotherapy can cause psychological problems, e.g., the fear of treatment and its side effects, anxiety, depression, and social isolation. Health-related quality of life (QoL) must be determined to evaluate the effectiveness of cancer treatment. We analyzed the clinical, psychological, and sociodemographic factors influencing the QoL of patients with cancer who were undergoing radiotherapy. Methods Twenty-six patients undergoing radiotherapy (10 male, 16 female) were included. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected prior to radiotherapy. Psychosocial factors were assessed by self-reported questionnaires before, immediately after, and 3 months after radiotherapy. A multivariate regression analysis identified factors affecting QoL at each time point. Results Patients’ diagnoses were breast, cervical, prostate, endometrial, rectal, hypopharyngeal, laryngeal, liver, gallbladder, esophageal, ovarian, lung, and skin cancers. Before radiotherapy, better resilience was significantly associated with a higher QoL score (R2=0.199, p=0.033). Immediately after radiotherapy, financial difficulty was significantly associated with a lower QoL score (R2=0.274, p=0.010). Three months after radiotherapy, the presence of chronic disease (R2=0.398, p=0.002) and the severity of nausea and vomiting were significantly associated with a lower QoL score (R2=0.278, p=0.014). Conclusion Resilience, financial difficulty, the presence of chronic diseases, and the severity of nausea and vomiting significantly influenced the QoL of patients with cancer who were undergoing radiotherapy. Factors affecting QoL varied at each time point. Thus, patients with cancer should undergo regular mental health assessments, including assessments of QoL. Multidimensional (physical, psychological, and social) approaches and individualized time-based interventions are needed to improve the QoL of cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy.
A many-body approach to spin-wave excitations in itinerant magnetic systems

Using a recently developed Green's function formalism, we have calculated the spin-wave spectra and dispersions in Ni and Fe. For Ni(100), the dispersion exhibits two branches as observed experimentally. The calculated higher optical branch is found to be too high in energy when the standard local density approximation band-structure is used but a very good agreement with the measured dispersion is obtained when the exchange splitting is reduced, to correspond to the experimental value of the exchange splitting. We also found a double branch along Ni(111) which is not observed experimentally. For Fe, the calculated dispersion surprisingly exposes a gap midway along Γ-N in disagreement with experimental data. However, an analysis of the temperature-dependent magnetization has predicted a similar gap at the same wave vector, supporting the present calculations.
Synthesis and Characterization of Dinuclear Europium Complexes Showing Pure Red Electroluminescence

Two dinuclear EuIII complexes have been synthesized by employing β-diketones and 2,2′-bipyrimidine (bpm) as sensitizing ligands for the Eu ion and a bridging ligand, respectively, and characterized by various means including single-crystal X-ray crystallography. The use of dibenzoylmethane (dbm) and trifluorothenoylacetone (tta) as β-diketones gave [Eu2(dbm)6(bpm)] (1) and [Eu2(tta)6(bpm)] (2). Both show strong intermolecular π–π interactions that may be responsible for their high melting points. The analysis of the absorption, excitation, and emission spectra of the dinuclear complexes along with a comparison with analogous mononuclear complexes containing the same β-diketone ligands and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) suggests that the dinuclear complexes follow the luminescence mechanism of general LnIII complexes. An EL device with the structure ITO/PEDOT/PVK + PBD + 1 10 wt. -%/LiF/Al shows pure red emission with an efficiency similar to those of mononuclear complexes. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2006)
Is there hope that transpinal direct current stimulation corrects motoneuron excitability and provides neuroprotection in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis?

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease of largely unknown pathophysiology, characterized by the progressive loss of motoneurons (MNs). We review data showing that in presymptomatic ALS mice, MNs display reduced intrinsic excitability and impaired level of excitatory inputs. The loss of repetitive firing specifically affects the large MNs innervating fast contracting muscle fibers, which are the most vulnerable MNs in ALS. Interventions that aimed at restoring either the intrinsic excitability or the synaptic excitation result in a decrease of disease markers in MNs and delayed neuromuscular junction denervation. We then focus on trans‐spinal direct current stimulation (tsDCS), a noninvasive tool, since it modulates the activity of spinal neurons and networks. Effects of tsDCS depend on the polarity of applied current. Recent work shows that anodal tsDCS induces long‐lasting enhancement of MN excitability and synaptic excitation of spinal MNs. Moreover, we show preliminary results indicating that anodal tsDCS enhances the excitatory synaptic inputs to MNs in ALS mice. In conclusion, we suggest that chronic application of anodal tsDCS might be useful as a complementary method in the management of ALS patients.
The structural and spectroscopic basis for modelling prion protein interactions

Mammalian prion diseases are characterised by an α-helical to β-sheet conformational change within the prion protein, that was originally established with circular dichroism (CD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Since prion disease is transmissible, significant effort has been aimed at establishing the molecular details of conformational change and the specificity that underpins infectivity. The structure determined for the carboxy-terminal domain of the predominantly α-helical form by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) provides a starting point for considering questions at the molecular level. However, elucidation of atomic detail for the β-rich form is complicated by problems of protein solubility, and regions other than the carboxy-terminal domain of the α-rich form are likely to possess functionally significant, ordered domains in the presence of suitable ligands and solution conditions. Further spectroscopic analysis, particularly of polypeptide secondary structure, is playing a key role in constraining molecular modelling studies of prion protein folding and interactions. We present a review of this area of prion research.
How Do Patients With Parkinson’s Disease Approach Advance Care Planning? A UK-Based Mixed Methods Study

Background: Advance Care Planning (ACP) allows people the opportunity to plan for a time when they may lose capacity. The aim of this study was to determine the extent people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) were aware of ACP, existing plans they held and to explore their own views, as well as their relatives, on planning for the future. Methods: This was a sequential explanatory mixed methods study with a postal quantitative survey to establish awareness and engagement with planning for the future; and qualitative semi-structured interviews to explore the views of people with PD and their relatives on ACP and future plans. Results: 104 questionnaires were analyzed. 76% of respondents had not heard of ACP, while 69% expressed an interest in finding out more about ACP. 78% had a will, and 23% had appointed lasting power of attorneys. All interviewees acknowledged engaging in some aspect of planning. Plans were mostly practical as opposed to health-care related. Interviewees expressed a preference for ACP to be carried out by their PD team, at home, and at a time relevant to their condition. Conclusion: The awareness and understanding of ACP in people with PD is low. While there is desire to be better informed about ACP, this did not translate into desire to engage in ACP. Health professionals should identify people for whom ACP may serve a positive purpose, and proactively address ACP as a continuum with them, while ensuring awareness is raised about ACP, and there is access for who are interested.