Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interleukin-17: friend or foe in atherosclerosis?

Purpose of review To summarize the current knowledge on the origin and physiological function of T helper 17 (Th17) and discuss the contrasting results pertaining to the role of Th17 and interleukin-17 (IL-17) in atherosclerosis. Recent findings Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory arterial disease driven by both innate and adaptive immune responses to modified lipoproteins. Although initial studies have focused on the role of Th1 and Th2 responses in atherosclerosis, more recent findings identified atheroprotective roles for several subsets of regulatory T cells. Th17 represents a new T-cell lineage with important roles in the clearance of pathogenic bacteria and fungi. The increase of Th17 and IL-17 has been recently linked to the pathogenesis of several autoimmune diseases. However, its role in chronic inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis remains poorly understood. The few studies available on this topic have generated contrasting results, which could be attributed to different approaches used on various mouse models. Summary IL-17 seems to have a modulatory role in atherosclerosis. Future studies are needed to better determine the molecular mechanisms involved in this regulation and examine whether targeting IL-17 pathway will be useful to treat cardiovascular diseases.
ETHICAL COMMUNICATION ISSUE OF TRUSTWORTHINESS AND ITS IMPACT ON ORGANIZATIONAL EFFICIENCY OF THE NIGERIAN IMMIGRATION SERVICE, RIVERS STATE

This paper was an expository study of how communicational ethical issues such as trustworthiness impact organizational efficiency of immigrations service in Rivers State. The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between trustworthiness and organizational efficiency. Questionnaires were the major instruments used in gathering primary data and findings were analysed using regression and correlational analysis. The study found that trustworthiness as an ethical communication tool significantly relates to the efficiency of the Nigerian Immigration Service in Rivers State. Trustworthiness is communicated by the display of acts or behaviours which are considered worthy. The study concluded that communicational ethics whose values in this study were established as trustworthiness significantly relates to efficiency-factors of time saving and cost reduction. The Nigerian Immigration Service was found to lack the efficiency-driven values as revealed in this study and as such must be repositioned to reflect these essential values to enable it compete more favourably. The study recommended that in order for immigration services to maintain their ethics in River State, the Federal Government should overhaul the Immigration Service with a view to enthroning the culture and values of communication ethics; Officers who had maintained high ethical standards should be publicly commended and rewarded accordingly; also officers with sound ethical records and orientation should be appointed into the members of Ethics and Disciplinary unit of the Service and Ethics and Disciplinary unit of the Service should evolve a realistic method for checkmating unethical and sharp practices and behaviours among the officers. Keywords: Trustworthiness, Communication, Ethics, Efficiency, Immigration, Organizational CITATION: Bestman, A. E. , & Maamah, B. L. (2019). Ethical communication issue of trustworthiness and its impact on organizational efficiency of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Rivers State. The Strategic Journal of Business & Change Management, 6 (2), 995 –1005.
Differential receptive and expressive language functioning of children with symptomatic HIV disease and relation to CT scan brain abnormalities.

OBJECTIVES To investigate the effect of HIV disease on the receptive and expressive language of children and the relationship between CT scan brain abnormalities and language functioning. METHODS Thirty-six children (mean age, 5.5 years; range, 1 through 10 years; 75% vertical transmission; 58% classified as encephalopathic) with symptomatic HIV infection and 20 uninfected siblings (mean age, 7.8 years; range, 3 through 15 years) were administered an age-appropriate comprehensive language test assessing both receptive and expressive language (Reynell Developmental Language Scales or Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals--Revised). Each HIV-infected child had a CT scan of the brain as part of the baseline evaluation, which was rated independently and blindly by two neurologists, for presence and severity of brain abnormalities using a semiquantitative rating system. RESULTS Expressive language was significantly more impaired than receptive language in the overall sample of HIV-infected children. The encephalopathic children scored significantly lower than the non-encephalopathic children, however, the degree of discrepancy between mean receptive and expressive language scores was not significantly different between these two groups. The uninfected sibling control group did not have a significant discrepancy between receptive and expressive language, and they scored significantly higher than the infected patient group. Greater severity of CT scan abnormalities was significantly correlated with poorer receptive and expressive language functioning in the overall HIV-infected sample and a higher discrepancy between receptive and expressive language in the encephalopathic group. CONCLUSION Pediatric HIV disease is associated with differential receptive and expressive language functioning in which expressive language is significantly more impaired than receptive language. The sibling data and CT scan correlations suggest that the observed language impairments are associated with the direct effects of HIV-related central nervous system disease.
Primary and recurrent Crohn's disease. Experience with 1379 patients.

