Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Retrospective Investigation on Canine Papillomavirus 1 (CPV1) in Oral Oncogenesis Reveals Dogs Are Not a Suitable Animal Model for High-Risk HPV-Induced Oral Cancer

CPV1 (also called COPV) is a papillomavirus responsible for oral papillomatosis in young dogs. The involvement of this viral type in oral oncogenesis has been hypothesized in oral squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs), but has never been investigated in other neoplastic and hyperplastic oral lesions of dogs. Aim of this study was to investigate the presence of CPV1 in different neoplastic and hyperplastic lesions in order to assess its role in canine oral oncogenesis; according to the results obtained, a second aim of the study was to define if the dog can be considered a valid animal model for oral high risk HPV-induced tumors. Eighty-eight formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) canine oral lesions including 78 oral tumors (papillomas, SCCs, melanomas, ameloblastomas, oral adenocarcinomas) and 10 hyperplastic lesions (gingival hyperplasia) were investigated with immunohistochemistry for the presence of papillomavirus L1 protein and with Real-Time PCR for CPV1 DNA. RT-PCR for RNA was performed on selected samples. All viral papillomas tested were positive for immunohistochemistry and Real-time PCR. In 3/33 (10%) SCCs, viral DNA was demonstrated but no viral RNA could be found. No positivity was observed both with immunohistochemistry and Real-Time PCR in the other hyperplastic and neoplastic lesions of the oral cavity of dogs. Even though the finding of CPV1 DNA in few SCCs in face of a negative immunohistochemistry could support the hypothesis of an abortive infection in the development of these lesions, the absence of viral RNA points out that CPV1 more likely represents an innocent bystander in SCC oncogenesis. The study demonstrates a strong association between CPV1 and oral viral papillomas whereas viral contribution to the pathogenesis of other oral lesions seems unlikely. Moreover, it suggests that a canine model of CPV1 infection for HPV-induced oncogenesis could be inappropriate.
Emerging options for the treatment of melanoma – focus on ipilimumab

Ipilimumab is a fully human immunoglobulin subclass G1 anticytotoxic-T-lymphocyte-antigen-4 monoclonal antibody. It has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency for use in advanced melanoma following clear evidence of survival benefit in randomized Phase III studies. It is also under investigation as a treatment for other solid tumors such as renal cell, lung, and prostate cancers. The purported mechanism of antitumor activity of ipilimumab is through T-cell activation, and the side effect profile reflects this. Immune-related adverse events (irAEs) affect 60% of treated patients and 15% are defined as severe. Fortunately, most irAEs are reversible with early diagnosis and correct management. FDA approval of ipilimumab is dependent on the careful execution of a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy, with the aim of increasing awareness amongst patients and clinicians of the immunological risks of treatment, and providing algorithms for management of irAEs as they develop. Ipilimumab is one of the first immunotherapies to become widely available in the setting of solid tumors, and ongoing research aims to elucidate optimal dosing, optimal scheduling, and expanded access to ipilimumab as an adjuvant or maintenance therapy where appropriate. The identification of clinical correlates or biomarkers to identify those likely to benefit from this high-cost therapy is a top priority.
Electrocardiographic abnormalities of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic disease characterized by the hypertrophy (thickening) of heart ventricles, and the first cause of sudden cardiac death in the young adults. The ECG is altered in the majority of patients with HCM as a consequence of structural and electrophysiological abnormalities although reliable risk markers are still not available. Fifty four 12-lead Holter recordings (32 HCM patients and 22 controls) have been analyzed in order to obtain specific ECG based biomarkers able to distinguish between both groups. Results showed higher values for HCM in QRS-duration, QT interval (QTc), T peak to T end interval corrected (Tpe) and DRest quantifying dispersion of restitution. Also, morphological features such as ST level, T and QRS amplitudes and energies and the first four Karhunen-Loeve transform (KLT) coefficients were analysed. Results showed statistically significant differences between HCM patients and controls (p-value<;0.02) in the QTc interval, ST level, energies and the first and third KLT coefficients. DRest showed higher values in HCM patients (0.08 versus 0.05 in controls) in agreement with in vivo studies suggesting a correlation between increased dispersion and arrhythmic risk.
Smartphone based fall detection system

