Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Vaccines for preventing pneumococcal infection in adults.

BACKGROUND Diseases caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae(S. pneumoniae) continue to cause substantial morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Whilst pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccines (PPV) have the potential to prevent disease and death, the degree of protection afforded against various clinical endpoints and within different populations is uncertain. OBJECTIVES To assess the effectiveness of PPV in preventing disease or death in adults. Adverse events were not assessed. SEARCH STRATEGY We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library 2007, Issue 2); MEDLINE (January 1966 to June 2007); and EMBASE (1974 to June 2007). SELECTION CRITERIA A) Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing PPV with placebo, control vaccines, or no intervention.B) Non-RCTs assessing PPV effectiveness against invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS A) RCTs: trial quality assessment was conducted by two review authors and data extracted by three authors; odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using a random-effects model.B) Non-RCTs: study quality, including measures to control for confounding, was assessed and data extracted by two review authors; OR and 95% CI were calculated using a random-effects model following the conversion of each study outcome to a log OR and standard error. MAIN RESULTS Twenty-two studies met our inclusion criteria (15 RCTs involving 48,656 participants and 7 non-RCTs involving 62,294 participants). Meta-analysis of the RCTs found strong evidence of PPV efficacy against IPD with no statistical heterogeneity (OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.15 to 0.46; random-effects model, I-squared (I(2)) = 0%). Efficacy against all cause pneumonia was inconclusive with substantial statistical heterogeneity (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.52 to 0.97; random-effects model, I(2) = 87.3%). PPV was not associated with substantial reductions in all-cause mortality (OR 0.87, 95% CI 0.69 to 1.10; random-effects model, I(2) = 75.3%). Vaccine efficacy against primary outcomes appeared poorer in adults with chronic illness but the difference was not statistically significant. Non-RCTs provided evidence for protection against IPD in populations for whom the vaccine is currently utilised (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.37 to 0.61; random-effects model, I(2) = 31.4%). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS This meta-analysis provides evidence supporting the recommendation for PPV to prevent IPD in adults. The evidence from RCTs is less clear with respect to adults with chronic illness. This might be because of lack of effect or lack of power in the studies. The meta-analysis does not provide compelling evidence to support the routine use of PPV to prevent all-cause pneumonia or mortality.
Iron induces bimodal population development by Escherichia coli

Bacterial biofilm formation is a complex developmental process involving cellular differentiation and the formation of intricate 3D structures. Here we demonstrate that exposure to ferric chloride triggers rugose biofilm formation by the uropathogenic Escherichia coli strain UTI89 and by enteric bacteria Citrobacter koseri and Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium. Two unique and separable cellular populations emerge in iron-triggered, rugose biofilms. Bacteria at the air–biofilm interface express high levels of the biofilm regulator csgD, the cellulose activator adrA, and the curli subunit operon csgBAC. Bacteria in the interior of rugose biofilms express low levels of csgD and undetectable levels of matrix components curli and cellulose. Iron activation of rugose biofilms is linked to oxidative stress. Superoxide generation, either through addition of phenazine methosulfate or by deletion of sodA and sodB, stimulates rugose biofilm formation in the absence of high iron. Additionally, overexpression of Mn-superoxide dismutase, which can mitigate iron-derived reactive oxygen stress, decreases biofilm formation in a WT strain upon iron exposure. Not only does reactive oxygen stress promote rugose biofilm formation, but bacteria in the rugose biofilms display increased resistance to H2O2 toxicity. Altogether, we demonstrate that iron and superoxide stress trigger rugose biofilm formation in UTI89. Rugose biofilm development involves the elaboration of two distinct bacterial populations and increased resistance to oxidative stress.
Cerebellar nucleocortical projection with a survey of factors affecting the transport of radioactive tracers

