An experimental framework for designing document structure for users' decision making -- An empirical study of recipes

Textual documents need to be of good quality to ensure effective asynchronous communication in remote areas, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, defining a preferred document structure (content and arrangement) for improving lay readers' decision-making is challenging. First, the types of useful content for various readers cannot be determined simply by gathering expert knowledge. Second, methodologies to evaluate the document's usefulness from the user's perspective have not been established. This study proposed the experimental framework to identify useful contents of documents by aggregating lay readers' insights. This study used 200 online recipes as research subjects and recruited 1,340 amateur cooks as lay readers. The proposed framework identified six useful contents of recipes. Multi-level modeling then showed that among the six identified contents, suitable ingredients or notes arranged with a subheading at the end of each cooking step significantly increased recipes' usefulness. Our framework contributes to the communication design via documents

CT-guided automated cutting needle biopsy by a combined method for accurate specific diagnosis of focal lung lesions

Purpose: The purpose of our study was to evaluate a method of automated cutting needle biopsy (ACNB) that combines the use of a long-throw needle, higher mean number of needle passes, and tandem system, in terms of the accuracy of specific diagnosis of small and large lung lesions and the safety of the procedure. Materials and Methods: Fifty-seven ACNBs were performed under computed tomography guidance using a tandem system with a 20-gauge and 18-gauge (through non-aerated lung) automated cutting needle with a throw length of 23 mm. We classified the nodules into 21 small nodules (≤2 cm) and 36 large nodules (>2 cm). All ACNB diagnoses were divided into three groups: specific, non-specific, and false diagnoses. All of the complications were recorded. Results: The mean number of ACNB specimens obtained was 2.0. Of the 35 ACNB procedures for malignant lesions, 33 yielded a specific malignant diagnosis (33/35, 94%). Of the 22 procedures for benign lesions, 17 gave a specific benign diagnosis (17/22, 77%). The diagnostic accuracy for small nodules was no lower than that for large nodules. Postbiopsy pneumothorax occurred in 18 patients (32%). Conclusion: The diagnostic accuracy of the combined method is as high for small lung nodules as for large ones. The procedure has high diagnostic accuracy for the subtypes of lung cancer and an acceptable complication rate.Link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Photosensitization of Fluorofuroxans and Its Application to the Development of Visible Light-Triggered Nitric Oxide Donor

Nitric oxide (NO) is an endogenous signaling molecule used in multiple biochemical processes. The development of switchable NO donors that deliver an NO payload under spatiotemporal control harbors many medicinal benefits. Previously, 4-fluorofuroxans were found to function as a UV light-induced NO donor under physiological conditions based on the photoinduced isomerization mechanism; however, the isomerization of fluorofuroxans with longer wavelength light is desired for further application into living systems. Herein, we report the use of photosensitizers in the photochemical isomerization of fluorofuroxan, enabling the use of visible light to induce isomerization. Among the tried photosensitizers, anthraquinone derivatives showed a good sensitizing ability to isomerize 4-fluorofuroxan to 3-fluorofuroxan using visible light. This new phenomenon was applied to the synthesis of a water-soluble anthraquinone-fluorofuroxan all-in-one molecule, which demonstrated promising NO-releasing ability using 400–500 nm irradiation. A high level of control is displayed with “on” and “off” NO-release functionality suggesting that photosensitizer-furoxan hybrids would make valuable donors. Furthermore, unlike most furoxans, NO is released in the absence of thiol cofactor

Characterization and identification of subpopulations of mononuclear preosteoclasts induced by TNF-α in combination with TGF-β in rats.

Osteoclasts are unique multinucleated cells formed by fusion of preosteoclasts derived from cells of the monocyte/macrophage lineage, which are induced by RANKL. However, characteristics and subpopulations of osteoclast precursor cells are poorly understood. We show here that a combination of TNF-α, TGF-β, and M-CSF efficiently generates mononuclear preosteoclasts but not multinucleated osteoclasts (MNCs) in rat bone marrow cultures depleted of stromal cells. Using a rat osteoclast-specific mAb, Kat1, we found that TNF-α and TGF-β specifically increased Kat1(+)c-fms(+) and Kat1(+)c-fms(-) cells but not Kat1(-)c-fms(+) cells. Kat1(-)c-fms(+) cells appeared in early stages of culture, but Kat1(+)c-fms(+) and Kat1(+)c-fms(-) cells increased later. Preosteoclasts induced by TNF-α, TGF-β, and M-CSF rapidly differentiated into osteoclasts in the presence of RANKL and hydroxyurea, an inhibitor of DNA synthesis, suggesting that preosteoclasts are terminally differentiated cells. We further analyzed the expression levels of genes encoding surface proteins in bone marrow macrophages (BMM), preosteoclasts, and MNCs. Preosteoclasts expressed itgam (CD11b) and chemokine receptors CCR1 and CCR2; however, in preosteoclasts the expression of chemokine receptors CCR1 and CCR2 was not up-regulated compared to their expression in BMM. However, addition of RANKL to preosteoclasts markedly increased the expression of CCR1. In contrast, expression of macrophage antigen emr-1 (F4/80) and chemokine receptor CCR5 was down-regulated in preosteoclasts. The combination of TNF-α, TGF-β, and M-CSF induced Kat1(+)CD11b(+) cells, but these cells were also induced by TNF-α alone. In addition, MIP-1α and MCP-1, which are ligands for CCR1 and CCR2, were chemotactic for preosteoclasts, and promoted multinucleation of preosteoclasts. Finally, we found that Kat1(+)c-fms(+) cells were present in bone tissues of rats with adjuvant arthritis. These data demonstrate that TNF-α in combination with TGF-β efficiently generates preosteoclasts in vitro. We delineated characteristics that are useful for identifying and isolating rat preosteoclasts, and found that CCR1 expression was regulated in the fusion step in osteoclastogenesis