This paper describes the design of a smartphone based fall detection system and characterizes the preliminary efficacy of the proposed system in activities of daily living (ADLs). Using the embedded sensors available in a smartphone (i.e., accelerometer, gyroscope and magnetometer), kinematic analysis of movement can be performed in real-time, allowing for continuous monitoring of fall status. Fall sensing thresholds are defined based on angular rate of change (TH1), maximum acceleration (TH2), and maximum attitude change (TH3). TH1 is measured from the resultant pitch and roll angular velocity vector and defined as 3.1 rad/s (~180°/s). TH2 is measured from the resultant acceleration vector and defined as 1.6 g. TH3 is measured from the resultant vector of the pitch and roll angles, and defined at 0.59 rad (39°). A proof-of-concept study was performed on five ADL tasks: 1) comfortable walking, 2) stand-to-seated posture, 3) seated-to-standing posture, 4) pivoting at the waist to pick up an object, and 5) stand-to-seated-to-laying transition. No trials violated the defined thresholds for fall detection, signifying no false positives. These results are important for the definition of machine learning algorithms, currently under development, to minimize false positive and false negative fall detection events.
Biogas Production Using Cow Dung From Abakaliki Abattoir In South-Eastern Nigeria

The demand, high costs and health implications of using energy derived from hydrocarbon compound have necessitated the continuous search for alternative source of energy. Cow dung as a renewable source of energy supply has been proven to be very efficient. This study investigated the production of biogas using cow dung from Abakaliki abattoir located in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. A 2ml/g of the cow dung was used in this study. The digestion was carried out in a 10 L anaerobic digester at a temperature of 25 0 C to 30 0 C and uncontrolled pH for a period of 3 weeks. About 23 cm 3 of biogas was produced on the 22 nd day. Thus biogas production from cow dung is a good and cheap alternative source of energy. The use of biogas will not only serve as a source of fuel but will also help in the management of waste. The biomass generated after digestion can be used both as animal feed and to improve soil fertility. It is therefore recommended that large scale production of biogas from wastes should be undertaken by all as the wastes around you today can become your wealth tomorrow.
Relating structure to function through the dominant slow modes of motion of DNA topoisomerase II

Type II DNA topoisomerases are enzymes capable of transporting one DNA duplex through another by performing a cycle of DNA cleavage, transport, and religation, coupled to ATP binding and hydrolysis. Here, we considered a coarse-grained model of the structure and investigated the motions within two structures, DNA topoisomerase II and DNA gyrase A. The coarse graining with only one point per residue means that motions in such large proteins can be thoroughly investigated. The overall motions are reflected in the crystallographic temperature factors, which are reproduced by the model. Also, with this approach, we can view the slowest, most cooperative, modes of motion, corresponding to the largest-scale correlated motions in the protein. These motions are nearly identical in the two proteins and are likely related to individual steps in the enzyme's complex mechanism of activity. Q 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.* Int J Quant Chem 75: 301)312, 1999
The Metallicity Distribution Function of Red Giants in the Large Magellanic Cloud

We report new metallicity determinations for 39 red giants in a 220 arcmin2 region, 1. °8 southwest of the bar of the Large Magellanic Cloud. These abundance measurements are based on spectroscopy of the Ca II infrared triplet. We have carefully considered the effects of abundance ratios, the physics of Ca II line formation, the variation of red clump magnitude, and the contamination by foreground stars in our abundance analyses. The metallicity distribution function (MDF) shows a strong peak at [Fe/H] = -0.57 ± 0.04; a tail to abundances at least as low as [Fe/H] ≈ -1.6 brings the average abundance down to [Fe/H] = -0.64 ± 0.02. Half the red giants in our field fall within the range -0.83 ≤ [Fe/H] ≤ -0.41. The MDF appears to be truncated at [Fe/H] ≈ -0.25; the exact value of the maximum abundance is subject to ∼0.1 dex uncertainty in the calibration of the Ca II IR triplet for young, metal-rich stars. We find a striking contrast in the shape of the MDF below [Fe/H] ≤ -1 between our inner disk field and the distant outer field studied by Olszewski: red giants deficient by more than a factor of 10 in heavy elements relative to the Sun are extremely scarce in the inner disk of the LMC. Our field star sample does not reproduce the full MDF of the LMC star clusters but seems similar to that of the intermediate-age (1–3 Gyr) clusters. We have also obtained abundance estimates using Strömgren photometry for ≈103 red giants in the same field. Photometry is the only practical way to measure abundances for the large numbers of stars necessary to lift age-metallicity degeneracy from our high-precision color-magnitude diagrams. The Strömgren measurements, which are sensitive to a combination of cyanogen and iron lines, correlate well with the Ca II measurements, but a metallicity-dependent offset is found. The offset may be due either to variations in the elemental abundance ratios due to galactic chemical evolution or to a metal-dependent mixing mechanism in RGB stars. An empirical relation between photometric and spectroscopic abundance estimates is derived. This will allow photometric abundance measurements to be placed on a consistent metallicity scale with spectroscopic metallicities, for very large numbers of stars.
STUDIES ON THE DEPLETION AND ACCUMULATION OF MICROVILLI AND CHANGES IN THE TUBULOVESICULAR COMPARTMENT OF MOUSE PARIETAL CELLS IN RELATION TO GASTRIC ACID SECRETION

