Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Particulate air pollution and panel studies in children: a systematic review

Background: Panel studies have been used to investigate the short term effects of outdoor particulate air pollution across a wide range of environmental settings. Aims: To systematically review the results of such studies in children, estimate summary measures of effect, and investigate potential sources of heterogeneity. Methods: Studies were identified by searching electronic databases to June 2002, including those where outcomes and particulate level measurements were made at least daily for ⩾8 weeks, and analysed using an appropriate regression model. Study results were compared using forest plots, and fixed and random effects summary effect estimates obtained. Publication bias was considered using a funnel plot. Results: Twenty two studies were identified, all except two reporting PM10 (24 hour mean) >50 μg. m−3. Reported effects of PM10 on PEF were widely spread and smaller than those for PM2.5 (fixed effects summary: −0.012 v −0.063 l.min−1 per μg.m−3 rise). A similar pattern was evident for symptoms. Random effects models produced larger estimates. Overall, in between-study comparisons, panels of children with diagnosed asthma or pre-existing respiratory symptoms appeared less affected by PM10 levels than those without, and effect estimates were larger where studies were conducted in higher ozone conditions. Larger PM10 effect estimates were obtained from studies using generalised estimating equations to model autocorrelation and where results were derived by pooling subject specific regression coefficients. A funnel plot of PM10 results for PEF was markedly asymmetrical. Conclusions: The majority of identified studies indicate an adverse effect of particulate air pollution that is greater for PM2.5 than PM10. However, results show considerable heterogeneity and there is evidence consistent with publication bias, so limited confidence may be placed on summary estimates of effect. The possibility of interaction between particle and ozone effects merits further investigation, as does variability due to analytical differences that alter the interpretation of final estimates.
Ouabain Effects on Oxygen Physiology in Anemic Lambs

ABSTRACT. : We studied the effects of anemia and ouabain administration on cardiac function, oxygen physiology, and blood catecholamine levels in nine newborn lambs. We measured oxygen consumption continuously, along with traditional hemodynamic variables. Oxygen transport was calculated. Following baseline measurements, lambs were made anemic (mean hematocrit = 12%) by isovolemic exchange transfusion with Plasmanate, and measurements were repeated. Thereafter ouabain was administered as a 75μg/kg bolus, followed by 30 min of infusion at a rate of 0.05 μg/kg/min. Measurements were repeated at the conclusion of infusion. Anemia was associated with a heart rate related rise in left ventricular rate of pressure rise, a rise in oxygen consumption, an increase in cardiac output, a decrease in systemic vascular resistance, and a rise in fractional oxygen extraction (oxygen consumption/transport). Following ouabain administration, cardiac output, oxygen consumption, and stroke work fell, but left ventricular rate of pressure rise and the extraction ratio did not change. Serum levels of epinephrine and norepinephrine rose with sustained anemia and ouabain infusion. In this setting, ouabain effects are manifested primarily by alterations in oxygen transport and metabolism rather than by changes in traditional assessments of left ventricular contractile function.
Neural substrates of microstimulation‐evoked tingling: a chronaxie study in human somatosensory thalamus

Intra‐operative micro‐electrode stimulation of sensorimotor thalamus produces paraesthesia or tingling in various body regions and is used to map somatotopy prior to implantation of deep brain‐stimulating electrodes in awake patients. The neural elements affected by such microstimulation are unknown. Using paraesthesia as the behavioural–physiological response threshold, we measured chronaxie times for microstimuli applied to both somatosensory thalamic nuclei (cellular region) and its axonal afferents, the medial lemniscus. White matter chronaxie times were relatively unimodal, whereas two different clusters of chronaxie times were identified in grey matter: one corresponding to that of the medial lemniscus and the other about five times longer and compatible with that obtained from cell somata. Therefore, excitations of local axons and/or cell bodies can both contribute to the paraesthesia evoked during intra‐operative thalamic mapping.
Documentation of Characteristics of Early Hospital Readmission of Elderly Patients: A Challenge for Inservice Educators

Researchers conducted a retrospective review of 127 hospital records over a 3-month period to examine factors related to early hospital readmissions of patients age 65 and over. The leading diagnoses resulting in early readmissions were related to heart and circulatory problems, with a mean of 12.5 days between discharge and readmission. Gaps in documentation and the need for including qualitative data are discussed. Staff development educators are central to implementing strategies to correct these documentation deficiencies.
Protocol for the examination of specimens from patients with hematopoietic neoplasms of the bone marrow: a basis for checklists.

