402,382 research outputs found
Financial competing interests were associated with favorable conclusions and greater author productivity in nonsystematic reviews of neuraminidase inhibitors
No full textObjective:
To characterize the conclusions and production of nonsystematic reviews about neuraminidase inhibitors relative to financial competing interests held by the authors.
Study Design and Setting:
We searched for articles about neuraminidase inhibitors and influenza (January 2005 to April 2015), identifying nonsystematic reviews and grading them according to the favorable/nonfavorable presentation of evidence on safety and efficacy. We recorded financial competing interests disclosed in the reviews and from other articles written by their authors. We measured associations between competing interests, author productivity, and conclusions.
Results:
Among 213 nonsystematic reviews, 138 (65%) presented favorable conclusions. Financial competing interests were identified for 26% (137/532) of authors; 51% (108/213) of reviews were associated with a financial competing interest. Reviews produced exclusively by authors with financial competing interests (33%; 71/213) were more likely to present favorable conclusions than reviews with no competing interests (risk ratio 1.27; 95% confidence interval 1.03-1.55). Authors with financial competing interests published more articles about neuraminidase inhibitors than their counterparts.
Conclusion:
Half of nonsystematic reviews about neuraminidase inhibitors included an author with a financial competing interest. Reviews produced exclusively by these authors were more likely to present favorable conclusions, and authors with financial competing interests published a greater number of reviews
koamabayili/VECTRON-author-checklist: VECTRON author checklist
No full textWe have done our best to complete the author checklist relating to the use of animals in the hut study. Note that the objective for the hut study was to evaluate the IRS treatment applications for residual efficacy against Anopheles mosquitoes, including the local An. coluzzii mosquito population. Cows were only used to attract mosquitoes into the huts and no tests were carried out directly on the cows. The author checklist is intended for use with studies where experiments are carried out on animals, which is why we have had such difficulty in completing this for the hut study, as many of the questions do not relate to how the cows were used
An investigation into the performance and problems of first-year engineering students at the University of Cape Town
No full textBibliography: leaves 203-208.The first- and second-year results of the 1989 engineering student intake were analysed and revealed that matriculants from Black Education Departments performed significantly worse in the first year than those from White Education Departments. Matric point scores were found to be good predictors for White Education Department matriculants, but less so for Black Education Department matriculants, with matric Physical Science a better predictor than matric Maths, for both first- and second- year courses. Using interviews and a survey of students, a set of academic and non-academic problems experienced by first-year engineering students were identified with black students found to have experienced a particular set of problems to a greater degree than white students. The data produced a portrait of the interaction between first-year engineering students and the academic and social systems of the university. The dominant feature that emerged was one of distance between the individual students and elements of the university environment, including staff, fellow students and the academic material. Factors from the student's personal and educational background that appeared to accentuate this experience of distance were identified. Recommendations to the Engineering Faculty were compiled on the basis of this analysis together with student suggestions for improving the first-year engineering programme
Linear Preserves of BP-quasi invertible elements in JB*-algebras
No full textIn this note, we study one of the main outcomes of the Russo-Dye Theorem of JB*-algebra: a linear operator that preserves Brown-Pedersen-quasi invertible elements between two JB*-algebras is characterized by a Jordan ∗-homomorphism. Earlier, in C*-setting of algebras, Russo and Dye gave a characterization of any linear operator that maps unitary elements into unitary elements; namely a Jordan ∗-homomorphism. Special sorts of linear preservers between C*-algebras and between JB*-triples were introduced by Burgos et al. As a result, if G is a linear operator between two JB*-algebras having non-empty sets of extreme points of the closed unit sphere that preserves extreme points, then there exists a Jordan ∗-homomorphism Φ which also preserves extreme points and characterizes the linear operator G. We also explore the connection between linear operators that strongly preserve Brown-Pedersen-quasi nvertible elements between two JB*-triples and the λ-property of both JB*-triples. Other geometric properties, such as extremally richness and the Bade property of two JB*-algebras or triples under linear preservers, are to be elaborated on in forthcoming research