Gastric parietal cells in mice present a spectrum of microscopic appearances due mainly to variations in the abundance of the tubular and vesicular component of the cytoplasm and in the size and number of microvilli lining the intracellular canaliculi. Differences in the range of forms among parietal cells of fasting versus fed mice were not especially striking, but cells with very numerous tubules and vesicles were more common after fasting. However, in mice treated with drugs or hormones that induce acid secretion, parietal cells were more uniform in appearance. There was a marked reduction of these cytoplasmic membranes and a concomitant increase in both the number and size of microvilli. Measurements of acid secretion in control animals and in animals treated with acid secretagogues indicated hydrogen ion secretion contemporaneous with depletion of the cytoplasmic tubulovesicular membranes and with increase of the microvilli. In mice with inhibited acid secretion, parietal cells showed an accumulation of cytoplasmic tubules and vesicles and reduction in the numbers of microvilli. Stereological methods were used to quantitate 10 different parietal cell compartments. Tracer studies with lanthanum did not reveal continuity between the tubules and the plasma membrane. However, there were regions of close apposition between the tubulovesicular membranes and the cell membrane of the canaliculus, and instances where cytoplasmic tubules extended from the cell into the core of enlarged microvilli.
Concentration Bias in Intertemporal Choice

Many intertemporal trade-offs are unbalanced: while the advantages of options are concentrated in a few periods, the disadvantages are dispersed over numerous periods. We provide novel experimental evidence for “concentration bias”, the tendency to overweight advantages that are concentrated in time. Subjects commit to too much overtime work that is dispersed over multiple days in exchange for a bonus that is concentrated in time: concentration bias increases subjects’ willingness to work by 22.4% beyond what standard discounting models could account for. In additional conditions and a complementary experiment involving monetary payments, we study the mechanisms behind concentration bias and demonstrate the robustness of our findings.
Prevalence of Caesarean sections in Enugu, southeast Nigeria: Analysis of data from the Healthy Beginning Initiative

Background In order to meet the Sustainable Development Goal to decrease maternal mortality, increased access to obstetric interventions such as Caesarean sections (CS) is of critical importance. As a result of women’s limited access to routine and emergency obstetric services in Nigeria, the country is a major contributor to the global burden of maternal mortality. In this analysis, we aim to establish rates of CS and determine socioeconomic or medical risk factors associated with having a CS in Enugu, southeast Nigeria. Methods Data for this study originated from the Healthy Beginning Initiative study. Participant characteristics were obtained from 2300 women at baseline via a semi-structured questionnaire. Only women between the ages of 17–45 who had singleton deliveries were retained for this analysis. Post-delivery questionnaires were used to ascertain mode-of-delivery. Crude and adjusted logistic regressions with Caesarean as the main outcome are presented. Results In this sample, 7.22% women had a CS. Compared to women who lived in an urban setting, those who lived in a rural setting had a significant reduction in the odds of having a CS (aOR: 0.58; 0.38–0.89). Significantly higher odds of having a CS were seen among those with high peripheral malaria parasitemia compared to those with low parasitemia (aOR: 1.54; 1.04–2.28). Conclusion This study revealed that contrary to the increasing trend in use of CS in low-income countries, women in this region of Nigeria had limited access to this intervention. Increasing age and socioeconomic proxies for income and access to care (e.g., having a tertiary-level education, full-time employment, and urban residence) were shown to be key determinants of access to CS. Further research is needed to ascertain the obstetric conditions under which women in this region receive CS, and to further elucidate the role of socioeconomic factors in accessing CS.
Salmonella Adhesion, Invasion and Cellular Immune Responses Are Differentially Affected by Iron Concentrations in a Combined In Vitro Gut Fermentation-Cell Model

