Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Usefulness of FDG PET/CT in the management of tuberculosis

Background The aim of our study is to describe the FDG-PET/CT findings in patients with tuberculosis and to correlate them with the patient’s prognosis. Methods We retrospectively collected data from patients with tuberculosis, who had an FDG-PET/CT performed prior to treatment initiation from 2010 to 2015. Results Forty-seven out of 504 patients with active tuberculosis diagnosis (9.33%) underwent an FDG-PET/CT. The reasons for performing the FDG-PET/CT were: characterization of a pulmonary nodule (24; 51.1%), study of fever of unknown origin (12; 25.5%), study of lymph node enlargement (5; 10.6%) and others (6; 12.8%). Median age was 64 (IQR 50–74) years and 31 (66%) patients were male. Twenty-six (55.3%) patients had an immunosuppressant condition. According to the FDG-PET/CT, 48.6% of the patients had more than 1 organ affected and 46.8% had lymph node involvement. Median SUVmax of the main lesion was 5 (IQR 0.28–11.85). We found an association between the FDG accumulation and the size of the main lesion with a correlation coefficient of 0.54 (p<0.002). Patients with an unsuccessful outcome had a higher ratio SUVmax main lesion / SUVmean liver (1.92 vs 7.67, p<0.02). Conclusions In our cohort, almost half of the patients had more than 1 organ affected and 46.8% of them had lymph node involvement. FDG uptake was associated with the size of the main lesion and seems to be related to the treatment outcome. The extent of its potential to be used as an early predictor of treatment success still needs to be defined.
Visualizing Urban Parking Supply Ratios

This work illustrates the potential impacts of minimum parking requirements on the built environment in urban areas. For this paper, we estimated area wide parking supply ratios in four urban centers representing a range of values. We depict the differences among these four scenarios to demonstrate the magnitude of impacts on the built environment. The existing parking supply ratios in this study range from 0.1 to 0.9 parking spaces per 1,000 ft of building space. As parking supply ratios increase within this range, structures generally become taller with larger footprints. However, buildings also become more sparsely distributed and parking becomes a more dominant feature of the built environment. This work allows policymakers to visualize different parking ratios and offers valuable perspective for evaluating parking policies in terms of land use patterns and other broad policy goals. AUTHORS Chris McCahill (corresponding author) Senior Associate, State Smart Transportation Initiative University of Wisconsin-Madison 1180 Observatory Drive, Suite 7122 Madison, WI 53706 Phone: 608-262-7797 Email: mccahill@ssti.us Norman Garrick Associate Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering University of Connecticut 261 Glenbrook Rd., Unit 3037 Storrs, CT 06269-3037 Phone: 860-486-2990 Email: garrick@engr.uconn.edu Carol Atkinson-Palombo Assistant Professor, Department of Geography University of Connecticut 215 Glenbrook Road, Unit 4148 Storrs, CT 06269-2037 Phone: 860-486-3023 Email: carol.atkinson-palombo@uconn.edu McCahill, Garrick, & Atkinson-Palombo 1 Visualizing Urban Parking Supply Ratios
STUDY ON GENETIC DIVERGENCE IN LINSEED ( LINUM USITATISSIMUM L . ) GERMPLASM BASED ON MORPHOLOGICAL AND QUALITY TRAITS

