Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pentoxifylline prevents nonalcoholic steatohepatitis-related liver pre-neoplasms by inhibiting hepatic inflammation and lipogenesis

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has gained attention as a hepatic manifestation associated with metabolic syndrome and one of the causes for chronic liver damage leading to hepatocellular carcinoma. Although no standard medicinal treatment for NASH has been established, pentoxifylline (PTX), a medicine used to improve circulation, has recently been reported to ameliorate the histopathological appearance of NASH. In the present study, we investigated the effects of PTX on the development of NASH and diethylnitrosamine-induced liver tumorigenesis in C57BLKS/J- +Leprdb/+Leprdb obese and diabetic mice, which are considered a rodent model for NASH-related hepatocarcinogenesis. Mice were administered diethylnitrosamine, and then they received water with or without PTX. At the time of sacrifice, the development of hepatic pre-neoplastic lesions was significantly suppressed in the PTX groups. Hepatic triglyceride contents were decreased by PTX administration. The serum levels of triglyceride, free fatty acid, and alanine aminotransferase were all decreased by PTX treatment, as was the mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines, macrophage-inducing chemokines, and several lipogenic genes in the liver. In-vitro studies also showed that PTX treatment decreased the expression of several lipogenic genes and chemokines in cell lines. These findings suggest that PTX prevents NASH-related liver tumorigenesis by attenuating chronic hepatic inflammation and decreasing lipogenic gene expression in the liver.
Interpreting the 13C-Urea Breath Test among a Large Population of Young Children from a Developing Country

The 13C-urea breath test is a noninvasive tool for the diagnosis of gastric Helicobacter pylori infection. However, it has not been validated in young children from the developing world, where infection is very common. 13C urea breath tests were performed on 1532 occasions on 247 Gambian infants and children aged from 3 to 48 mo. The means and variances of the separate sub-populations of 13C enrichment results contained within the overall dataset were estimated by a Genstat procedure using the EM algorithm, thereby identifying a cut-off value to discriminate positive from negative results. To illustrate the appropriateness of this calculated cut-off value, 13C urea breath tests were performed upon a small group of 14 patients aged 6 to 28 mo undergoing diagnostic upper endoscopy. Fixed gastric antral biopsies were examined to identify H. pylori. Two sub-populations were identified within the large dataset. A cut-off value of 5.47 δ‰ relative to Pee Dee Belemnite limestone above baseline at 30 min identified 95% of the normally distributed negative sub-population and 99.4% of the log normal distributed positive sub-population. Comparison with endoscopic data confirmed that this cut-off value was appropriate for this population, as 7/7 children without H. pylori on their gastric biopsies had negative urea breath tests, and 6/7 children with gastric H. pylori colonization had positive urea breath tests. These findings confirm the value of the urea breath test as a diagnostic tool in young children from developing countries. They also offer a way to calculate the most appropriate cut-off value for use in different populations and the likelihood that it will correctly assign any value into the appropriate sub-population, without the need for endoscopy.
Inhibitory effect of chromogenic culture media on the growth of Rhodotorula: relevance to the diagnosis of Rhodotorula spp. infections

With the increasing incidence and diverse etiologies of fungal infections, chromogenic yeast culture media are increasingly used for routine diagnosis. Rhodotorula species, which are characterized by the production of carotenoid pigments, are considered as emerging opportunistic pathogens. We recently diagnosed two fungemia due to Rhodotorula spp. and noticed that in both cases, the yeast failed to grow in subculture on the chromogenic yeast culture medium. This study was thus undertaken to investigate more thoroughly the ability (or inability) of Rhodotorula species to grow on different commercially available chromogenic media for yeast. Eighteen Rhodotorula spp. were checked for their ability to grow on four chromogenic yeast culture media: CHROMagar Candida (BD), Candi 4 Select (Biorad), Brilliance Candida (Oxoid), and Candida ID 2 (BioMerieux). All the Rhodotorula spp. strains grew on Brilliance and Candida ID 2, while only six isolates grew on Candi 4, and seven on CHROMagar. Two chromogenic yeast culture media showed a significant inhibitory effect on the growth of Rhodotorula species. As all Rhodotorula species are resistant to echinocandins and fluconazole, it is essential to isolate and identify these yeast quickly to initiate appropriate amphotericin B antifungal treatment as early as possible. The choice of media for routine use should take into account the ability of different media to allow all emerging fungal pathogens to grow.
Video analysis of gross body movements during sleep