T College of American Pathologists offers these protocols to assist pathologists in providing clinically useful and relevant information in the reporting of the results of their examinations of surgical specimens. The College regards the reporting elements in the Surgical Pathology Cancer Case Summary portion of the protocols as essential elements of the pathology report. However, the manner in which these elements are reported is at the discretion of each specific pathologist—taking into account clinician preferences, institutional policies, and individual practice. The College developed these protocols as an educational tool to assist pathologists in the useful reporting of relevant information. It did not issue the protocols for use in litigation, reimbursement, or other contexts. Nevertheless, the College recognizes that the protocols might be used by hospitals, attorneys, payers, and others. Indeed, effective January 1, 2003, the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons has mandated use of the checklist elements of the protocols as part of its Cancer Program Standards for Approved Cancer Programs. Therefore, it becomes even more important for pathologists to familiarize themselves with the document. At the same time, the College cautions that use of the protocols other than for their intended educational purpose may involve additional considerations that are beyond the scope of this document.
Transitioning to a National (New Zealand) Sole Supply Scheme for Glucose Meters

This case study describes the clinical impact of moving to a single brand of glucose test strips. In 2013 the New Zealand public health system completed a move to procure test strips at a significant discount. The associated direct savings is estimated at around 40% of the total glucose strip budget. Half the local diabetes population undertake glucose monitoring using government-funded diabetes supplies. These patients no longer have a choice of brand of meters and strips. Although the majority of patients adapted well to this change, a small percentage did not. Also, some consumers expressed concerns about analytical performance of the new strips, when used in everyday life. A pragmatic postmarketing surveillance system, designed with consumer input, may help address these residual concerns.
Oxidative Stress and Cancer: Advances and Challenges

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) constantly generated inside the body are required to drive regulatory pathways and are also a cause for several pathological conditions including cancer. Numerous lines of evidence suggest that ROS can promote as well as suppress the survival of cancer cells. First, ROS are known to regulate each and every step of tumor development including transformation, survival, proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis. Second, chronic inflammation, one of the major mediators of cancer, is regulated by ROS. Third, ROS are known to regulate signaling molecules required for cell cycle progression. Fourth, the expression of various tumor suppressor genes is under control of ROS. Fifth, a high level of ROS can suppress tumor growth through the sustained activation of the cell cycle inhibitors. Sixth, most of the currently available chemotherapeutic and radiotherapeutic agents kill cancer cells by increasing ROS stress. Thus, both ROS-elevating and ROS-eliminating strategies have been developed for cancer therapy. This special issue is an effort to assess the existing concepts, recent findings, controversies, and challenges concerning the role of ROS in tumor development. In particular, the topics covered in this special issue include understanding the role of ROS in cancer initiation and progression (M. Tafani et al.), cancer cell signaling (M. Tafani et al., H. S. Khalil et al., I. Ryoo et al., L. Zong et al., and J. H. Osaki et al.), drug resistance (A. Barreiro-Alonso et al.), autophagy (L. Zhang et al.), and cancer therapy (N. Mut-Salud et al., A. M. Mileo and S. Miccadei, A. Jarosz et al., and Z.-G. Jiang et al.). The article by A. Lyakhovich and M. E. Lleonart discusses various mechanisms developed by cancer stem cells to attenuate ROS levels. Another article deals with the role of ROS in inducing polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a disease condition in women associated with an increasing risk of cancers (T. Zuo et al.). The role of ROS in numerous cancer types including breast (A. C. S. A. Herrera et al., A. L. G. Junior et al.), ovarian (A. Barreiro-Alonso et al.), prostate (A. Barreiro-Alonso et al.), hepatocellular carcinoma (B. K. Maurya and S. K. Trigun, Y.-Q. Hou et al.), pancreatic cancer (L. Zhang et al. and L. Zong et al.), bladder cancer (N. V. Savina et al.), colorectal cancer (J. Kabzinski et al.), and cervical cancer (J. H. Osaki et al.) is discussed. It is our hope that these articles will be useful to the readers.
Mitigation of warpage for large 2.5D Through Silicon Interposer (TSI) package assembly