Linseed or flax (Linum usitatissimum) is a diploid (2n=30), self pollinated annual plant (Ragupathy et al., 2011). It has been under cultivation for its seed oil (linseed) or stem fibers (flax) or both (dual purpose) for 1000 years (Dillman, 1953; Zohary, 1999). Globally, the important flaxseed–linseed cultivating and producing countries include Canada, India, China, the United Kingdom, Ethiopia, and the United States of America. In India, it is mainly grown as an industrial oil seed crop in marginal soils and rainfed conditions. Linseed is an important industrial crop plant as its oil with high linolenic acid content (45-65%) is used for manufacturing rapidly drying paints, stains, inks, varnishes and the polymer linoleum (Rowland, 1998). Besides its oil, the linseed fibers (phloem fiber) are used by industries for producing high quality linen fabrics, pulp, biofuel (Diederichsen and Ulrich, 2009), raw materials of thermal insulations (Kymalainen and Sjoberg, 2008) and bioplastics (Kwiatkowska et al., 2009). However, the high level of linolenic acid in the oil causes it to be unsuitable for use in edible products because of undesirable odour and flavour that result from the auto-oxidation of this unsaturated fatty acid (Green, 1986). Efforts have been made to develop edible purpose linseed by reducing the level of linolenic acid content to <5%. Before embarking any plant breeding programme a plant breeder must survey and assess the variability with respect to yield and its components. Information on genetic variability and heritability is useful to formulate selection criteria for improvement of seed yield. Burton (1952) and Johnson et al. (1955) found that it is more useful to estimate heritability value along with genetic advance value in predicting the expected progress to be achieved through selection.
Socio-economic inequalities in diabetes prevalence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND Rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases, including diabetes in the Middle East, is a major public health concern of the 21st century. However, there is a paucity of literature to understand and measure socio-economic inequalities in diabetes prevalence in this region, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). METHODS This study investigated socio-economic inequalities in diabetes prevalence in the KSA using data from the Saudi Arabia Health Interview Survey. Concentration curve, concentration index, and multivariate logistic regression were used to measure and examine income- and education-related inequalities in diabetes prevalence. RESULTS The results showed significant socio-economic inequalities in the prevalence of diabetes through analysing a nationally representative sample of the KSA population. Diabetes prevalence was concentrated among the poor and among people with less education. In addition, education-related inequality was higher than income-related inequality. CONCLUSIONS The findings of this study are important for policymakers to combat both the increasing prevalence of and socio-economic inequalities in diabetes. The government should promote health education programmes and increase the level of public awareness of diabetes management, especially among the lower educated population in the KSA.
STABLE ISOTOPIC AND FLUID INCLUSION EVIDENCE FOR METEORIC FLUID PENETRATION INTO AN ACTIVE MOUNTAIN BELT - ALPINE SCHIST, NEW-ZEALAND

Calcite and quartz veins have formed, and are forming, in steeply dipping fissures in the actively rising Alpine Schist metamorphic belt of New Zealand. The fluids that deposited these minerals were mostly under hydrostatic pressure almost down to the brittle-ductile transition, which has been raised to 5-6 km depth by rapid uplift. Some fluids were trapped under lithostatic pressures. Fluids in the fissure veins were immiscible H2O + NaCl-CO2 mixtures at 200-350d C. Bulk fluid composition is 15-20 mol% CO2 and <4.3 total mol CH4+ N2+ Ar/100mol H2O. Water hydrogen isotopic ratio δDH2O in the fissure veins spans -29 to -68‰, δ18OH2O -0.7 to 8.5‰, and bulk carbon isotopic ratio δ13C ranges from -3.7 to -11.7‰. The oxygen and hydrogen isotopic data suggest that the water has a predominantly meteoric source, and has undergone an oxygen isotope shift as a result of interaction with the host metamorphic rock. Similar fluids were present during cooling and uplift. Dissolved carbon is not wholly derived from residual metamorphic fluids; part may be generated by oxidation of graphite.
Deuterium oxide protects against myocardial injury induced by ischemia and reperfusion in rats

Abstract Objectives. Although deuterium oxide (D2O) has preservative property on the extracted organ, whether D2O also protects the in situ myocardial injury remains unknown. Using cardiac microdialysis, local administration of D2O through dialysis probe was applied in situ rat heart. We examined the effect of the D2O on the myocardial injury induced ischemia, reperfusion, and chemical hypoxia. Methodology. We measured dialysate myoglobin levels during 30 min of coronary occlusion and reperfusion in the absence and presence of D2O. Furthermore, to confirm the effect of D2O on NaCN induced myocardial injury, we measured the dialysate myoglobin levels with local perfusion of NaCN in the absence and presence of D2O. Results. The dialysate myoglobin levels increased from 177 ± 45 ng/mL at baseline to 3030 ± 1523 ng/mL during 15–30 min of coronary occlusion and further increased to 8588 ± 1684ng/mL at 0–15 min of reperfusion. The dialysate myoglobin levels with 60 min local perfusion of NaCN increased to 1214 ± 279 ng/mL. D2O attenuated myocardial myoglobin release during 15–30 min of coronary occlusion and 0-30 min of reperfusion and 15–60 min of local perfusion of NaCN. Conclusions. D2O might have a beneficial effect of myocardium against ischemia, reperfusion and chemical hypoxia.
Spirituality and Rape Myth Acceptance: An Exploratory Study