Abstract Gross body movements (GM) during sleep, classified into four GM types by the involved parts of body, were evaluated using two‐dimensional video analysis in five normal children aged 4–12 years. The rate of occurrence of all GM types showed apparent sleep stage dependency. Among four GM types, GM‐1 (GM with axial rotation) was the most frequent. Averaged duration of GM‐1 was the longest. A total of 77.2% of GM‐1 started with the contraction of chin muscle and 35% of total sleep changes (tSC) were related to GM. A total of 5.6% of tSC following GM shifted to the deeper stage. Further evaluation is necessary in order to understand the physiological mechanism of GM.
Cervical screening uptake and its predictors among rural women in Malaysia.

INTRODUCTION Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer among Malaysian women. However, the uptake of cervical cancer screening--Pap smear--by women in Malaysia has been low and remains a challenge. This study was conducted to assess the cervical screening practices of rural women in Malaysia and to examine the factors associated with such practices. METHODS A cross-sectional survey was conducted in five rural districts in Perak, Malaysia. 1,000 households were selected through multistage random sampling. Women aged 20-64 years were interviewed by trained enumerators using structured questionnaires. Binomial logistic regression was used to identify predictors of cervical screening through univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS Among the 959 respondents, only 48.9% had undergone Pap smear at least once in the past three years. Women in the age group 40-49 years (odds ratio 3.027, 95% confidence interval 1.546-5.925; p < 0.005) were found to be significantly more likely to attend cervical cancer screening as compared to those in the age group 20-29 years. Other significant predictors were being married with children, having knowledge of cervical cancer symptoms, receiving relevant information regarding cervical cancer from health personnel or campaigns, being engaged in family planning and receiving encouragement from husbands. CONCLUSION Efforts to boost the uptake of Pap smear screening among the rural population should be targeted toward the predictors of positive uptake.
Advances in the regulation of liver regeneration

Liver regeneration is known to be a process involving highly organized and ordered tissue growth triggered by the loss of liver tissue, and remains a fascinating topic. A large number of genes are involved in this process, and there exists a sequence of stages that results in liver regeneration, while at the same time inhibitors control the size of the regenerated liver. The initiation step is characterized by priming of quiescent hepatocytes by factors such as TNF-α, IL-6 and nitric oxide. The proliferation step is the step during which hepatocytes enter into the cell cycle’s G1 phase and are stimulated by complete mitogens including HGF, TGF-α and EGF. Hepatic stimulator substance, glucagon, insulin, TNF-α, IL-1 and IL-6 have also been implicated in regulating the regeneration process. Inhibitors and stop signals of hepatic regeneration are not well known and only limited information is available. Furthermore, the effects of other factors such as VEGF, PDGF, hypothyroidism, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, heat shock proteins, ischemic–reperfusion injury, steatosis and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor on liver regeneration are also systematically reviewed in this article. A tissue engineering approach using isolated hepatocytes for in vitro tissue generation and heterotopic transplantation of liver cells has been established. The use of stem cells might also be very attractive to overcome the limitation of donor liver tissue. Liver-specific differentiation of embryonic, fetal or adult stem cells is currently under investigation.
A North American multilaboratory study of CD4 counts using flow cytometric panleukogating (PLG): A NIAID‐DAIDS Immunology Quality Assessment Program Study

The global HIV/AIDS pandemic and guidelines for initiating anti‐retroviral therapy (ART) and opportunistic infection prophylaxis demand affordable, reliable, and accurate CD4 testing. A simple innovative approach applicable to existing technology that has been successfully applied in resource‐challenged settings, PanLeukogated CD4 (PLG), could offer solutions for cost saving and improved precision.
Intervention based on monthly monitoring decreases hemodialysis access thrombosis.