Comparative analysis of paraffin and JB-4 embedding techniques in light microscopy
No full textHistological embedding and staining techniques are essential for examining tissue and cellular morphology. This study compares two embedding methods - JB-4™, a glycol methacrylate-based resin, and conventional paraffin - to determine which method provides superior visualization of liver and long bone tissues under light microscopy. Liver tissues from both embedding protocols were stained using the Periodic Acid-Schiff method and silver impregnation method. JB-4 sections were also stained with acid fuchsin and toluidine blue, while paraffin sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin staining. Contrary to the common assumption that JB-4 may interferes with certain staining protocols, acid fuchsin and toluidine blue yielded high-contrast, structurally detailed results in JB-4 sections. Both techniques preserved liver morphology. However, JB-4 demonstrated higher resolution and enhanced visualization of intracellular structures. JB4 also preservedglycogen more effectively. Cellular structures including nuclei, nucleoli, bile duct epithelial cells, and Kupffer cells, were observedmore distinctly in JB-4 preparations. Reticular fibers were similarly visualized with both embedding techniques. In contrast, paraffin embedding provided better preserved overall tissue architecture. Whilelong bone specimens, paraffin sections frequently displayed poorly defined structures, while JB-4 offered clearer visualization of chondrocyte lacunae, osteocyte nuclei, lamellar bone, and bone marrow cells. JB-4 and paraffin each offer distinct advantages depending on tissue type and histological objective. JB-4 appears to be compatible with a broader range of stains than was previously reported, which expands its utility in detailed tissue analysis. The selection of an embedding method should align with the morphological characteristics of the target tissue and the specific research goals
Self-archiving practice and the influence of publisher policies in the social sciences
No full textAuthors in different disciplines exhibit very different behaviours on the so-called ‘green’ road to open access, i.e. self-archiving. This study looks at the self-archiving behaviour of authors publishing in leading journals in six social science disciplines. It tests the hypothesis that authors are self-archiving according to the norms of their respective disciplines rather than following self-archiving policies of publishers, and that, as a result, they are self-archiving significant numbers of publisher PDF versions. It finds significant levels of
self-archiving, as well as significant self-archiving of
the publisher PDF version, in all the disciplines
investigated. Publishers’ self-archiving policies have
no influence on author self-archiving practice
The British ‘Bluesman’ Paul Oliver and the Nature of Transatlantic Blues Scholarship
No full textRecent revisionist studies have argued that much of what is known about music known as the blues’ has been 'invented' by the writing of enthusiasts far removed from the African American culture that created the music. Elijah Wald and Marybeth Hamilton in particular have attempted to sift through the clouds of romanticism, and tried to unveil more empirical histories that were previously obscured by the fallacious genre distinctions conjured up during the 1960s blues revival. While this revisionist scholarship has shed light on some previously ignored historical facts, writers have tended to concentrate on the romanticism of blues writing strictly from an American perspective, failing to acknowledge the genesis and influence of transatlantic scholarship, and therefore ignoring the work of the most prolific and influential blues scholar of the twentieth century, British writer Paul Oliver. By examining the core of Oliver’s research and writing during the 1950s and 1960s, this study aims to place Oliver in his rightful place at the centre of blues historiography. His scholarship allows a more detailed appreciation of the manner in which the blues was studied, through lyrics, recordings, oral histories, photography and African American literature. These historical sources were interpreted in accordance with the author’s attitudes to the commercial popular music, which allowed the ‘reconstruction’ of an African American ‘folk’ culture in which the blues became the antithesis of pop. Importantly, this study seeks to transcend dominant discourses of national cultural ownership or ethnocentrism, and demonstrate that representations of African American music and culture were constructed within a transatlantic context. The blues is music with roots in the African American experience within the United States; however, as Paul Oliver’s writing shows, its reception and representation were not limited by the same national, cultural or racial boundaries
HO-1 expression is enhanced in Dendritic cells assocaited with JB-1.
