Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Platelet depletion, platelet activation and coagulation during treatment with hemodialysis

Abstract Bioincompatibility is the total of side effects during hemodialysis (HD) including, amongst others, changes in platelet (PLT) level. Deviations in PLT count, immature PLT count, PLT morphology, CD62p expression, Platelet Factor 4 (PF4), β-Thromboglobulin (β-TG), serotonin, Thrombin-Antithrombin III (TAT) and Prothrombin Fragment 1+2 (F1+2) are monitored before and during treatment with HD in order to elucidate the interaction between modifications in PLT morphology, PLT activation and markers concerning activation of coagulation. Different patterns with time indicate that there is no correlation between an increased amount of depleted PLTs and increased amounts of PLT activation markers such as CD62p, PF4, β-TG and serotonin. A statistically significant correlation between increased PLT activation markers and markers for increased activation of coagulation such as TAT and F1+2 has not been established. Only a weak correlation is demonstrated between the increase of markers for activation of coagulation and the decrease in PLT counts, immature PLT counts and depleted PLTs during HD treatment. The change in the extracorporeal circuit during HD is probably a more critical factor in the mechanism leading to activation of the coagulation pathway than the modifications in PLT morphology.
Activation of Melanoma Differentiation-Associated Gene 5 Causes Rapid Involution of the Thymus1

In the course of infection, the detection of pathogen-associated molecular patterns by specialized pattern recognition receptors in the host leads to activation of the innate immune system. Whereas the subsequent induction of adaptive immune responses in secondary lymphoid organs is well described, little is known about the effects of pathogen-associated molecular pattern-induced activation on primary lymphoid organs. Here we show that activation of innate immunity through the virus-sensing melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA-5) receptor causes a rapid involution of the thymus. We observed a strong decrease in thymic cellularity associated with characteristic alterations in thymic subpopulations and microanatomy. In contrast, immune stimulation with potent TLR agonists did not lead to thymic involution or induce changes in thymic subpopulations, demonstrating that thymic pathology is not a general consequence of innate immune activation. We determined that suppression of thymocyte proliferation and enhanced apoptosis are the essential cellular mechanisms involved in the decrease in thymic size upon MDA-5 activation. Further, thymic involution critically depended on type I IFN. Strikingly however, no direct action of type I IFN on thymocytes was required, given that the decrease in thymic size was still observed in mice with a selective deletion of the type I IFN receptor on T cells. All changes observed were self-limiting, given that cessation of MDA-5 activation led to a rapid recovery of thymic size. We show for the first time that the in vivo activation of the virus-sensing MDA-5 receptor leads to a rapid and reversible involution of the thymus.
TLR Signals Promote IL-6/IL-17-Dependent Transplant Rejection1

Acute allograft rejection has often been correlated with Th1 differentiation, whereas transplantation tolerance is frequently associated with induction of regulation. The discovery of the Th17 phenotype has prompted its scrutiny in transplant rejection. Although IL-17 has recently been observed in settings of acute allograft rejection and drives rejection in T-bet-deficient mice that have impaired type 1 T cell responses, there is little evidence of its requirement during acute rejection in wild-type animals. We and others have previously shown that TLR9 signaling by exogenous CpG at the time of transplantation is sufficient to abrogate anti-CD154-mediated acceptance of fully mismatched cardiac allografts. In this study, we investigated the mechanism by which acute rejection occurs in this inflammatory context. Our results indicate that CpG targets recipient hemopoietic cells and that its pro-rejection effects correlate both with prevention of anti-CD154-mediated conversion of conventional CD4+ T cells into induced regulatory T cells and with the expression of IFN-γ and IL-17 by intragraft CD4+ T cells. Moreover, the combined elimination of IL-6 and IL-17 signaling abrogated the ability of CpG to promote acute cardiac allograft rejection. Thus, proinflammatory signals at the time of transplantation can change the quality of the effector immune response and reveal a pathogenic function for IL-6 and IL-17 in wild-type recipients.
Modeling personality antecedents and second language self-efficacy constructs with emerging adults in Japan: Domain-specific matching for assessing global competence in applied contexts

