Identifying studies for systematic reviews - An example from medical imaging

Objectives: To determine if published figures on the proportion of articles included in systematic reviews and identified in electronic databases are applicable to an example from medical imaging. Methods: A systematic review was performed. Additionally, sensitivity and precision of a MEDLINE search were compared with values from three published searches, each customized for a specific field. Results: All articles included in the systematic review were in electronic databases. The MEDLINE search had low precision compared with searches in other fields. Conclusions: in a specific area of medical imaging, electronic databases, including MEDLINE, are reliable sources of articles

Кенґірське повстання як прояв кризи радянської табірної системи

Автор досліджує причини та перебіг Кенґірського повстання 1954 р. Жорстоко придушений, цей виступ став проявом кризи радянського табірного режиму, спричинивши реорганізацію виправно-трудової системи у СРСР.Автор исследует причины и ход Кенгирского восстания 1954 г. Жестоко подавленное, выступление стало проявлением кризиса советского лагерного режима, ставши причиной реорганизации исправительно-трудовой системы в СССР.The author investigated the causes and course of Kenhir uprising of 1954, being cruelly suppressed it demonstrated the crisis of camp system of the USSR and caused reorganization of penitentiary system

Формирование и использование справочно-библиографического фонда научной библиотеки (на примере ГПНТБ СО РАН)

Over the years, a large amount of data has become available regarding the (Holocene) evolution of the Rhine-Meuse delta, the Netherlands. This dataset, that is a result of a long-standing effort of data collection by Utrecht University, most likely is without a counterpart anywhere else in the world. It is the aim of this book: * to give a state of the art overview of the palaeogeographic evolution of the Rhine-Meuse delta, with an emphasis on the Holocene evolution; * to present the Holocene geology and palaeogeography in new detailed maps; * to present the 14C and other data that were used to determine the ages of the Holocene channel belts; * to make available many details of the work that has been carried out in the Rhine-Meuse delta to a larger (and international) audience. In Chapter 5, section 5.1 The geological-geomorphological map and palaeogeographic maps of the Rhine-Meuse delta, gives some technical information about the geological-geomorphological map (Addendum 1), the series of palaeogeographical maps (Addendum 2) and the GIS of the channel belt fragments that underlies it. In section 5.2 the longitidunal (w-e) cross-section of the delta is briefly explained, as well as the way in which it was constructed. The geological-geomorphological maps shows the ages of the Holocene channel belts, organized in 500 yr time intervals. The palaeogeographic maps siers shows the development of the channel belt network of the delta, based on the age determinations of the channel belts. The maps of are believed to be accurate to within ±200 yr, based on mapping and 14C dating. All radiocarbon dates that are used to construct the map, and that are of geological interest are incorporated in Appendix 1 and 2. In Appendix 3 details of the various channel belts indicated on the map are given, including dating evidence and references. Appendix 4 summarizes dating results, both as 14C ages and as calendar year ages (calibrated 14C ages). [Abstract based on chapter 10 Summary, in Berendsen & Stouthamer 2001

Targeted protein delivery: carbodiimide crosslinking influences protein release from microparticles incorporated within collagen scaffolds

open access articleTissue engineering response may be tailored via controlled, sustained release of active agents from protein-loaded degradable microparticles incorporated directly within three-dimensional (3D) ice-templated collagen scaffolds. However, the effects of covalent crosslinking during scaffold preparation on the availability and release of protein from the incorporated microparticles have not been explored. Here, we load 3D ice-templated collagen scaffolds with controlled additions of poly-(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) microparticles. We probe the effects of subsequent N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)- N0-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride crosslinking on protein release, using microparticles with different internal protein distributions. Fluorescein isothiocyanate labelled bovine serum albumin is used as a model protein drug. The scaffolds display a homogeneous microparticle distribution, and a reduction in pore size and percolation diameter with increased microparticle addition, although these values did not fall below those reported as necessary for cell invasion. The protein distribution within the microparticles, near the surface or more deeply located within the microparticles, was important in determining the release profile and effect of crosslinking, as the surface was affected by the carbodiimide crosslinking reaction applied to the scaffold. Crosslinking of microparticles with a high proportion of protein at the surface caused both a reduction and delay in protein release. Protein located within the bulk of the microparticles, was protected from the crosslinking reaction and no delay in the overall release profile was seen

Safety and efficacy of intravenous iron therapy in reducing requirement for allogeneic blood transfusion: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials

Objectives To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravenous iron, focusing primarily on its effects on haemoglobin, requirement for transfusion, and risk of infection. Design Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials investigating the safety and efficacy of intravenous iron therapy. Data sources Randomised controlled trials from Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from 1966 to June 2013, with no language restrictions. Eligibility criteria for selecting studies Eligible trials were randomised controlled trials of intravenous iron compared with either no iron or oral iron. Crossover and observational studies were excluded. Main outcome measures Change in haemoglobin concentration and risk of allogeneic red blood cell transfusion (efficacy) and risk of infection (safety). Results Of the 75 trials meeting the inclusion criteria, 72 studies including 10 605 patients provided quantitative outcome data for meta-analysis. Intravenous iron was associated with an increase in haemoglobin concentration (standardised mean difference 6.5 g/L, 95% confidence interval 5.1 g/L to 7.9 g/L) and a reduced risk of requirement for red blood cell transfusion (risk ratio 0.74, 95% confidence interval 0.62 to 0.88), especially when intravenous iron was used with erythroid stimulating agents (ESAs) or in patients with a lower baseline plasma ferritin concentration. There were no significant interactions between the efficacy of intravenous iron and type or dose administered. Intravenous iron was, however, associated with a significant increase in risk of infection (relative risk 1.33, 95% confidence interval 1.10 to 1.64) compared with oral or no iron supplementation. The results remained similar when only high quality trials were analysed. Conclusions Intravenous iron therapy is effective in increasing haemoglobin concentration and reducing the risk of allogeneic red blood cell transfusion and could have broad applicability to a range of acute care settings. This potential benefit is counterbalanced by a potential increased risk of infection

Three-body problem in Fermi gases with short-range interparticle interaction

We discuss 3-body processes in ultracold two-component Fermi gases with short-range intercomponent interaction characterized by a large and positive scattering length $a$. It is found that in most cases the probability of 3-body recombination is a universal function of the mass ratio and $a$, and is independent of short-range physics. We also calculate the scattering length corresponding to the atom-dimer interaction.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Tensin1 expression and function in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

open access articleChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) constitutes a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Genome wide association studies have shown significant associations between airflow obstruction or COPD with a non-synonymous SNP in the TNS1 gene, which encodes tensin1. However, the expression, cellular distribution and function of tensin1 in human airway tissue and cells are unknown. We therefore examined these characteristics in tissue and cells from controls and people with COPD or asthma. Airway tissue was immunostained for tensin1. Tensin1 expression in cultured human airway smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) was evaluated using qRT-PCR, western blotting and immunofluorescent staining. siRNAs were used to downregulate tensin1 expression. Tensin1 expression was increased in the airway smooth muscle and lamina propria in COPD tissue, but not asthma, when compared to controls. Tensin1 was expressed in HASMCs and upregulated by TGFβ1. TGFβ1 and fibronectin increased the localisation of tensin1 to fibrillar adhesions. Tensin1 and α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA) were strongly co-localised, and tensin1 depletion in HASMCs attenuated both αSMA expression and contraction of collagen gels. In summary, tensin1 expression is increased in COPD airways, and may promote airway obstruction by enhancing the expression of contractile proteins and their localisation to stress fibres in HASMCs

When humans and machines collaborate: Cross-lingual Label Editing in Wikidata

The quality and maintainability of a knowledge graph are determined by the process in which it is created. There are different approaches to such processes; extraction or conversion of available data in the web (automated extraction of knowledge such as DBpedia from Wikipedia), community-created knowledge graphs, often by a group of experts, and hybrid approaches where humans maintain the knowledge graph alongside bots. We focus in this work on the hybrid approach of human edited knowledge graphs supported by automated tools. In particular, we analyse the editing of natural language data, i.e. labels. Labels are the entry point for humans to understand the information, and therefore need to be carefully maintained. We take a step toward the understanding of collaborative editing of humans and automated tools across languages in a knowledge graph. We use Wikidata as it has a large and active community of humans and bots working together covering over 300 languages. In this work, we analyse the different editor groups and how they interact with the different language data to understand the provenance of the current label data

Thurston equivalence of topological polynomials

We answer Hubbard's question on determining the Thurston equivalence class of ``twisted rabbits'', i.e. images of the ``rabbit'' polynomial under n-th powers of the Dehn twists about its ears. The answer is expressed in terms of the 4-adic expansion of n. We also answer the equivalent question for the other two families of degree-2 topological polynomials with three post-critical points. In the process, we rephrase the questions in group-theoretical language, in terms of wreath recursions.Comment: 40 pages, lots of figure