The nucleocortical projection has been studied with the method of anterograde transport of tritiated amino acids and autoradiography. It was observed that this projection is made up of a small number of fibers. Counts of silver grain aggregates in projection sites of the granular layer were compared with counts from material on the cuneocerebellar projection. As it had been concluded in previous studies that the projection is quantitatively important, several modifications of the experimental conditions were tested. Radioactive leucine of high or low specific activity as well as a mixture of amino acids were used. It was observed that labeling is always more intense with a high specific activity tracer. Variations of the aspect and density of the projection were observed with survival periods lasting from a few hours to several days. With survival times between 9 and 15 hours, round aggregates of silver grains measuring from 10 to 20 μm were observed in the granular layer of labeled regions. At longer survival periods, the terminal structures in the granular layer appeared as coarse linear aggregates. It is suggested that the latter represent preterminal labeled fragments while the round accumulations correspond to terminal rosettes. Maximum density of the labeling in the granular layer occured between 9 and 15 hours. At 2 days, the density was lowest, and at 5 or 6 days it was somewhat higher. Even under optimal conditions, the density of the nucleocortical terminals was low.
Safe actions and observations planning for mobile robots

Deals with the definition of safe tasks for displacement missions of a non-holonomic mobile robot in an indoor environment. The goal of this study is to plan actions (path following) as well as observations (local maps), leading the robot to configurations where pertinent features can be sensed, thus allowing the robot's best localization relative to its environment. Firstly, the local map concept is introduced as a set of the best landmarks used for planning and executing robust motion movements. Secondly, a path planning method dealing with uncertainties is proposed, where both uncertainties in localization and in control of a non-holonomic mobile robot are managed. The safeness of the proposed method is due to the mixing between the planning phase and the navigation phase.
A randomized controlled trial to improve lymph node assessment in stage II colon cancer.

HYPOTHESIS Physicians seem to learn best from their peers, yet the impact of opinion leaders on physician behavior is unclear. Because colon cancer staging has been identified as being suboptimal in Ontario, Canada, we sought to evaluate the influence of expert and local opinion leaders for colon cancer on optimizing colon cancer lymph node assessment. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS A cluster-randomized trial including all hospitals in Ontario that identified a local opinion leader with intervention between January 5 and June 17, 2004. INTERVENTION All 42 centers received a standardized lecture about colon cancer lymph node assessment delivered by an expert opinion leader in colon cancer. The 21 intervention hospitals also received academic detailing of a local opinion leader by the expert opinion leader and a toolkit. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Mean number of lymph nodes assessed in patients with stage II colon cancer and the proportion of cases staged with a minimum of 12 lymph nodes before and after a standardized lecture were assessed. RESULTS Patient demographic and tumor factors were similar in both groups before and after the standardized lecture. Lymph node assessment significantly improved after the standardized lecture at intervention and control sites (P < .001). No additional benefit of academic detailing and toolkit provision in the intervention was demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS In-person provision of information by an expert opinion leader in colon cancer may stimulate performance regarding lymph node assessment for colon cancer. Academic detailing of a local opinion leader did not further improve lymph node assessment.
Risk factors for patellofemoral pain syndrome: a systematic review.