The incidence of rape is a significant concern for college campuses (Fisher, Cullen, & Turner, 2000), and the acceptance of myths about rape abound on campuses and in society (Burt, 1980; Bohner, Danner, Siebler, & Samson, 2002; Carmody & Washington, 2001; Chiroro, Bohner, Viki, & Jarvis, 2004). A copious amount of research has examined factors that increase rape myth acceptance, or the belief in any false statement or thought that inaccurately portrays a rape situation (Foubert & Marriott, 1997; Foubert & Newberry, 2006; Foubert & Perry, 2007; Johnson, Kuck, & Schander, 1997). However, very limited research sought to identify decreases in myth acceptance. One study has examined the relationship between moral development and rape myth acceptance (Tatum & Foubert, 2009). Given the close connection between moral development and spiritual development (Fowler, 1980; Walker & Reimer, 2005), a connection between rape myth acceptance and spiritual development may exist. This study proposed and examined the link between spiritual development and rape myth acceptance. Scores were examined from 123 men at a small, Midwest, private, liberal arts institution, who completed the Spiritual Maturity Index (Ellison, 1984) and the Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance Scale (Payne, Lonsway, & Fitzgerald, 1999). A mean comparison indicated a moderate, negative correlation between spiritual development score and rape myth acceptance score, indicating that spiritual development and rape myth acceptance scores are inversely proportionate. This relationship informs professional practice in student development and encourages future research on the link between spiritual development and rape myth acceptance.
Building a Bridge between Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: Investigating the Effect of Chemotherapy on Immune Checkpoint Expression

In light of the promising results of immune checkpoint blockade (ICPB) in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM), we investigated the effect of different chemotherapeutic agents on the expression of immune checkpoints (ICPs) in order to rationally design a good treatment schedule for their combination with ICP blocking antibodies. Cisplatin, oxaliplatin and pemetrexed are interesting chemotherapeutic agents to combine with immunotherapy given their immunomodulatory capacities. We looked into cisplatin and pemetrexed because their combination is used as first-line treatment of MPM. Additionally, the effect of the immunogenic chemotherapeutic agent, oxaliplatin, was also studied. Three different MPM cell lines were used for representation of both epithelioid and sarcomatoid subtypes. The desired inhibitory concentrations of the chemotherapeutic agents were determined with the SRB-assay. Allogeneic co-cultures of MPM cells with healthy donor peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were set up to assess the effect of these chemotherapeutic agents on the expression of ICPs (PD-1, LAG-3, TIM-3) and their ligands (PD-L1, PD-L2, galectin-9). Cisplatin might be a promising treatment to combine with ICP blocking antibodies since our MPM cell lines were most susceptible to this stand-alone treatment. We found that the expression of ICPs and their ligands on both MPM cells and PBMC was mostly downregulated or unaltered when treated with chemotherapeutic agents, though no clear trend could be determined.
A Structural Model of Adverse Childhood Experiences as Antecedents of Rumination Leading to Lower Hope

Hope is well established within the positive psychology literature as a construct associated with psychological well-being. Recent research has also linked experiences of childhood trauma with lower hope into adulthood. Snyder’s hope theory explains this link by suggesting that rumination, as a byproduct of trauma, limits survivors’ ability to focus on present day goals, thereby lowering hope. To test this proposed link between childhood trauma and lower hope, we conducted two studies using independent samples of adults living in the United States (Study 1: N’ = 258; Study 2: N’ = 374). Per Snyder, the studies modeled childhood trauma as a driver of rumination leading to lower hope. The results of Study 1 indicated that a “full mediation” model, directly representing Snyder’s theory, produced good fit (χ2 = 254.02, p > .001; df = 131); root mean square error approximation (RMSEA) = . 06 (90% confidence interval [CI]: .049, .072); standardized root mean square residual (SRMR) = . 055; comparative fit index (CFI): . 927. A subsequent bootstrapping analysis (N = 5,000) validated the full mediation model. Study 2 provided identical results, indicating again that a full mediation model of the variables produced good fit. The data from both studies was consistent with Snyder’s understanding of the link between trauma and lower hope. The article concludes with a discussion of the studies’ implications, particularly how the data supports interventions, such as meditation, that may work to help buffer the ruminating impacts of childhood trauma.
CYP3A4 Induction in the Liver and Intestine of Pregnane X Receptor/CYP3A-Humanized Mice: Approaches by Mass Spectrometry Imaging and Portal Blood Analysis