In recent years, tremendous research and attention have been focused on 2.5D/3D IC (integrated circuit) integration within a TSI (Through Silicon Interposer) package. Integration of multiple ICs with the use of TSI technology could bring about higher integration density, shorter interconnection path and smaller device structure for the next-generation semiconductor devices. In this paper, we investigated the warpage behavior of our Chip-on-Chip-on-Substrate (CoC)-oS TSI package using the Chip-on-Chip (CoC) first assembly approach. The C4 (controlled collapse chip connection) bumps on the CoC TSI package was attached using both flux-based ball drop process and laser solder ball jetting process. Warpage analysis and profile for each assembly part/package in the CoC-first assembly was measured using the shadow moiré method. Two guest dies were assembled onto a large (38.70mm × 26.70mm) and thin (0.10mm) TSI package using flip-chip thermo-compression bonding. The assembled CoC TSI package was then mounted onto an organic substrate. Warpage measurement was conducted from a temperature range of 25°C to 250°C. From the shadow moiré measurement results, the warpage difference between the organic substrate and the assembled CoC TSI package with C4 bumps via laser solder ball jetting process is much smaller than using the ball drop process, at room temperature during the initial package placement prior to the reflow process. High warpage difference between the organic substrate and the assembled CoC TSI package with C4 bumps would result in opened and stretched solder joint interconnections issues, especially around the edges and peripheral of the package. Opened solder joint would result in no electrical connection and stretched solder joint would increase the risk of solder joint breakage and affect the long-term reliability of the package. Hence, the initial warpage difference between the assembled package and organic substrate during the assembly process can induce significant effects. In summary, we have demonstrated that the assembly process with the use of laser solder ball jetting process would reduce the warpage of CoC TSI package with C4 bumps, thus reduce the warpage difference with the organic substrate. Hence, the reduction in warpage of the assembled CoC TSI package can improve the process control of the CoC-first assembly flow.
Fabrication and characterization of RF MEMS high isolation switch upto X-band

Design and development of a metal contact switch that employs micro electromechanical systems (MEMS) based on electrostatic actuation and implemented using a coplanar waveguide (CPW) with three switch cells is presented. The design is based on the series-shunt switch configuration. The main objective of the present design is to achieve high isolation up to 12GHz frequency (X-band). The dimensions of the MEMS switch have been optimized with finite element method based Coventor Ware software. The switch has been fabricated using gold based surface micromachining process. The mechanical response, electrical response, switching time, loss performance and Intermodulation distortions of the MEMS switch have been experimentally investigated. Return loss better than 15dB and isolation greater than 60dB have been experimentally obtained upto 12GHz from the fabricated switch.
A Reversible Electron-Bifurcating Ferredoxin- and NAD-Dependent [FeFe]-Hydrogenase (HydABC) in Moorella thermoacetica