STUDY DESIGN Systematic review. OBJECTIVES To systematically outline the risk factors for patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). BACKGROUND PFPS is the most commonly diagnosed condition in young individuals with knee complaints. High incidence among athletes suggests a possibility of prevention. The first step toward prevention is identification of possible risk factors. METHODS Prospective studies that included 20 or more patients with PFPS and examined at least 1 possible risk factor for PFPS were included. An assessment list was applied to evaluate the quality of the studies. A meta-analysis was conducted using a random-effects model. Significant differences were based on calculated mean differences, with matching 95% confidence intervals (CIs). For dichotomous data, odds ratios or relative risks were calculated. RESULTS Of the 3845 potentially relevant articles, 7 were included in this review. These studies examined a total of 135 variables, and pooling was possible for 13 potential risk factors. The pooled data showed that knee extension peak torques were significantly lower in the PFPS group than in controls. Mean differences in torque, with negative differences reflecting lower means in the PFPS group, were as follows: (a) standardized relative to body weight at 60°/s, -0.24 Nm (95% CI: -0.39, -0.09); (b) standardized relative to body weight at 240°/s, -0.11 Nm (95% CI: -0.17, -0.05); (c) standardized relative to body mass index at 60°/s, -0.84 Nm (95% CI: -1.23, -0.44); (d) standardized relative to body mass index at 240°/s, -0.32 Nm (95% CI: -0.52, -0.12); (e) nonstandardized in a concentric mode at 60°/s, -17.54 Nm (95% CI: -25.53, -9.54); (f) nonstandardized in a concentric mode at 240°/s, -7.72 Nm (95% CI: -12.67, -2.77). CONCLUSION Weaker knee extension strength, expressed by peak torque, appears to be a risk factor for PFPS, based on meta-analyses of pooled results from multiple studies. Because several other risk factors for PFPS were described only in single studies, these additional risk factors, as well as those with conflicting evidence, need to be confirmed in future studies. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Prognosis, level 1a-.
The secretion of catecholamines in newborn babies with special reference to fetal distress

Little is known about the blood concentrations of catecholamines in the fetus. For some years it has been known that catecholamines can be detected in the adrenal glands of the fetus. WEST et al. [14] reported that noradrenaline is predominant over adrenaline in fetal ages in contrast with the pattern of adult ages, and that the former is also detected in larger amounts in the extramedullary chromaffine tissues, which are the so-called "paraaortic tissues". In WEST'S studies, approximately 90% of the catecholamines in both the adrenals and the paraaortic tissues were found to occur äs noradrenaline before 70 days of postnatal life. On the contrary,GREENBERG and LIND [7] reported that adrenaline and noradrenaline were found in approximately equal amounts in the adrenal glands of early fetuses, when determined by fluorescent techniques. Accordingly, it was considered of interest to study the pattern of blood catecholamine concentrations in fetal ages and compare it with the pattern in adult ages. It has also been reported by several workers that asphyxia in experimental animals causes striking increases in secretions by the adrenal medulla. Thus, one might logically expect an increased production of catecholamines in fetal distress. Indeed, this is precisely one of the major problems beingfacedby the obstetrician or the paediatrician.
Inferential false memories of events: Negative consequences protect from distortions when the events are free from further elaboration

The present experiment was conducted to investigate whether negative emotionally charged and arousing content of to-be-remembered scripted material would affect propensity towards memory distortions. We further investigated whether elaboration of the studied material through free recall would affect the magnitude of memory errors. In this study participants saw eight scripts. Each of the scripts included an effect of an action, the cause of which was not presented. Effects were either negatively emotional or neutral. Participants were assigned to either a yes/no recognition test group (recognition), or to a recall and yes/no recognition test group (elaboration + recognition). Results showed that participants in the recognition group produced fewer memory errors in the emotional condition. Conversely, elaboration + recognition participants had lower accuracy and produced more emotional memory errors than the other group, suggesting a mediating role of semantic elaboration on the generation of false memories. The role of emotions and semantic elaboration on the generation of false memories is discussed.
Ssu72 Phosphatase-dependent Erasure of Phospho-Ser7 Marks on the RNA Polymerase II C-terminal Domain Is Essential for Viability and Transcription Termination*