Introduction Research on self–efficacy in intercultural communication (SEIC) provided validity evidence for second language (L2) self-efficacy domains. However, it lacked (1) an analysis of individual differences in personality as antecedents, (2) divergent validity from anxiety variables (i.e., foreign language classroom anxiety; FLCA), and (3) disambiguation from speaking (S-SE) and listening (L-SE) skill-specific self-efficacy types. Methods We conducted structural equation modeling of L2 self-efficacy and anxiety as response variables predicted by the Big Five model of personality in the context of Japanese undergraduate students at three university sites (n = 373), and a geographically diverse online survey of emerging adults (n = 1,326) throughout Japan. Results The final model for the nationally representative sample showed that SEIC was predicted by all identified personality factors. Differentially supported paths were observed linking L-SE with Conscientiousness (β = 0.24) and Extraversion (β = 0.16), and S-SE with Extraversion (β = 0.24) and Neuroticism (β = −0.12). The fear of failure factor of FLCA was predicted positively by Neuroticism (β = 0.25) and, surprisingly, Conscientiousness (β = 0.10), and negatively by Extraversion (β = −0.13). Relationships to Openness to Experience were only supported for SEIC (β = 0.17) and S-SE (β = 0.12). Discussion These findings provide specificity matching for personality and L2 self-efficacy domains as empirical advances for assessing global competence within the context of Japan. Implications for cultural influences on self-efficacy and applied educational practices in language and intercultural learning are discussed.
Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels are inversely associated with glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c). The Tromsø Study

Abstract Animal and human studies have shown an association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) level and insulin secretion and sensitivity. Accordingly, an association between 25(OH)D and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) is to be expected, and this was tested for in the present study. The Tromsø Study is a longitudinal population-based study initiated in 1974. In the sixth Tromsø Study conducted in 2007–2008, 12,984 subjects aged 30–87 years attended. After exclusion of current smokers and subjects with diabetes, the dataset consisted of 8643 subjects available for the present analyses. The correlation between serum 25(OH)D and HbA1c was −0.07 (p < 0.001). This association remained significant in a multiple linear regression model after adjustment for covariates gender, age, month of blood sampling, body mass index (BMI), physical activity score, serum triglycerides (TG), serum calcium and haemoglobin, and persisted across categories of gender, age, BMI and TG. The association appears to be most pronounced in the oldest, the obese and in those with the highest TG levels. Seasonal variation was found both for serum 25(OH)D and HbA1c with highest serum 25(OH)D levels and lowest HbA1c levels during summer months. In conclusion, there is a significant inverse association between serum 25(OH)D and HbA1c after adjustment for known confounders. The association is most pronounced in subjects with risk factors for glucose intolerance/type 2 diabetes. In a sub-analysis on subjects with diabetes the association between serum 25(OH)D and HbA1c appeared even stronger with a difference in HbA1c of 0.48 % between the highest and lowest serum 25(OH)D quartiles.
Review: Angiotensin II receptor blockers and cardiovascular outcomes: what does the future hold?

The ability of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) to lower blood pressure (BP) is well established. ACE inhibitors (ACE-Is) have also been shown to improve the prognosis of a broad range of patients at high cardiovascular risk, including those with heart failure, post-myocardial infarction (MI), and nephropathy. These benefits suggest that interrupting the reninangiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) with ACE-Is has a widespread vasculoprotective effect, provided that BP is also adequately controlled. Evidence that RAAS blockade by ARBs also improves long-term clinical outcomes in patients with cardiovascular disease has started to accumulate, and will be tested further during the coming years as a number of large-scale, prospective trials are completed. These trials are investigating the long-term protective effects of ARBs on morbidity and mortality in patients with hypertension, heart failure, diabetes mellitus, acute MI, or established vascular disease. The results should establish the extent to which ARBs exhibit the vasculoprotective properties demonstrated by ACE-Is in patients at high cardiovascular risk. If ARBs are found to provide benefits that are similar to , or even greater than ACE-Is, it may have important implications for drug selection, given the excellent tolerability of ARBs. Some studies are also investigating whether more extensive RAAS blockade using a combination of an ARB and an ACE-I will offer even greater protection than either agent alone.
Policy Analysis of a Thai Plan to Increase the Production of Nurses and the Quality of Nursing Education