Effectiveness of Infection Control Teams in Reducing Healthcare-Associated Infections: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The infection control team (ICT) ensures the implementation of infection control guidelines in healthcare facilities. This systematic review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of ICT, with or without an infection control link nurse (ICLN) system, in reducing healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs). We searched four databases to identify randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in inpatient, outpatient and long-term care facilities. We judged the quality of the studies, conducted meta-analyses whenever interventions and outcome measures were comparable in at least two studies, and assessed the certainty of evidence. Nine RCTs were included; all were rated as being low quality. Overall, ICT, with or without an ICLN system, did not reduce the incidence rate of HCAIs [risk ratio (RR) = 0.65, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.45–1.07], death due to HCAIs (RR = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.04–2.69) and length of hospital stay (42 days vs. 45 days, p = 0.52). However, ICT with an ICLN system improved nurses’ compliance with infection control practices (RR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.00–1.38). Due to the high level of bias, inconsistency and imprecision, these findings should be considered with caution. High-quality studies using similar outcome measures are needed to demonstrate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of ICT

Chemotaxis of preosteoclasts toward chemokines and effect of chemokines on multinucleation of preosteoclasts.

<p>Chemotaxis of preosteoclasts toward chemokine MIP-1α (A) and MCP-1 (B). (C) Effect of MIP-1α or MCP-1 on the formation of TRAP⁺ MNCs from preosteoclasts in the presence of RANKL and M-CSF. NABMCs were cultured in the presence of TNF-α, TGF-β, and M-CSF. The cells were detached and cultured in a transwell. Preosteoclasts were added to the upper chamber of the transwell, and various concentrations of MIP-1α or MCP-1 were added to the lower chamber (A, B). After 4 hours of culture, migration of cells to the lower side of the filter was analyzed. Preosteoclasts induced by TNF-α, TGF-β, and M-CSF were then cultured in the presence of RANKL, M-CSF, and various concentrations of MIP-1α or MCP-1 for 2 days (C). TRAP⁺ cells having three or four, or more than five nuclei were counted as MNCs. Each value represents the mean ± SEM of three cultures. Significance was determined by Student’s <i>t</i>-test; *P<0.05 compared to cultures without chemokines.</p

List of primers used for RT-PCR and real-time RT-PCR.

<p>List of primers used for RT-PCR and real-time RT-PCR.</p

Analysis of expression of genes encoding cell surface proteins in BMM, preosteoclasts, and MNCs.

<p>(A) Relative mRNA expression levels of <i>emr1</i> (F4/80), <i>itgam</i> (CD11b), <i>CCR1, CCR2,</i> and <i>CCR5</i> in cultures of BMM, preosteoclasts (pre-OC) and MNCs. (B) Immunofluorescence images of preosteoclasts stained for Kat1 antigen (red) and CD11b/c (green). (C) Percentages of Kat1<b>⁻</b>CD11b/c⁺, Kat1⁺CD11b/c⁺ or Kat1⁺CD11b/c<b>⁻</b> cells among cells induced by M-CSF in combination with TNF-α and/or TGF-β. NABMCs were cultured for 3 days in the presence of various combinations of TNF-α, TGF-β, and M-CSF to induce formation of BMM or preosteoclasts. After formation of preosteoclasts, RANKL was added to induce formation of MNCs. Total RNA from cells was prepared and analyzed by real-time RT-PCR using specific primers as in <i><a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0047930#s2" target="_blank">Materials and Methods</a></i>. Expression levels were normalized with <i>gapdh</i> (A). The cells were stained for Kat1 and CD11b and analyzed by confocal microscopy using LSM5Pascal software. The photographs show typical cultures. (B). Each value represents the mean ± SEM (n = 3, A) or (cell counts from ten-microscope fields, C). Statistical significance was determined by Student’s <i>t</i> test; *P<0.05, **P<0.01 compared with BMM (A) or TGF-β alone (C). Bar = 20 µm. The experiments were performed three times, and similar results were obtained.</p