Background: Reversible phosphorylation of the RNA Polymerase II CTD coordinates co-transcriptional recruitment of factors. Results: Ssu72 is required for erasure of phospho-serine7, and it facilitates Fcp1-mediated phospho-serine2 removal. Conclusion: Removal of phospho-Ser7 mark plays a key role in the transcription cycle. Significance: Persistent negative charge at position 7 of the CTD renders cells non-viable, and Ssu72 plays a prominent role in removing phospho-Ser7. The C-terminal domain (CTD) of the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) serves an important role in coordinating stage-specific recruitment and release of cellular machines during transcription. Dynamic placement and removal of phosphorylation marks on different residues of a repeating heptapeptide (YSPTSPS) of the CTD underlies the engagement of relevant cellular machinery. Whereas sequential placement of phosphorylation marks is well explored, genome-wide engagement of phosphatases that remove these CTD marks is poorly understood. In particular, identifying the enzyme that erases phospho-Ser7 (Ser7-P) marks is especially important, because we find that substituting this residue with a glutamate, a phospho-mimic, is lethal. Our observations implicate Ssu72 as a Ser7-P phosphatase. We report that removal of all phospho-CTD marks during transcription termination is mechanistically coupled. An inability to remove these marks prevents Pol II from terminating efficiently and will likely impede subsequent assembly into the pre-initiation complex.
A systematic review of smartphone applications for chronic pain available for download in the United States.

OBJECTIVE A Smartphone app could be useful in aiding patients in self-monitoring and self-managing their chronic pain-related symptoms. The purpose of this study was to systematically review English-language pain-related Smartphone apps available for download in the United States. DESIGN During July 2012, official Android, BlackBerry, and iPhone Smartphone app platform stores were searched. "Pain" was entered into the search-bar of each Smartphone app store. Of the pain apps meeting inclusion criteria, the following were retrieved: release date, download cost (US dollars [US $], file size, documentation of a healthcare professional's (HCP) involvement in app development, primary purpose of the app (pain education, pain self-management, or a combination of pain education and self-management), targeted pain-related condition(s), and inclusion of features that addressed four common self-monitoring and/or management strategies. RESULTS Of the 220 apps meeting inclusion criteria, the majority were available through the iPhone (80.0 percent). The cost for downloading each app ranged from US $0.00 to 89.99; however, the majority of apps were ≤US $4.99. There was no evidence of HCP involvement in the development of the majority of apps (65.0 percent). Chronic, nonspecific pain was the focus of half (50.5 percent) of the apps, followed by back and/or neck pain (25.9 percent). The primary purpose of the apps was categorized as follows: pain education (n = 53, 24.1 percent), pain self-management (n = 137, 62.3 percent), and both pain education and self management (n = 30, 13.6 percent). CONCLUSION Overall, most of the pain-related apps included within our review not only lacked evidence of HCP input regarding development but also contained few evidence-based pain management features.
Expression of the divergent transcription unit containing the yeast PET122 and OXA1 genes

The nuclear PET122 gene of S. cerevisiae encodes a mitochondrial‐localized protein that activates initiation of translation of the mitochondrial mRNA from the COX3 gene, which encodes subunit III of cytochrome c oxidase. The PET122 locus contains two divergent transcription units: one is involved in expression of PET122 mRNA and the mRNA for an adjacent gene OXA1, which is also required for cytochrome c oxidase biogenesis, and the other is involved in expression of an antisense RNA that is complementary to about two thirds of the PET122 mRNA and an adjacent gene YER152C of unknown function. Steady state levels of OXA1, PET122 sense and PET122 antisense RNAs were measured after growth of yeast cells under catabolite repressing or derepressing conditions, or after deletion of portions of the 5′ flanking DNA of the genes. The results reported here indicate that the PET122 and OXA1 genes are unconventional in terms of the control of their transcription. Neither possesses a canonical TATA element and they exhibit no apparent need for native upstream DNA. These results raise the interesting possibility that PET122 and OXA1 transcription is controlled by downstream DNA, perhaps located within the coding regions of the respective genes.
Influence of acupuncture on type I hypersensitivity itch and the wheal and flare response in adults with atopic eczema – a blinded, randomized, placebo‐controlled, crossover trial