In regions with a high infectious disease burden, concerns have been raised about the safety of iron supplementation because higher iron concentrations in the gut lumen may increase risk of enteropathogen infection. The aim of this study was to investigate interactions of the enteropathogen Salmonella enterica ssp. enterica Typhimurium with intestinal cells under different iron concentrations encountered in the gut lumen during iron deficiency and supplementation using an in vitro colonic fermentation system inoculated with immobilized child gut microbiota combined with Caco-2/HT29-MTX co-culture monolayers. Colonic fermentation effluents obtained during normal, low (chelation by 2,2'-dipyridyl) and high iron (26.5 mg iron/L) fermentation conditions containing Salmonella or pure Salmonella cultures with similar iron conditions were applied to cellular monolayers. Salmonella adhesion and invasion capacity, cellular integrity and immune response were assessed. Under high iron conditions in pure culture, Salmonella adhesion was 8-fold increased compared to normal iron conditions while invasion was not affected leading to decreased invasion efficiency (−86%). Moreover, cellular cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α secretion as well as NF-κB activation in THP-1 cells were attenuated under high iron conditions. Low iron conditions in pure culture increased Salmonella invasion correlating with an increase in IL-8 release. In fermentation effluents, Salmonella adhesion was 12-fold and invasion was 428-fold reduced compared to pure culture. Salmonella in high iron fermentation effluents had decreased invasion efficiency (−77.1%) and cellular TNF-α release compared to normal iron effluent. The presence of commensal microbiota and bacterial metabolites in fermentation effluents reduced adhesion and invasion of Salmonella compared to pure culture highlighting the importance of the gut microbiota as a barrier during pathogen invasion. High iron concentrations as encountered in the gut lumen during iron supplementation attenuated Salmonella invasion efficiency and cellular immune response suggesting that high iron concentrations alone may not lead to an increased Salmonella invasion.
PENGARUH KOMPETENSI TERHADAP KINERJA MELALUI MOTIVASI DAN DISIPLIN TUTOR PADA PROGRAM PENDIDIKAN LUAR SEKOLAH PADA PUSAT KEGIATAN BELAJAR MASYARAKAT (PKBM) KOTA MAKASSAR

Tujuan Penelitian ini adalah 1). untuk mengetahui pengaruh kompetensi terhadap motivasi tutor program pendidikan luar sekolah di Pusat Kegiatan Belajar Masyarakat (PKBM) Kota Makassar,2) Untuk mengetahui pengaruh kompetensi terhadap disiplin tutor pada program pendidikan luar sekolah di Pusat Kegiatan Belajar Masyarakat (PKBM) Kota Makassar, 3) Untuk mengetahui pengaruh kompetensi terhadap kinerja tutor pada program pendidikan luar sekolah di Pusat Kegiatan Belajar Masyarakat (PKBM) Kota Makassar, 4) Untuk mengetahui pengaruh motivasi terhadap kinerja tutor pada program pendidikan luar sekolah di Pusat Kegiatan Belajar Masyarakat (PKBM) Kota Makassar, 5) Untuk mengetahui pengaruh disiplin terhadap kinerja tutor pada program pendidikan luar sekolah di Pusat Kegiatan Belajar Masyarakat (PKBM) Kota Makassar. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa baik secara serempak maupun secara parsial variabel kompetensi berpengaruh positif dan signifikan terhadap kinerja tutor PKBM Kota Makassar, karena F*hitung keseluruhan variabel lebih besar dari F*tabel dan nilai F*hitung setiap variabel lebih besar dari F*tabel atau probabilitas (sig) setiap variabel lebih kecil 0,05 dari ketiga variabel bebas yang digunakan dalam meningkatkan kinerja tutor PKBM Kota Makassar. Karena mempunyai angka beta atau standardizet coefficient tertinggi yaitu 0,560 atau 56 persen dibandingkan variabel lain yang diteliti. Kata Kunci : Kompetensi, Kinerja, Motivasi, Disiplin.
CFD modelling of buoyancy-driven natural ventilation opposed by wind

