Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The immunotoxicity of triphenyltin chloride in mice.

The immunotoxicity of triphenyltin chloride (TPTC) in mice was investigated. 1) When TPTC was injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) into mice at doses between 1 and 10 mg/kg for 14 d, a reduction in the weights of thymus and spleen was noticed, however, the body weight was not changed significantly. 2) The production of hemolytic plaque forming cells in the spleen of mice immunized with sheep red blood cells (SRBC) was inhibited by the administration of 10 mg/kg of TPTC. 3) The i.p. injection of TPTC at a dose of 10 mg/kg for 5 d after the primary immunization of mice with dinitrophenylated ascaris antigen resulted in suppression of immunoglobulin E antibody formation in primary immune response, but did not affect the secondary immune response. 4) The production of antibody against polyvinylpyrrolidone (T cell independent antigen) was not affected by the administration of TPTC. 5) The production of effector T cells which are able to cause SRBC- or tuberculin-induced footpad reaction in mice and the induction of cytotoxic T cell in local graft versus host reaction in mice were also inhibited by TPTC. These results indicate that TPTC inhibits both the T cell dependent humoral and cellular immune responses in mice.
Feeling happy and (over)confident: the role of positive affect in metacognitive processes

ABSTRACT The relationship between affect and metacognitive processes has been largely overlooked in both the affect and the metacognition literatures. While at the core of many affect-cognition theories is the notion that positive affective states lead people to be more confident, few studies systematically investigated how positive affect influences confidence and strategic behaviour. In two experiments, when participants were free to control answer interval to general knowledge questions (e.g. question: “in what year”, answer: “it was between 1970 and 1985”), participants induced with positive affect outperformed participants in a neutral affect condition. However, in Experiment 1 positive affect participants showed larger overconfidence than neutral affect participants. In Experiment 2, enhanced salience of social cues eliminated this overconfidence disadvantage of positive affect relative to neutral affect participants, without compromising their enhanced performance. Notably, in both experiments, positive affect led to compromised social norms regarding the answers’ informativeness. Implications for both affect and metacognition are discussed.
Islamic Banking : Issues in Prudential Regulation and Supervision@@@النظام المصرفي الإسلامي : قضايا مطروحة بشأن قواعد الاحتراز والمراقبة

تحلل هذه الورقة آثار التعاليم الإسلامية على هياكل المصارف وأنشطتها ، مع التركيز على قضايا الرقابة المصرفية . وتبرز وتناقش هذه المشكلات في سياق صيغة نموذجية للنظام المصرفي الإسلامي وأيضا في سياق أطر العمل الواقعة بين الصيغة النموذجية والعمليات المصرفية التقليدية . وتم كذلك استعراض حالة المصارف الإسلامية العاملة في ظل نظام تقليدي .
A Cohort Study of Risk Factors That Influence Empirical Treatment of Patients with Acute Pyelonephritis

ABSTRACT The aim of the current study was to compare community-acquired acute pyelonephritis (CA-APN) with health care-associated acute pyelonephritis (HCA-APN), describe the outcomes, and identify variables that could predict antimicrobial susceptibility. We conducted an observational study that included all consecutive episodes of acute pyelonephritis (APN) in adults during 2014 at a Spanish university hospital. From each episode, demographic data, comorbidities, clinical presentation, microbiological data, antimicrobial therapy, and outcome were recorded. A multivariable logistic regression model was performed to define the variables associated with antimicrobial resistance. A total of 607 patients, 503 (82.9%) with CA-APN and 104 (17.1%) with HCA-APN, were included in the study. Patients with HCA-APN were older than patients with CA-APN (70.4 versus 50.6 years; P < 0.001) and had higher rates of previous urinary tract infections (UTIs) (56.5% versus 24.5%; P < 0.001) and previous antibiotic use (56.8% versus 22.8%; P < 0.001). Escherichia coli was more frequently isolated from patients with CA-APN than from patients with HCA-APN (79.9% versus 50.5%; P < 0.001). The rates of resistance of Escherichia coli strains from CA-APN patients versus HCA-APN patients were as follows: amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, 22.4% versus 53.2% (P = 0.001); cefuroxime, 7.7% versus 43.5% (P = 0.001); cefotaxime, 4.3% versus 32.6% (P < 0.001); ciprofloxacin, 22.8% versus 74.5% (P < 0.001); and co-trimoxazole, 34.5% versus 58.7% (P = 0.003). The site of acquisition, recurrent UTIs, and previous antibiotic use were independent risk factors for antimicrobial resistance. Relapse rates were significantly higher when definitive antimicrobial treatment was not adequate (37.1% versus 9.3% when definitive antimicrobial treatment was adequate; P < 0.001). Our study reflects the rise of resistance to commonly used antibiotics in acute pyelonephritis. In order to choose the adequate empirical antibiotic therapy, risk factors for resistance should be considered.
Vitamin D protects human endothelial cells from oxidative stress through the autophagic and survival pathways.