ABSTRACT Moorella thermoacetica was long the only model organism used to study the biochemistry of acetogenesis from CO2. Depending on the growth substrate, this Gram-positive bacterium can either form H2 or consume it. Despite the importance of H2 in its metabolism, a hydrogenase from the organism has not yet been characterized. We report here the purification and properties of an electron-bifurcating [FeFe]-hydrogenase from M. thermoacetica and show that the cytoplasmic enzyme efficiently catalyzes both H2 formation and H2 uptake. The purified heterotrimeric iron-sulfur flavoprotein (HydABC) catalyzed the coupled reduction of ferredoxin (Fd) and NAD+ with H2 at 55°C at pH 7.5 at a specific rate of about 100 μmol min−1 mg protein−1 and the reverse reaction, the coupled reduction of protons to H2 with reduced ferredoxin and NADH, at a specific rate of about 10 μmol min−1 mg protein−1 in the stoichiometry Fdox + NAD+ + 2H2 ⇋ Fdred2− + NADH + 3H+. When ferredoxin from Clostridium pasteurianum, NAD+, and the enzyme were incubated at pH 7.0 under 100% H2 in the gas phase (E0′ = −414 mV), more than 95% of the ferredoxin (E0′ = −400 mV) was reduced, which indicated that ferredoxin reduction with H2 is driven by the exergonic reduction of NAD+ (E0′ = −320 mV) with H2. In the absence of NAD+, ferredoxin was not reduced. We identified the genes encoding HydABC within the transcriptional unit hydCBAX and mapped the transcription start site.
Evidence for Mate Fidelity in the Gray Seal

Colonially breeding gray seals are polygynous. Males are larger than females, compete with each other for position among aggregated females, and contribute no parental care. Genetic analysis of pups born on the island of North Rona, Scotland, reveals large numbers of full siblings, although dominant males father disproportionately few of these. This result cannot be explained by mating patterns based solely on male dominance and the spatio-temporal organization of the breeding colony. Instead, many full siblings must result from choices favoring previous parental combinations. Thus, polygyny and partner fidelity appear to operate simultaneously in this breeding colony.
Endophytic Insect-Parasitic Fungi Translocate Nitrogen Directly from Insects to Plants

Plants That Eat Animals Apart from some spectacular exceptions, such as pitcher plants and Venus fly traps, most plants are thought to acquire nitrogen passively from microbial decomposition and the activities of nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Metarhizium species are common endophytes—fungi that live within plant tissues without causing disease. This genus is also found ubiquitously in soil, where they parasitize insects. In a series of microcosm experiments, Behie et al. (p. 1576) investigated whether these fungi could couple their endophytic life-styles with their parasitic modes and be a conduit by which plants could obtain nitrogen from animals. Radio-labeled moth larvae were added to the microcosms in which bean and grass plants were grown, and when the larvae were inoculated with fungi, it was only a matter of days before the nitrogen label was detected in the plants. A fungal plant symbiont also consumes insects in surrounding soil and transfers animal nitrogen to the plant’s roots. Most plants obtain nitrogen through nitrogen-fixing bacteria and microbial decomposition of plant and animal material. Many vascular plants are able to form close symbiotic associations with endophytic fungi. Metarhizium is a common plant endophyte found in a large number of ecosystems. This abundant soil fungus is also a pathogen to a large number of insects, which are a source of nitrogen. It is possible that the endophytic capability and insect pathogenicity of Metarhizium are coupled to provide an active method of nitrogen transfer to plant hosts via fungal mycelia. We used soil microcosms to test the ability of M. robertsii to translocate insect-derived nitrogen to plants. Insects were injected with 15N-labeled nitrogen, and we tracked the incorporation of 15N into amino acids in two plant species, haricot bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), in the presence of M. robertsii. These findings are evidence that active nitrogen acquisition by plants in this tripartite interaction may play a larger role in soil nitrogen cycling than previously thought.
Etude des pluies intenses dans la region Cévennes-Vivarais à l'aide du radar volumique. Regionalisation des traitements radar et analyse granulométrique des pluies au sol.