This paper presents CFD simulations of natural displacement ventilation airflows in which the buoyancy force produced by a heat source is opposed by a wind force. Cases investigated focus on windbuoyancy force relationships for which a two-layer stratification is maintained. CFD predictions of the position of the interface separating the two layers and the change in reduced gravity (temperature difference) between them are compared with the analytical work and salt-bath measurements of Hunt and Linden (2000, 2005). Comparisons are good with only minor discrepancies in the interface position and a small under-prediction of the upper layer reduced gravity.
Sensory Neuron Downregulation of the Kv9.1 Potassium Channel Subunit Mediates Neuropathic Pain following Nerve Injury

Chronic neuropathic pain affects millions of individuals worldwide, is typically long-lasting, and remains poorly treated with existing therapies. Neuropathic pain arising from peripheral nerve lesions is known to be dependent on the emergence of spontaneous and evoked hyperexcitability in damaged nerves. Here, we report that the potassium channel subunit Kv9.1 is expressed in myelinated sensory neurons, but is absent from small unmyelinated neurons. Kv9.1 expression was strongly and rapidly downregulated following axotomy, with a time course that matches the development of spontaneous activity and pain hypersensitivity in animal models. Interestingly, siRNA-mediated knock-down of Kv9.1 in naive rats led to neuropathic pain behaviors. Diminished Kv9.1 function also augmented myelinated sensory neuron excitability, manifested as spontaneous firing, hyper-responsiveness to stimulation, and persistent after-discharge. Intracellular recordings from ex vivo dorsal root ganglion preparations revealed that Kv9.1 knock-down was linked to lowered firing thresholds and increased firing rates under physiologically relevant conditions of extracellular potassium accumulation during prolonged activity. Similar neurophysiological changes were detected in animals subjected to traumatic nerve injury and provide an explanation for neuropathic pain symptoms, including poorly understood conditions such as hyperpathia and paresthesias. In summary, our results demonstrate that Kv9.1 dysfunction leads to spontaneous and evoked neuronal hyperexcitability in myelinated fibers, coupled with development of neuropathic pain behaviors.
Common Genetic Variants on Chromosome 9p21 Confers Risk of Ischemic Stroke: A Large-Scale Genetic Association Study

Background—Epidemiological studies indicate a genetic contribution to ischemic stroke risk, but specific genetic variants remain unknown, with the exception of a few rare variants. Recent genome-wide association studies identified and replicated common genetic variants on chromosome 9p21 to confer risk of coronary heart disease. We examined whether these variants are associated with ischemic stroke. Methods and Results—We genotyped 6 common genetic variants on chromosome 9p21, previously associated with coronary artery disease in genome-wide association studies, in 2 population-based studies in southern Sweden, the Lund Stroke Register (n=1837 cases, 947 controls) and the Malmö Diet and Cancer study (MDC; n=888 cases, 893 controls). We examined association in each study and in the pooled dataset. Adjustments were made for cardiovascular risk factors and further for previous myocardial infarction in MDC. We found a modest increase in ischemic stroke risk for 2 common (minor allele frequencies 0.46 to 0.49) variants, rs2383207 (P=0.04 in Lund Stroke Register, P=0.01 in MDC) and rs10757274 (P=0.03 in Lund Stroke Register, P=0.03 in MDC), in each sample independently. The strength of the association increased when samples were pooled with an odds ratio of 1.15 (95% CI, 1.05 to 1.25; P=0.002) for the strongest variant rs2383207. Results were similar after adjustment for clinical covariates. rs1333049 also showed significant association in MDC, which increased in the pooled sample (P=0.004). Conclusions—In this large sample (n=4565), we detected common genetic determinants for ischemic stroke on chromosome 9p21. Our findings indicate that ischemic stroke shares pathophysiological determinants with coronary heart disease and other arterial diseases and highlight the need for large sample sizes in stroke genetics.