Nursing shortages continue to be a critical issue in many countries despite the effortsof governments, and various nursing and health policies to overcome these. This study used apolicy analysis framework and a mixed method approach to collect and analyze data regarding thecontext, processes, actors and content of the Plan for Increasing Production and Development ofEducational Management in Nursing, enacted to address nursing shortages in Thailand. Data wereobtained from a review of documents, and semi-structured interviews using a questionnaire with28 key informants involved in the Plan’s development and were analyzed using content analysisand Policy Maker software. Findings revealed that the contexts influencing the development ofthe Plan were: inadequate production of nursing graduates; lack of coordination in producingand utilizing nurses; unachieved quality in nursing education; a requirement to adhere to othernational Thai plans; changes in demographic and social structures; economic growth; and theThai Cabinet resolution on the shortage of professions in 1988. Policy-making processes beganwith identifying the nursing shortage issue, finding appropriate channels to advance the issue, andmaking proposals to the Thai Cabinet. Key actors influencing policy development included threenursing deans, the Chair of the Thai Deans’ Consortium for Nursing, the University Affairs Board,the Minister of University Affairs, and the Working Subcommittee. Content included goals andstrategies for achieving a nurse-to-population ratio of 1:950 and producing competent nurses.Our findings demonstrate the significance of continued nursing workforce policy involvement tohelp address current nursing shortages and can help inform the future development of nursingworkforce policies in Thailand and elsewhere.
Local Production of IFN-γ by Invariant NKT Cells Modulates Acute Lyme Carditis1

The Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi is the only known human pathogen that directly activates invariant NKT (iNKT) cells. The number and activation kinetics of iNKT cells vary greatly among different strains of mice. We now report the role of the iNKT cell response in the pathogenesis of Lyme disease using C57BL/6 mice, a strain with optimal iNKT cell activation that is resistant to the development of spirochetal-induced inflammation. During experimental infection of B6 mice with B. burgdorferi, iNKT cells localize to the inflamed heart where they are activated by CD1d-expressing macrophages. Activation of iNKT cells in vivo results in the production of IFN-γ, which we demonstrate ameliorates the severity of murine Lyme carditis by at least two mechanisms. First, IFN-γ enhances the recognition of B. burgdorferi by macrophages, leading to increased phagocytosis of the spirochete. Second, IFN-γ activation of macrophages increases the surface expression of CD1d, thereby facilitating further iNKT activation. Collectively, our data demonstrate that in the resistant background, B6, iNKT cells modulate the severity of murine Lyme carditis through the action of IFN-γ, which appears to self-renew through a positive feedback loop during infection.
International Symposium on Intelligent Systems Techniques for Ad hoc and Wireless Sensor Networks ( IST-AWSN ) Real-time Energy Monitoring and Controlling System based on ZigBee Sensor Networks

The use of smart home technology in the home or building offers significant potential for energy savings. In this paper, we propose an energy management system based on wireless sensor networks. The proposed system is composed of two main components: a wireless sensor network and an intelligent home gateway. Wireless sensors are used for sensing and transmitting electricity data and remote monitoring and control of home appliances are provided to users through the intelligent home gateway. The system enables users to save energy by monitoring and controlling home appliances through web and mobile devices. c © 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Effect of potassium supplementation on renal tubular function, ambulatory blood pressure and pulse wave velocity in healthy humans