CONTEXT Recently, vitamin D (VitD) has been recognized as increasingly importance in many cellular functions of several tissues and organs other than bone. In particular, VitD showed important beneficial effects in the cardiovascular system. Although the relationship among VitD, endothelium, and cardiovascular disease is well established, little is known about the antioxidant effect of VitD. OBJECTIVE Our objective was to study the intracellular pathways activated by VitD in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells undergoing oxidative stress. DESIGN Nitric oxide production, cell viability, reactive oxygen species, the mitochondrial permeability transition pore, membrane potential, and caspase-3 activity were measured during oxidative stress induced by administration of 200 μM hydrogen peroxide for 20 minutes. Experiments were repeated in the presence of specific vitamin D receptor ligand ZK191784. RESULTS Pretreatment with VitD alone or in combination with ZK191784 is able to reduce the apoptosis-related gene expression, involving both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways. At the same time, it has been shown the activation of pro-autophagic beclin 1 and the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and Akt, indicating a modulation between apoptosis and autophagy. Moreover, VitD alone or in combination with ZK191784 is able to prevent the loss of mitochondrial potential and the consequent cytochrome C release and caspase activation. CONCLUSIONS The present study shows that VitD may prevent endothelial cell death through modulation of the interplay between apoptosis and autophagy. This effect is obtained by inhibiting superoxide anion generation, maintaining mitochondria function and cell viability, activating survival kinases, and inducing NO production.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and dysregulation of cardiac energetics in a mouse model of biliary fibrosis

Cardiac dysfunction is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with end‐stage liver disease; yet the mechanisms remain largely unknown. We hypothesized that the complex interrelated impairments in cardiac structure and function secondary to progression of liver diseases involve alterations in signaling pathways engaged in cardiac energy metabolism and hypertrophy, augmented by direct effects of high circulating levels of bile acids. Biliary fibrosis was induced in male C57BL/6J mice by feeding a 0.1% 3,5‐diethoxycarbonyl‐1,4‐dihydroxychollidine (DDC) supplemented diet. After 3 weeks, mice underwent live imaging (dual energy x‐ray absorptiometry [DEXA] scanning, two‐dimensional echocardiography [2DE], electrocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging), exercise treadmill testing, and histological and biochemical analyses of livers and hearts. Compared with chow‐fed mice, DDC‐fed mice fatigued earlier on the treadmill, with reduced VO2. Marked changes were identified electrophysiologically (bradycardia and prolonged QT interval) and functionally (hyperdynamic left ventricular [LV] contractility along with increased LV thickness). Hearts of DDC‐fed mice showed hypertrophic signaling (activation of v‐akt murine thymoma viral oncogene/protein kinase B [AKT], inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase‐3β [GSK3β], a 20‐fold up‐regulation of β myosin heavy chain RNA and elevated Gsα/Giα ratio. Genes regulating cardiac fatty acid oxidation pathways were suppressed, along with a threefold increase in myocardial glycogen content. Treatment of mouse cardiomyocytes (which express the membrane bile acid receptor TGR5) with potent natural TGR5 agonists, taurochenodeoxycholic acid and lithocholic acid, activated AKT and inhibited GSK3β, similar to the changes seen in DDC‐fed mouse hearts. This provides support for a novel mechanism whereby circulating natural bile acids can induce signaling pathways in heart associated with hypertrophy. Conclusion: Three weeks of DDC feeding‐induced biliary fibrosis leads to multiple functional, metabolic, electrophysiological, and hypertrophic adaptations in the mouse heart, recapitulating some of the features of human cirrhotic cardiomyopathy. Hepatology 2010;51:2097–2107
Association of urodynamic findings in new onset multiple sclerosis with subsequent occurrence of urinary symptoms and acute episode of disease in females