We randomized 103 patients (68 arteriovenous [AV] fistulas, 35 polytetrafluoroethylene [PTFE] grafts; mean follow-up 197 days) to monthly measurement of access flow (QAT), monthly measurement of static venous pressure (VPS), or no monthly monitoring (control patients) to determine whether access thrombosis would decrease. Patients with access flow <750 cc/min or with static venous pressure > or =0.5 were referred for angiography and angioplasty of stenotic lesions > or =50%. Six of sixty-two (9.7%) of monthly monitored patients (MM) developed access thrombosis vs. 9 of 41 (22%) of control patients (p<0.05). Fewer MM patients developed thrombosis in AV fistulas (2.4% [2 of 42] vs. 15.4% [4 of 26] control patients; p<0.05). Monthly monitored patients had fewer thrombotic episodes than control patients (19 vs. 125 per 100 patient-years; p<0.01). Thrombosis rates were lowest in patients receiving monthly access flow measurement (5.9 [QAT] vs. 30.3 per 100 patient-years [VPS]; p<0.05). In conclusion, intervention based on monthly access flow measurement or static venous pressure decreased hemodialysis access thrombosis. Measurement of access flow tended to result in lower thrombosis rates than after static venous pressure. We believe that monthly access flow measurement will ensure the lowest incidence of thrombosis and decrease the cost of access maintenance.
Size effects on insect hovering aerodynamics: an integrated computational study

Hovering is a miracle of insects that is observed for all sizes of flying insects. Sizing effect in insect hovering on flapping-wing aerodynamics is of interest to both the micro-air-vehicle (MAV) community and also of importance to comparative morphologists. In this study, we present an integrated computational study of such size effects on insect hovering aerodynamics, which is performed using a biology-inspired dynamic flight simulator that integrates the modelling of realistic wing–body morphology, the modelling of flapping-wing and body kinematics and an in-house Navier–Stokes solver. Results of four typical insect hovering flights including a hawkmoth, a honeybee, a fruit fly and a thrips, over a wide range of Reynolds numbers from O(104) to O(101) are presented, which demonstrate the feasibility of the present integrated computational methods in quantitatively modelling and evaluating the unsteady aerodynamics in insect flapping flight. Our results based on realistically modelling of insect hovering therefore offer an integrated understanding of the near-field vortex dynamics, the far-field wake and downwash structures, and their correlation with the force production in terms of sizing and Reynolds number as well as wing kinematics. Our results not only give an integrated interpretation on the similarity and discrepancy of the near- and far-field vortex structures in insect hovering but also demonstrate that our methods can be an effective tool in the MAVs design.
Development and Validation of a Framework for Assessing the Performance and Trust in e-Government Services

Technological intensification has expended the involvement of information and communication technology in public sectors which facilitate governments across the globe to offer a range of services to their citizens. Enhanced governmental dependence on information systems constrains the management attention towards improving the information systems’ services and the quality. One necessary element of offering quality online services is to understand citizens’ perceptions towards using such services in contrast with the conventional service methods that they are accustomed to. Therefore, periodical performance assessment of offered egovernment services becomes an essential and critical for egovernment. In this paper, the authors attempt to investigate the underlying factors and various dimensions of egovernment services, and propose a performance assessment framework that will assess the quality and trust dimensions of the e-services from citizens’ perspective. A systematic study of the existing performance assessment models has been carried out in establishing the basis for conceptualizing a framework called e-government service performance and trust assessment framework (E-GSPTA). The proposed framework is designed and validated by using Indian e-tax service.
A modular representation of asynchronous, geometric solvers