Abstract Background. Potassium is the main intracellular cation, which contributes to keeping the intracellular membrane potential slightly negative and elicits contraction of smooth, skeletal and cardiac muscle. A change in potassium intake modifies both cardiovascular and renal tubular function. The purpose of the trial was to investigate the effect of dietary potassium supplementation, 100 mmol daily in a randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial of healthy participants during two periods of 28 days duration. The participants (N = 21) received a diet that was standardized regarding energy requirement, and sodium and water intake. Methods. 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) and applanation tonometry were used to assess blood pressure, pulse wave velocity (PWV), augmentation index (AIx) and central blood pressure (CBP). Immunoassays were used for measurements of plasma concentrations of vasoactive hormones: renin (PRC), angiotensin II (Ang II), aldosterone (Aldo), atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), vasopressin (AVP), pro-brain natriuretic peptide (pro-BNP),endothelin (Endo), urinary excretions of aquaporin 2 (AQP2), cyclic AMP (cAMP), and the β-fraction of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaCß). Results. AQP2 excretion increased during potassium supplementation, and free water clearance fell. The changes in urinary potassium excretion and urinary AQP2 excretion were significantly and positively correlated. Aldo increased. GFR, u-ENaC- β, PRC, Ang II, ANP, BNP, Endo, blood pressure and AI were not significantly changed by potassium supplementation, whereas PWV increased slightly. Conclusions. Potassium supplementation changed renal tubular function and increased water absorption in the distal part of the nephron. In spite of an increase in aldosterone in plasma, blood pressure remained unchanged after potassium supplementation. ClinicalTrials.Gov Identifier: NCT00801034
X-linked Foxp3 (Scurfy) Mutation Dominantly Inhibits Submandibular Gland Development and Inflammation Respectively through Adaptive and Innate Immune Mechanisms1

Scurfy (Foxp3Sf/Y), Il2−/−, and Il2rα−/− mice are deficient in CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Treg), but only the latter two develop inflammation in the submandibular gland (SMG), a critical target of Sjögren’s syndrome. In this study, we investigated the reason that SMG of Scurfy (Sf), Sf.Il2−/−, Sf.Il2rα−/−, and the long-lived Sf.Faslpr/lpr mice remained free of inflammation, even though their lymph node cells induced SMG inflammation in Rag1−/− recipients. A strong correlation was observed between the development of the granular convoluted tubules (GCT) of the SMG in these mice and SMG resistance to inflammation. Moreover, GCT development in Sf.Rag1−/− mice was not impeded, indicating a role of adaptive immunity. In the Sf.Faslpr/lpr mice, this block was linked to atrophy and inflammation in the accessory reproductive organs. Testosterone treatment restored GCT expression, but did not induce SMG inflammation, indicating GCT is not required for inflammation and additional mechanisms were controlling SMG inflammation. Conversely, oral application of LPS induced SMG inflammation, but not GCT expression. LPS treatment induced up-regulation of several chemokines in SMG with little effect on the chemokine receptors on CD4+ T cells in Sf mice. Our study demonstrates that Sf mutation affects SMG development through adaptive immunity against accessory reproductive organs, and the manifestation of SMG inflammation in Sf mice is critically controlled through innate immunity.
Strategies to control Salmonella and Campylobacter in raw poultry products.

Foodborne illness is a major public health concern. The largest number of foodborne illness cases attributed to poultry and poultry products are caused by paratyphoid serotypes of Salmonella and by Campylobacter jejuni. The effective prevention of foodborne disease requires an understanding that contamination can be introduced into foods at numerous points along the food chain. Since multiple entry points exist for foodborne pathogens, multifaceted intervention approaches are required to successfully control contamination of poultry during the various phases of the growth period and processing procedure of broiler chickens. Strategies during the grow-out period (the period during which day-old chicks are raised to six- to seven-week-old broiler chickens) include sanitation, biosecurity, vaccine and drug therapy, and biological control procedures, such as those aimed at preventing colonisation. There are also many critical control points identified in the processing plant which reduce contamination. These include temperature controls (washer and product), chemical interventions, water replacements and counter-flow technology in the scalder and chiller, and equipment maintenance. Transportation and food handling at retail outlets and by the consumer (i.e., storage at the proper temperature and adequate cooking) are the final critical control points in the farm-to-table continuum. It is important to apply risk reduction strategies throughout the food chain. These include: easing the development and implementation of voluntary animal production 'best management practices', implementing in-plant hazard analysis and critical control point systems, developing effective transportation and refrigeration standards, working to facilitate adoption of the model Food Code in all States and providing educational materials and support for public health activities nationwide.
Maternal Ophthalmic Artery Doppler Indices in Type 1 Diabetes during Pregnancy