Induction of cytochrome P450 enzyme 3A (CYP3A) in response to pregnane X receptor (PXR) activators shows species-specific differences. To study the induction of human CYP3A in response to human PXR activators, we generated a double-humanized mouse model of PXR and CYP3A. CYP3A-humanized mice generated by using a mouse artificial chromosome (MAC) vector containing the entire genomic human CYP3A locus (hCYP3A-MAC mouse line) were bred with PXR-humanized mice in which the ligand-binding domain of mouse PXR was replaced with that of human PXR, resulting in double-humanized mice (hCYP3A-MAC/hPXR mouse line). Oral administration of the human PXR activator rifampicin increased hepatic expression of CYP3A4 mRNA and triazolam (TRZ) 1′- and 4-hydroxylation activities, CYP3A probe activities, in the liver and intestine microsomes of hCYP3A-MAC/hPXR mice. The plasma concentration of TRZ after oral dosing was significantly decreased by rifampicin treatment in hCYP3A-MAC/hPXR mice but not in hCYP3A-MAC mice. In addition, mass spectrometry imaging analysis showed that rifampicin treatment increased the formation of hydroxy TRZ in the intestine of hCYP3A-MAC/hPXR mice after oral dosing of TRZ. The plasma concentration of 1′- and 4-hydroxy TRZ in portal blood was also increased by rifampicin treatment in hCYP3A-MAC/hPXR mice. These results suggest that the hCYP3A-MAC/hPXR mouse line may be a useful model to predict human PXR-dependent induction of metabolism of CYP3A4 substrates in the liver and intestine. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT We generated a double-humanized mouse line for CYP3A and PXR. Briefly, CYP3A-humanized mice generated by using a mouse artificial chromosome vector containing the entire genomic human CYP3A locus were bred with PXR-humanized mice in which the ligand-binding domain of mouse PXR was replaced with that of human PXR. Expression of CYP3A4 and metabolism of triazolam, a typical CYP3A substrate, in the liver of CYP3A/PXR-humanized mice were enhanced in response to rifampicin, a typical human PXR activator. Enhancement of triazolam metabolism in the intestine of CYP3A/PXR-humanized mice was firstly shown by combination of mass spectrometry imaging of sliced intestine and liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry analysis of metabolite concentration in portal blood after oral dosing of triazolam.
REMEDIA TING MISCONCEPTIONS CONCERNING CHEMICAL BONDING THROUGH CONCEPTUAL CHANGE TEXT KİMYASAL BAGLARLA İLGİLİ KAVRAM YANıLGıLARıNIN KAVRAMSAL DEGİşİM METİNLERİ KULLANILARAK DÜZELTİLMESİ

The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of conceptual change texts oriented instructionon 9thgrade students' understanding of chemical bonding concepts. in this study, the main aim of the preparation of conceptual change texts was to activate students' prior knowledge and misconceptions and to help them to understand the chemical bonding concepts through the use of explanations. analogies and examples. Analogies were used in the conceptual change texts to deal with students' misconceptions more effectively. The results revealed that conceptual change texts oriented instruction produeed a positive effect on students understandingof scientifıc conceptions related to ehemical bonding and elimination of misconeeptions. The mean scores ofboth groups showed that studentsin the experimental group performed betIer with respeet to ehemical bonding eoncepts.
Distributed static compensator (DSTATCOM) for voltage support in single wire earth return (SWER) networks