Background: The aim of the study was to determine the relative frequency of abnormal urodynamic findings in new multiple sclerosis (MS) cases without micturition complaints and to find its correlation with the number of MS plaques on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), urinary tract involvement and the number of disease episodes. Methods: In this prospective study, 50 new female case of multiple sclerosis were enrolled. Age, urodynamic findings, micturition complaints and number of plaques on MRI were recorded on admission. Occurrence of urinary symptoms and number of episodes of the disease were recorded every three months during one-year follow-up. Results: The mean patients’ age was 32.4 ± 7.2 years and all patients were female. Of the 50 patients, 19 (38%) had a normal urodynamic test and 31 (62%) had abnormal urodynamic findings at the beginning of the study. The occurrence of micturition complaints during follow-up in patients with abnormal urodynamic findings (94%) was significantly higher (p < 0.0001) than patients with normal urodynamic findings (37%). In addition, the number of plaques on MRI at the beginning of the study in patients with abnormal urodynamic finding was significantly higher (p < 0.004) compared to patients with a normal urodynamic study. The number of episodes during follow-up was not statistically different between patients with normal and abnormal urodynamic findings (p = 0.46). Conclusions: According to this study, 62% of all new MS patients had an abnormal urodynamic test. This is a considerable proportion of patients and it seems urodynamic studies can be used when MS is first diagnosed.
Successful postoperative recovery management after thoracoscopic lobectomy and segmentectomy using an ERAS-based protocol of immediate ice cream intake and early ambulation: a 3-year study

Background: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols are well known for reducing post-operative complications, facilitating early recovery and reducing hospitalization. In this study, we developed ERAS protocols involving immediate ice cream intake for checking postoperative chylothorax and subsequent early ambulation in order to investigate whether these methods have postoperative benefits. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 500 patients who underwent thoracoscopic segmentectomy and/or lobectomy (TSL) between January 2014 and September 2017. The patients were divided into two groups: 271 patients for Phase I and 229 for Phase II. Ice cream intake commenced during Phase I. Phase I patients were made to walk on the following day, whereas Phase II ambulate within 4 hrs after immediate ice-cream intake. Results: The mean ice cream intake was significantly higher in Phase II than in Phase I (81.6% vs 56.1%). In Phase II, 91.2% and 94.0% were able to ambulate within 4 and 6 hrs, respectively. Minor postoperative complications (Clavien–Dindo I–II classification) were lower in Phase II (3.1%) than in Phase I (10.4%); however, we found no statistical significance (p=0.08). Multivariate analysis showed that ice cream intake and removal of chest drainage tube within 4–6 hrs significantly contributed to the reduction of hospitalization to ≤3 postoperative days (p=0.03 and p<0.01). Conclusions: The results of this study suggested that our ERAS protocol represented by immediate ice cream intake, and early ambulation is feasible and can help in reducing postoperative complications, chest drainage duration, and hospitalization after TSL.
Early Initiation of Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy Improves Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Background:The acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a common devastating syndrome in intensive care unit in critically ill patients. Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) has been shown beneficial effects on oxygenation and survival in patients with ARDS. However, it is still controversial about the timing of initiation of CRRT. Methods:Fifty-three patients with ARDS admitted to intensive care unit in Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, China from 2009 to 2013 were enrolled in the study. The authors compared ventilation parameter, including PaO2/FIO2, A-a gradient, positive end-expiratory pressure, plateau pressure, dynamic compliance and hemodynamic parameters, including central venous pressure, mean arterial pressure, cardiac index, extravascular lung water index, fluid balance between early initiation (within 12 hours after ARDS onset) and late initiation of CRRT (48 hours after ARDS onset) groups. The authors further investigated transforming growth factor (TGF)-&bgr;1 level changes in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay during 7 days of follow-up. Results:Significant improvement of oxygenation and shorter duration of mechanical ventilation were observed in early CRRT group during 7-day follow-up. In addition, TGF-&bgr;1 concentrations in serum and BALF were significantly decreased in patients with early initiation of CRRT compared to those with late initiation of CRRT on day 2 and day 7. Furthermore, patients who died of ARDS had higher levels of TGF-&bgr;1 in BALF than survivors. Conclusions:Our findings showed that early initiation of CRRT is associated with favorable clinical outcomes in ARDS patients, which might be due to the reduced serum and BALF TGF-&bgr;1 levels through CRRT. However, large multi-center studies are needed to make further recommendations as to the optimal use of CRRT in ARDS patient populations.
Derivation, Characterization, and In Vitro Differentiation of Canine Embryonic Stem Cells