La mesure quantitative de la pluie a l'aide du radar meteorologique est soumise a la representation de la distribution granulometrique des gouttes d'eau a l'interieur du systeme precipitant. Or actuellement une hypothese forte est faite par les systemes operationels telle que la granulometrie est invariante spatio-temporellement et donc caracterisee par un profil vertical de reflectivite et une relation de passage entre reflectivite et intensite de pluie uniques. Dans un premier temps nous avons elabore un protocole de separation des types de pluie a l'aide de la mesure du radar volumetrique de Bollene en nous basant sur les travaux anterieurs de Steiner et al.,1995 et Sanchez-Diezma et al. 2000. Ainsi nous avons regionalise, sur les images radar de chaque pas de temps, deux classes de types de pluie: convectif stratiforme a bande brillante. A partir de cette separation une application de correction de PVR propre a chaque region a ete mise en place ainsi qu'un traitement reflectivite/pluie propre a chaque type de pluie. Dans un deuxieme temps une experimentation granulometrique des pluies cevenoles a ete developpe sur le site d'Ales durant l'automne 2004. Les mesures issues de cette etude ont permis de tester l'optimabilite de plusieurs methodes de calculs de relations Z-R et egalement de proposer une relation propre aux cellules convectives en faisant le lien avec les mesures du radar de Bollene.
Polyamine Acetylation Modulates Polyamine Metabolic Flux, a Prelude to Broader Metabolic Consequences*

Recent studies suggest that overexpression of the polyamine-acetylating enzyme spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase (SSAT) significantly increases metabolic flux through the polyamine pathway. The concept derives from the observation that SSAT-induced acetylation of polyamines gives rise to a compensatory increase in biosynthesis and presumably to increased flow through the pathway. Despite the strength of this deduction, the existence of heightened polyamine flux has not yet been experimentally demonstrated. Here, we use the artificial polyamine precursor 4-fluoro-ornithine to measure polyamine flux by tracking fluorine unit permeation of polyamine pools in human prostate carcinoma LNCaP cells. Conditional overexpression of SSAT was accompanied by a massive increase in intracellular and extracellular acetylated spermidine and by a 6-20-fold increase in biosynthetic enzyme activities. In the presence of 300 μm 4-fluoro-ornithine, SSAT overexpression led to the sequential appearance of fluorinated putrescine, spermidine, acetylated spermidine, and spermine. As fluorinated polyamines increased, endogenous polyamines decreased, so that the total polyamine pool size remained relatively constant. At 24 h, 56% of the spermine pool in the induced SSAT cells was fluorine-labeled compared with only 12% in uninduced cells. Thus, SSAT induction increased metabolic flux by ∼5-fold. Flux could be interrupted by inhibition of polyamine biosynthesis but not by inhibition of polyamine oxidation. Overall, the findings are consistent with a paradigm whereby flux is initiated by SSAT acetylation of spermine and particularly spermidine followed by a marked increase in key biosynthetic enzymes. The latter sustains the flux cycle by providing a constant supply of polyamines for subsequent acetylation by SSAT. The broader metabolic implications of this futile metabolic cycling are discussed in detail.
Duration of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment predicts recovery of retinal sensitivity

The decision to treat a disease is often based on the presence or absence of symptoms, one prototype case being rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. Detachment of the neural retina from the pigment epithelium is a major cause of anatomical and functional dysfunction of the retina, where retinal recovery is inversely related to duration of detachment. The purpose of retinal reattachment is to effect recovery of the photoreceptors and pigment epithelium from degeneration. The aim of this study was to determine the critical duration of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment resulting in optimal retinal recovery after reattachment. A prospective study was conducted at a private hospital in Yogyakarta. Thirty five eyes were involved in this study. Three months after reattachment, central retinal recovery was measured by means of a Goldmann manual kinetic perimeter. The results showed that retinal recovery developed three months after surgery if the onset of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment was less than 28 days before surgery. The results were not significant if the onset of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment was more than 35 days. Although the Goldmann manual kinetic perimeter can efficiently detect central retinal sensitivity, it should be supported by more sensitive tools to evaluate the anatomy and function of the retina.