No full text<p>Dendritic cells were cultured from bone marrow and CD11c+ cells isolated and cocultured with PKH26 labeled <i>L.rhamnosus</i> JB-1 for 24 hr and HO-1 expression assessed by FACS. A) A dot plot showing a subpopulation of dendritic cells associated with the labeled lactobacillus. This is representative of 4 similar experiments. B) Representative dot plots and C) mean values of the percentage HO-1+ cells in the Lactobacillus associated (JB-1+ve) and non-associated (JB-1-ve) dendritic cell populations. Evidence for in vivo interaction between DC and JB-1 is provided by D) Representative dot plots and E) mean values of CFSE positive cells within the CD11c positive population from Peyers Patches of mice fed with CFSE labeled or unlabeled JB-1. Data presented as mean ± SEM, n = 5, *p<0.05. CFSE = carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester.</p
<i>Lb</i>. <i>rhamnosus</i> JB-1 internalisation by MDDCs.
No full text<p>(A) Following antibiotic treatment, which kills bacteria outside MDDCs, the peak recovery of viable <i>Lb</i>. <i>rhamnosus</i> JB-1 was observed after 48 hours, suggesting that this was the time point when the bacteria were internalized by the MDDCs. (B) MDDC phagocytosis of another bacterial strain, <i>E</i>. <i>coli</i>, was reduced when the MDDCs were co-exposed to <i>Lb</i>. <i>rhamnosus</i> JB-1, but not <i>Lb</i>. <i>murinus</i>.</p
CHARACTERIZATION AND QUANTIFICATION OF ENDOGENOUS PHAGES OF LACTICASEIBACILLUS RHAMNOSUS JB-1
No full textLacticaseibacillus rhamnosus JB-1 is a strain recognized for its beneficial effects on eukaryotic host. This study aims to identify and characterize dormant bacterial viruses or prophages with the JB-1 genome, determine their capacity to be released as bacteriophages. We also investigate the membrane vesicles released from JB-1 and detect bacteriophages within these preparations. Bioinformatic analysis of the JB-1 genome predicted the presence of three prophage regions. Experimental validation demonstrated spontaneous release of two of these phages, which were also detected along with membrane vesicles and found systemically circulating. Genomic characterization included sequence annotation, determination of exact start/end points, analysis of gene function and comparison with other related bacteriophages. The JB-1 CRISPR-Cas system was also identified and characterized which will contribute to a deeper understanding of the potential for future manipulation of this probiotic microorganism. Morphological characterization was conducted using transmission electron microscopy to determine capsid shape, size, tail length, to classify the phages based on these features. To overcome limitations in quantifying phages lacking suitable hosts for propagation, a qPCR-based method was developed and validated. Furthermore, the stability of JB-1 phages was studied under a range of temperature and pH conditions relevant to the gastrointestinal tract.ThesisMaster of Science (MSc)The human digestive system is home to trillions of bacteria, collectively known as the gut microbiota, which play a pivotal role in our health. Probiotics, which are ‘good bacteria’, are live microorganisms that can provide health benefits when consumed. One such microorganism is Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus JB-1, known for its beneficial effects in mice. In this study, we investigate the presence of dormant bacteriophages integrated within the JB-1 genome and genomically characterize it. We confirm that some of these viral blueprints can be induced as phages. This raises questions to how probiotics might exert their beneficial effects and highlights the importance of understanding bacteriophages associated with probiotic microorganisms. Additionally, JB-1 bacteriophages do not have a suitable host to propagate, so we study the potential of qPCR as a tool to quantify the phages. We investigated the stability of JB-1 phages to temperature and pH conditions relevant to the gastric environment, using qPCR. This study also highlights the use of qPCR for the quantification of phages lacking a host to propagate and provides valuable insights into the stability of JB-1 bacteriophages under conditions relevant to their passage through the host, which are crucial considerations for understanding their potential impact within the gastrointestinal environment
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