The representation of complex systems requires the ability to combine several types of models. The simultaneous use of different formalisms to describe distinct aspects of the same system enables the most adequate representation of each sub-model. Although a large number of numerical methods and modeling formalisms have been developed, a common language that enables these algorithms and formalisms to inter-operate is still a major research challenge. In previous work we have developed a representation for several families of models using the Heterogeneous Flow Systems Specification (HFSS). In this paper we extend this set of models by providing a description of geometric ODE solvers in HFSS. Geometric solvers play an essential role for simulation 2nd order energy preserving systems, offering an alternative to the decomposition of systems into 1st order Ordinary Differential Equations (ODEs). This latter approach, although commonly used in nowadays M&S software, is not acceptable when long simulation runs are required. We show that the HFSS representation enables the interoperability of geometrical solvers with other families of models enhancing the ability to represent complex systems.
Regulatory Th2 response induced following adoptive transfer of dendritic cells in prediabetic NOD mice

We previously demonstrated that immunotherapy with dendritic cells (DC) prevented diabetes development in prediabetic NOD mice and that this effect was optimal when using a stimulatory DC population generated from bone marrow cells cultured with granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (GM‐CSF) and IL‐4. In this study, we have investigated the mechanism by which GM‐CSF‐ and IL‐4‐cultured DC prevent diabetes in prediabetic NOD mice. Histological analysis of pancreatic tissue from DC‐treated mice revealed a reduction in the severity of insulitis compared to controls. Analysisof the T cell response in DC‐treated mice suggested a general shift towards a Th2‐dominated response, as determined by cytokine production following either concanavalin A or anti‐TCR stimulation. Furthermore, sorted CD45RBlo CD25+ CD4+ T cells from the spleen of DC‐treated mice produced high amounts of Th2 cytokines following anti‐TCR stimulation, suggesting that these cells are responsible for the apparent Th2 shift. We conclude that DC therapy may have corrected the immunoregulatory defect in the NOD mouse, thus restoring a balance between pathogenic Th1 cells and protective Th2 cells.
The Relationship between Occupational Stress, Burnout, and Turnover Intention among Managerial Staff from a Sino‐Japanese Joint Venture in Guangzhou, China

The Relationship between Occupational Stress, Burnout, and Turnover Intention among Managerial Staff from a Sino‐Japanese Joint Venture in Guangzhou, China: Qiu‐Hong LIN, et al. Guangzhou Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment Centre, Guangzhou NO. 12 Hospital, P.R. China—
Less is more when simulating unsulfated glycosaminoglycan 3D‐structure: Comparison of GLYCAM06/TIP3P, PM3‐CARB1/TIP3P, and SCC‐DFTB‐D/TIP3P predictions with experiment

The 3D‐structure of extracellular matrix glycosaminoglycans is central to function, but is currently poorly understood. Resolving this will provide insight into their heterogeneous biological roles and help to realize their significant therapeutic potential. Glycosaminoglycan chemical isoforms are too numerous to study experimentally and simulation provides a tractable alternative. However, best practice for accurate calculation of glycosaminoglycan 3D‐structure within biologically relevant nanosecond timescales is uncertain. Here, we evaluate the ability of three potentials to reproduce experimentally observed glycosaminoglycan monosaccharide puckering, disaccharide 3D‐conformation, and characteristic solvent interactions. Temporal dynamics of unsulfated chondroitin, chondroitin‐4‐sulfate, and hyaluronan β(1→3) disaccharides were simulated within TIP3P explicit solvent unrestrained for 20 ns using the GLYCAM06 force‐field and two semi‐empirical quantum mechanics methods, PM3‐CARB1 and SCC‐DFTB‐D (both within a hybrid QM/MM formalism). Comparison of calculated and experimental properties (vicinal couplings, nuclear Overhauser enhancements, and glycosidic linkage geometries) showed that the carbohydrate‐specific parameterization of PM3‐CARB1 imparted quantifiable benefits on monosaccharide puckering and that the SCC‐DFTB‐D method (including an empirical correction for dispersion) best modeled the effects of hexosamine 4‐sulfation. However, paradoxically, the most approximate approach (GLYCAM06/TIP3P) was the best at predicting monosaccharide puckering, 3D‐conformation, and solvent interactions. Our data contribute to the debate and emerging consensus on the relative performance of these levels of theory for biological molecules. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2010
Relationships between cell cycle pathway gene polymorphisms and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma.