To cite this article: Pfab F, Huss‐Marp J, Gatti A, Fuqin J, Athanasiadis GI, Irnich D, Raap U, Schober W, Behrendt H, Ring J, Darsow U. Influence of acupuncture on type I hypersensitivity itch and the wheal and flare response in adults with atopic eczema – a blinded, randomized, placebo‐controlled, crossover trial. Allergy 2010; 65: 903–910.
The quantal components of the mammalian end‐plate potential

The occurrence of spontaneous subthreshold activity at the neuromuscular junction of the albino rat has been described in a previous paper (Liley, 1956). In the present paper a further study is made of this phenomenon, particularly of the relationship between the spontaneous miniature potentials and the end-plate potential (e.p.p.) involved in normal neuromuscular transmission in the mammal. Recently Boyd & Martin (1955) have demonstrated the quantal nature of the e.p.p. in the cat tenuissimus muscle. In the present paper evidence is produced to show that the e.p.p. in the rat is also composed of summated miniature potentials and in the light of this finding a further investigation has been made into the phenomenon of facilitation at the mammalian neuromuscular junction (Hutter, 1952; Liley & North, 1953; Lundberg & Quilisch, 1953a, b). METHODS
Computational Materials Science and Surface Engineering Attachments of implant retained tissue supported denture under biting forces

ABSTRACT Purpose: In implant retained soft tissue supported type dentures functioning of attachments, presented by their producers as mechanically bio-compatible because of the ensured freedom of rotational displacements is accompanied by numerous problems that seem to be caused by excessive bearing of occlusal loads. Design/methodology/approach: For the purposes of attachments loadings evaluation, built was a three-dimensional FEM model of a denture situated on an atrophic prosthetic foundation with joint supports assumed in the area of denture attachment to implants. Analysis of attachments loadings has been carried out under unilateral oblique occlusal forces of 100N in molars and incisors zones. Findings: Used methodology made it possible to determine attachments loading in a quantitative manner. In spite of free rotational movements implantological supports bear significant part of horizontal occlusal forces components, which reach the value of 66N during chewing processes.
Predicting the Shear Strength of a Wire Bond Using Laser Vibration Measurements

Wedge/wedge bonding with AlSi-1 wire on semiconductor chips with aluminum metallization has been investigated. The scope of the article is the modeling of the wedge bond. The description of the bonding process by a physical model shall predict the change of bond quality, depending on a change in bonding parameters. The physical model is based on measurements of the vibration amplitude, induced into the assembly by the ultrasonic (US) power. The model is derived by measurements of the shear strength for various bond times. By fitting the calculation to the measurements, details of the bonding process can be clarified. By using the model shear force can be calculated by estimation of the deformation of the wire material, the amplitude of the tool, sigma and the transversal force during bonding
Online Parameter Estimation and Convergence Property of Dynamic Bayesian Networks

In this paper, we investigate a novel online estimation algorithm for dynamic Bayesian network (DBN) parameters, given as conditional probabilities. We sequentially update the parameter adjustment rule based on observation data. We apply our algorithm to two well known representations of DBNs: to a first-order Markov Chain (MC) model and to a Hidden Markov Model (HMM). A sliding window allows efficient adaptive computation in real time. We also examine the stochastic convergence and stability of the learning algorithm.
A Novel Planar Impedance-Transforming Tight-Coupling Coupler and Its Applications to Microstrip Baluns

A novel impedance-transforming coupled-line coupler with strong coupling coefficient is proposed in this paper. Its analytical design methodology and applications to microstrip baluns are presented. For demonstration purposes, four numerical examples of this proposed impedance-transforming coupler with different terminated impedances are given. The calculated results show that this proposed coupler not only matches two different groups of terminated impedances but also covers the total power-dividing ratio range from 0 dB to infinite value. The measured results of the fabricated coupler verify the proposed design approach. Finally, this kind of coupler is used to construct a novel planar microstrip balun. This proposed balun has many advantages including planar structure without any via holes, strong coupled lines, and wide operation bandwidth. The experimental results of this proposed balun operating at approximately 2 GHz demonstrated these proposed ideas.