This investigation is concerned with the effectiveness of Distributed STATic COMpensators (DSTATCOMs) at providing voltage support in Single Wire Earth Return (SWER) networks. The reason for the focus on SWER lines is the high cost of upgrading them in the traditional way to solve voltage regulation problems that result from load growth in some of the feeders. A number of aspects of DSTATCOM installation and operation have been explored. These include their location, reactive power circulation, reactive power prioritising, four quadrant operation and the timing of installation and operation. It has been possible to derive analytical expressions only for the case of a single Thevenin source equivalent and a single load in parallel with a DSTATCOM. From one of those expressions it was deduced that, on a voltage increment per kVAr basis, DSTATCOMs are most effective as voltage regulators when they are installed at the customer terminals rather than further upstream into the network. This result has been found to apply generally to all practical SWER lines. Another derived expression predicted a peak value of customer terminal voltage when active power (P) and reactive power (Q) are injected by the DSTATCOM at constant kVA (S). This maximum voltage represents a stability limit for the case where DSTATCOMs are controlled to operate at constant kVA. Load flow studies revealed that in general this stability limit exists for all practical SWER lines. To avoid VAr circulation it is proposed that droop control with hysteretic band is used for DSTATCOM operation. The standard Newton-Raphson load flow formulation has been extended to accommodate DSTATCOMs operating under droop control and with operating point on a defined trajectory on the P-Q plane. Four defined trajectories have been investigated under given hourly load demand profile. These are the Q-only scheme, the constant kVA scheme with Q-priority, the load power factor follow scheme and the power factor correction scheme. For each one of those defined trajectories a modified Jacobian had to be derived. Load flow studies were based on each of the modified formulations. The load flow programs were designed to automatically provide a solution for each hour of a 24-hour demand profile representing the worst case peak demand for a particular year in the life of any practical SWER line. The customer DSTATCOM is either left on line, brought on line, left off line or taken off line, depending on the calculated customer voltage. Those special features of the load flow programs allowed them to be used to determine when and at what customer location DSTATCOMs should be installed and what their ratings should be. While the focus of the thesis has been on undervoltage problems; the proposed solutions and algorithms are applicable to overvoltage problems caused by the Ferranti Effect.
Postnatal administration of leptin antagonist mitigates susceptibility to obesity under high-fat diet in αMUPA male mice.

Perturbations in postnatal leptin signaling have been associated with altered susceptibility to diet-induced obesity (DIO), under high-fat-diet (HFD), albeit with contradicting evidence. Previous studies have shown that Alpha murine urokinase-type plasminogen activator (αMUPA) mice have a higher and longer postnatal leptin surge compared with their wild types (WT), as well as lower body weight and food intake under regular diet (RD). Here we explore αMUPA's propensity to DIO and the effect of attenuating postnatal leptin signaling, using leptin antagonist, on energy homeostasis under both RD and HFD. Four-day-old αMUPA pups were treated on alternate days until P-18 with either vehicle or leptin antagonist (LA; 10 or 20 mg d-1 kg-1) and weaned into RD or HFD. Compared with RD-fed αMUPA males, HFD-fed αMUPA males showed higher energy intake, even when corrected for bodyweight difference, and became hyperinsulinemic and obese. Additionally, HFD-fed αMUPA males gained bodyweight at a higher rate than their WTs due mainly to strain-differences in energy expenditure. LA administration did not affect strain differences under RD, but attenuated αMUPA's hyperinsulinemia and DIO under HFD, most likely by mediating energy expenditure. Together with our previous findings, these results suggest that αMUPA's leptin surge underlies its higher susceptibility to obesity under HFD, highlighting the role of leptin-related developmental processes in inducing obesity under post weaning obesogenic environment, at least in αMUPA males. This study, therefore, supports the use of αMUPA mice for elucidating developmental mechanisms of obesity and the efficacy of early-life manipulations via leptin surge axis in attenuating DIO.
Palm Oil on the Edge

Internationally recognized Spanish experts in the food industry, nutrition, toxicology, sustainability, and veterinary science met in Madrid on July 2018 to develop a consensus about palm oil (PO) as a food ingredient. Their aim was to provide a useful, evidence-based point of reference about PO. Scientific evidence about the role of PO in food safety, nutrition and sustainability was analyzed. Main conclusions were: (1) RSPO foundation responded to the environmental impact of palm crops. The Amsterdam Declaration pursues the use of 100% sustainable PO in Europe by 2020. Awareness about choosing sustainable products will help to maintain local economies and environments in the producing countries; (2) evidence shows that a moderate intake of PO within a healthy diet presents no risks for health. No evidence justifies any change fat intake recommendations; (3) food industry is interested in assuring safe, sustainable and high-quality products. The use of certified sustainable PO is increasing; and (4) there is no evidence associating PO consumption and higher cancer risk, incidence or mortality in humans. Tolerable daily intake (TDI) for toxic contaminants (2-and 3-monochloropropanediols (MCPDs), glycidyl esters (GEs)) have been established by JECFA and EFSA. Consequently, the European Commission has modified the Contaminants Regulation for GEs and it is still working on 3-MCPDs’.