Canine embryonic stem (cES) cell lines were generated to establish a large‐animal preclinical model for testing the safety and efficacy of embryonic stem (ES) cell‐derived tissue replacement therapy. Putative cES cell lines were initiated from canine blastocysts harvested from natural matings. Times of harvest were estimated as 12–16 days after the presumed surge in circulating levels of luteinizing hormone. Four lines established from blastocysts harvested at days 13–14 postsurge satisfied most of the criteria for embryonic stem cells, whereas lines established after day 14 did not. One line, Fred Hutchinson dog (FHDO)‐7, has been maintained through 34 passages and is presented here. FHDO‐7 cells are alkaline phosphatase‐positive and express both message and protein for the Oct4 transcription factor. They also express message for Nanog and telomerase but do not express message for Cdx2, which is associated with trophectoderm. Furthermore, they express a cluster of pluripotency‐associated microRNAs (miRs) (miR‐302b, miR‐302c, and miR‐367) characteristic of human and mouse ES cells. The FHDO‐7 cells grow on feeder layers of modified mouse embryonic fibroblasts as flat colonies that resemble ES cells from mink, a close phylogenetic relative of dog. When cultured in nonadherent plates without feeders, the cells form embryoid bodies (EBs). Under various culture conditions, the EBs give rise to ectoderm‐derived neuronal cells expressing γ‐enolase and β3‐tubulin; mesoderm‐derived cells producing collagen IIA1, cartilage, and bone; and endoderm‐derived cells expressing α‐fetoprotein or Clara cell‐specific protein.
Identification of patterns of repeated parts in solid objects

The work described in this report extends the methods described in the report "Identification of Patterns of Repeated Parts in Solid Objects" ([2]) to deal with CAD assemblies and to the detection of additional types of patterns. Specifically rotational and compound patterns of repeated elements are treated. Therefore, references of all notations, definitions and terms of the objects cited in this report can be found in [2]. The Chapter 1 describes the proposed approach to detect rotational patterns of repeated entities in part model, extending the set of types of patterns considered in [1], [2]. Chapter 2 contains the method proposed for assembly models for the detection of symmetric arrangements on components, considering as repeated elements of the patterns the instances of a part or assembly file. Chapter 3 is dedicated to the introduction of the concept of compound pattern, intended as an improvement of the quality of the symmetry information of a model, obtained by combining the information referred to the patterns of repeated elements. The approach has been described and provided either for part and assembly models.
Severity of OSA is an independent predictor of incident atrial fibrillation hospitalization in a large sleep-clinic cohort.