AIM To investigate the associiations between the polymorphisms of cell cycle pathway genes and the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS We enrolled 1127 cases newly diagnosed with HCC from the Tumor Hospital of Guangxi Medical University and 1200 non-tumor patients from the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University. General demographic characteristics, behavioral information, and hematological indices were collected by unified questionnaires. Genomic DNA was isolated from peripheral venous blood using Phenol-Chloroform. The genotyping was performed using the Sequenom MassARRAY iPLEX genotyping method. The association between genetic polymorphisms and risk of HCC was shown by P-value and the odd ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) using the unconditional logistic regression after adjusting for age, sex, nationality, smoking, drinking, family history of HCC, and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Moreover, stratified analysis was conducted on the basis of the status of HBV infection, smoking, and alcohol drinking. RESULTS The HCC risk was lower in patients with the MCM4 rs2305952 CC (OR = 0.22, 95%CI: 0.08-0.63, P = 0.01) and with the CHEK1 rs515255 TC, TT, TC/TT (OR = 0.73, 95%CI: 0.56-0.96, P = 0.02; OR = 0.67, 95%CI: 0.46-0.97, P = 0.04; OR = 0.72, 95%CI: 0.56-0.92, P = 0.01, respectively). Conversely, the HCC risk was higher in patients with the KAT2B rs17006625 GG (OR = 1.64, 95%CI: 1.01-2.64, P = 0.04). In addition, the risk was markedly lower for those who were carriers of MCM4 rs2305952 CC and were also HBsAg-positive and non-drinking and non-smoking (P < 0.05, respectively) and for those who were carriers of CHEK1 rs515255 TC, TT, TC/TT and were also HBsAg-negative and non-drinking (P < 0.05, respectively). Moreover, the risk was higher for those who were carriers of KAT2B rs17006625 GG and were also HBsAg-negative (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Of 12 cell cycle pathway genes, MCM4, CHEK1 and KAT2B polymorphisms may be associated with the risk of HCC.
Current-induced spin polarization in anisotropic spin-orbit fields.

The magnitude and direction of current-induced spin polarization and spin-orbit splitting are measured in In0.04Ga0. 96 As epilayers as a function of in-plane electric and magnetic fields. We show that, contrary to expectation, the magnitude of the current-induced spin polarization is smaller for crystal directions corresponding to larger spin-orbit fields. Furthermore, we find that the steady-state in-plane spin polarization does not align along the spin-orbit field, an effect due to anisotropy in the spin relaxation rate.
Assessment of Upgrading Strategies to Improve Regional Food Systems in Tanzania

Food security is one of the main goals of rural poor people. To enhance food security in this context, participatory action research can help to ensure sustained success while considering entire food value chains (FVC). This paper assesses the feasibility and potential success of upgrading strategies (UPS) as well as their assessment criteria as developed by German and Tanzanian agricultural scientists. The results form part of a larger participatory research project conducted in two climatically representative regions of Tanzania: semi-arid Dodoma and subhumid Morogoro. This paper presents the findings with respect to food processing, waste management and bioenergy, along with income generation and market participation. Assessments on other components of the FVC, including natural resource management, crop production and consumption, are reported by Graef et al (2015). The assessments for food processing revealed preferences for preservation techniques, oil extraction processes and food storage devices for the semi-arid region. In contrast, in the subhumid region, the experts favoured food storage devices and preservation techniques. Assessments of waste management and bioenergy UPS for both regions indicated the importance of animal feed from crop residues, crop residues as mulch and compost from food waste, although with somewhat different priorities. Assessments on income generation and markets in both regions revealed preferences for savings and credit cooperatives and communication techniques, but also indicated that warehouse receipt systems and guarantee systems had a high impact. Assessments differed between the two different climatic regions, and to some extent also between the nationality of experts and their gender. The authors therefore attach importance to integrating different South–North and female–male awareness in assessments among scientists. Moreover, local and/or regional stakeholders and experts should be involved in developing site-adapted UPS for enhancing FVCs.