This Study aimed to assess the Doppler indices for ophthalmic artery in type 1diabetic pregnant ladies. Inclusion criteria were 15diabetic pregnant ladies, their ages were (30-39), 14 healthy pregnant non diabetic ladies aged (30-37), and 15 healthy non pregnant non diabetic subjects aged (30-41) were selected as control group. Pregnant ladies with eye disease or pregnancy abnormality or preeclampsia were excluded. Ultrasound examination for both eyes were obtained using 7.5MHZ high resolution ultrasound machine. Readings of Ophthalmic artery Doppler indices (resistive index (RI), pulsatility index (PI)) for type 1 diabetes ladies were found to be greater when compared with the control group values and Mean Velocity (MV) was of lower values. The mean values ± SD were as follows: for right eye: resistive index, 1.3 ± 0.2 ( P < .005 Control0.8 ± 0.1); pulsatility index, (3.6 ± 0.4 ( P < .005Control1.6 ± 0.4); Mean Velocity (MV) 5.2 ± 1.1( P < .005 Control 8.4 ± 3.2). For left eye resistive index, 1.4 ± 0.2 ( P < .005 Control 0.7 ± 0.1); pulsatility index, 3.3 ± 0.5 ( P < .005Control 1.6 ± 0.3); Mean Velocity (MV) 5.7 ± 0.8 ( P < .005 Control 8.5 ± 3.2). The correlations between the variables and gestational age in the two pregnant groups were studied and were compared with the control group and maternal treatment. The study revealed that the Doppler indices for right and left eyes differed significantly within the three trimesters for pregnant diabetic and pregnant non diabetic ladies and when compared with the control group at p-value ˂0.05. No significant difference was detected between the Doppler indices and the treatment taken as Diet Control, or insulin for type 1 diabetic pregnant ladies. Color Doppler Ultrasonography is useful for assessing blood flow. Ophthalmic arteries Doppler Indices were affected significantly in pregnant ladies with or without type 1diabetes.
An investigation into food provision and consumption in an orthopaedic rehabilitation hospital in Scotland, UK

BAPEN report the ‘risk of’ malnutrition in individuals admitted to hospitals to be 28%, with this rising to 40% in medicine for the elderly. Food and fluid provision have a central role to play in the management of malnutrition within institutions. Nutrient and foodbased guidance for food provision in hospitals in Scotland has been published to assist health boards meet NHS QIS clinical standards for nutritional care. The aim of this study was to evaluate food provision and consumption in an elderly orthopaedic rehabilitation setting to determine the role different eating occasions play in energy and nutrient intakes in this setting. Weighed plate-wastage method was used to assess food provision and consumption for patients in three orthopaedic rehabilitation wards in a hospital in Scotland. A plated-food service system was in operation and three main meals and three snacks were provided daily with midday and evening meals consisting of two courses each. All foods provided over a 24 hr period were weighed prior to being served and any left-over items were weighed after the patient had finished eating. Snack consumption was observed and recorded. Total food intakes were used to estimate energy and nutrient intakes using WinDiets dietary analysis software and these were compared against standards for food provision in hospitals in Scotland using one-sample t-test. Consumption figures were also determined for each eating occasion as a proportion of food provided. Food provision and consumption were assessed for 58 patients (>65 years; 12 m: 46f). Results show all patients were provided with adequate protein to meet the standards for nutrient provision. For energy, males were provided with adequate energy (mean = 2260 164 kcal, NS) but this was not the case for females (mean = 1630 60 kcal p<0.001).