BACKGROUND OSA is a common condition that has been associated with atrial fibrillation (AF), but there is a paucity of data from large longitudinal cohorts to establish whether OSA is a risk factor for AF independent of obesity and other established risk factors. METHODS We studied patients attending a sleep clinic referred for in-laboratory polysomnography for possible OSA between 1989 and 2001. Whole-population hospital data in Western Australia for 1970 to 2009 were linked to sleep study cases to determine incident AF hospitalization to 2009. Cox regression analyses were used to assess the independent association of OSA with incident AF. RESULTS Study case subjects (6,841) were predominantly middle aged (48.3 ± 12.5 years old) and men (77%), and 455 developed AF during a median 11.9 years of follow-up. Univariate predictors of AF included age, BMI, hypertension, diabetes, valvular heart disease, coronary or peripheral artery disease, heart failure, and COPD (all P < .001). After multivariable adjustment, independent predictors of incident AF were an apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) > 5/h (hazard ratio [HR], 1.55; 95% CI, 1.21-2.00), log (AHI + 1) (HR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.06-1.26), and log (time with oxygen saturation < 90% + 1) (HR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.06-1.19). There were no interactions between age, sex, or BMI and AHI for AF development. CONCLUSIONS OSA diagnosis and severity are independently associated with incident AF. Clinical trials are required to determine if treatment of OSA will reduce the burden of AF.
A Group Formation Tool in an E-Learning Context

In this paper we present a Web-based group formation tool that supports the instructor to automatically create both homogeneous and heterogeneous groups based on up to three criteria and the learner to negotiate the grouping. Moreover, the instructor is allowed to manually group learners based on specific criteria. A discriminative feature of this tool is the use of the fuzzy c-means algorithm for homogeneous grouping, which provides for each learner the probability of belonging to different groups. This information is also provided to the instructor to support him/her in manually exchanging learners or intervening in the initial grouping. Moreover, the learners are informed for the groups formed and they are allowed to negotiate their group assignment. Preliminary evaluation results provide indications for the efficiency of the proposed approach informing homogeneous and heterogeneous groups in a real context.
Personal cooling with phase change materials to improve thermal comfort from a heat wave perspective.

UNLABELLED The impact of heat waves arising from climate change on human health is predicted to be profound. It is important to be prepared with various preventive measures for such impacts on society. The objective of this study was to investigate whether personal cooling with phase change materials (PCM) could improve thermal comfort in simulated office work at 34°C. Cooling vests with PCM were measured on a thermal manikin before studies on human subjects. Eight male subjects participated in the study in a climatic chamber (T(a) = 34°C, RH = 60%, and ν(a) = 0.4 m/s). Results showed that the cooling effect on the manikin torso was 29.1 W/m(2) in the isothermal condition. The results on the manikin using a constant heating power mode reflect directly the local cooling effect on subjects. The results on the subjects showed that the torso skin temperature decreased by about 2-3°C and remained at 33.3°C. Both whole body and torso thermal sensations were improved. The findings indicate that the personal cooling with PCM can be used as an option to improve thermal comfort for office workers without air conditioning and may be used for vulnerable groups, such as elderly people, when confronted with heat waves. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS Wearable personal cooling integrated with phase change materials has the advantage of cooling human body's micro-environment in contrast to stationary personalized cooling and entire room or building cooling, thus providing greater mobility and helping to save energy. In places where air conditioning is not usually used, this personal cooling method can be used as a preventive measure when confronted with heat waves for office workers, vulnerable populations such as the elderly and disabled people, people with chronic diseases, and for use at home.
Discrimination against Europeans in the National Hockey League: Are Players Getting Their Fair Pay?

The recent influx of European hockey players in the North American professional hockey league raises questions of wage discrimination. For decades the National Hockey League has seen wage discrimination against French Canadians on English Canadian teams, and the European players face a similar labor environment as the French Canadians. In this study we examine this issue by estimating pay for performance salary equations for NHL players, interacting country of birth with location of team. This enables us to determine the extent of wage discrimination that Europeans face in the NHL.