Between 1970 and 1988, 1379 patients with Crohn's disease were treated at the University of Chicago. Of these, 639 (mean age, 32.5 years; 322 men, 317 women) required at least one surgical procedure. The most common indications for operation were failure of medical treatment (n = 215, 33%), presence of a fistula (n = 154, 24%), and bowel obstruction (n = 141, 22%). A fistula was the most common intraoperative Crohn's-related complication. In 582 patients (92%), a resection was necessary, with primary anastomosis in 416 (65%), a temporary stoma in 124 (20%), and a permanent stoma in 42 (7%). The remaining 57 patients underwent diverse procedures (stricturoplasty, bypass, and so on). Two patients (0.3%) died. Follow-up data was obtained in 95%. One hundred eighteen patients developed recurrence requiring reoperation. The recurrence rate was 20% at 5 years and 34% at 10 years. The recurrence involved a permanent stoma or a previous anastomosis in 62 patients (afferent limb in 46, efferent in 16). In the 391 patients without previous surgery for Crohn's disease, a covariate analysis was performed to determine those variables significantly associated with recurrence. Variables included demographic data, findings at operation, surgical procedures, and histopathologic characteristics. The analysis revealed that the number of sites involved was the only variable that was significantly associated with the intra-abdominal recurrence rate (p less than 0.001). The annualized risk of recurrence was 1.6% for patients with single-site involvement and 4% for those with multiple-site involvement. Perineal disease was associated with a significantly higher risk of local recurrence than any other site (p less than 0.02). A subanalysis of 236 patients with single-site involvement but no previous operation allowed us to study the influence of site on indications for surgery and type of operative procedure. Failure of medical treatment was the most common indication for all sites. In contrast the site involved influenced the procedure: resection and primary anastomosis was feasible in 88% of jejunoileal and terminal ileal cases and a temporary ileostomy was necessary in only 12%. No patients with small bowel localization required a permanent stoma. A resection with primary anastomosis was feasible in only 32% of patients with colonic disease. The remaining two thirds of patients required either a temporary or a permanent stoma. It is concluded that multisite involvement is associated with 2.5 times the rate of recurrence of single-site disease, while the presence of perineal disease has a significantly higher incidence of local recurrence. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Automatic Atlas Based Electron Density and Structure Contouring for MRI-based Prostate Radiation Therapy on the Cloud

Our group have been developing methods for MRI-alone prostate cancer radiation therapy treatment planning. To assist with clinical validation of the workflow we are investigating a cloud platform solution for research purposes. Benefits of cloud computing can include increased scalability, performance and extensibility while reducing total cost of ownership. In this paper we demonstrate the generation of DICOM-RT directories containing an automatic average atlas based electron density image and fast pelvic organ contouring from whole pelvis MR scans.
Discovery of an eclipsing dwarf nova in the ancient nova shell Te 11

We report on the discovery of an eclipsing dwarf nova (DN) inside the peculiar, bilobed nebula Te 11. Modelling of high-speed photometry of the eclipse finds the accreting white dwarf to have a mass 1.18 M⊙ and temperature 13 kK. The donor spectral type of M2.5 results in a distance of 330 pc, colocated with Barnard's loop at the edge of the Orion-Eridanus superbubble. The perplexing morphology and observed bow shock of the slowly expanding nebula may be explained by strong interactions with the dense interstellar medium in this region. We match the DN to the historic nova of 483 CE in Orion and postulate that the nebula is the remnant of this eruption. This connection supports the millennia time-scale of the post-nova transition from high to low mass-transfer rates. Te 11 constitutes an important benchmark system for CV and nova studies as the only eclipsing binary out of just three DNe with nova shells.
Poly(I.C)-induced interferons enhance susceptibility of SCID mice to systemic candidiasis

In the absence of any demonstrable T- or B-cell responses, gnotobiotic CB-17 SCID (severe combined immunodeficient) mice not only show innate resistance to acute systemic (intravenous challenge) candidiasis but also manifest innate resistance to systemic candidiasis of endogenous (gastrointestinal tract) origin. Poly(I. C), a potent inducer of interferons (IFNs) in vivo, enhanced the susceptibility of CB-17 SCID mice to acute systemic candidiasis and to systemic candidiasis of endogenous origin, as demonstrated by increased numbers of viable Candida albicans in internal organs after poly(I. C) treatment. The poly(I. C)-enhanced susceptibility of mice to candidiasis was abrogated by in vivo treatment with antibodies to IFN-alpha, -beta, and -gamma. In vivo depletion of natural killer cells from SCID mice did not significantly enhance their susceptibility to systemic candidiasis or abrogate poly(I. C)-enhanced susceptibility. In vivo and in vitro, treatment with poly(I. C) impaired the candidacidal and phagocytic activity of thioglycollate-elicited macrophages from SCID mice. Antibody to IFN-alpha/beta or IFN-beta alone interfered with the ability of poly(I. C) to impair the candidacidal activity of macrophages from SCID mice in vitro. These data suggest that poly(I. C)-induced interferons can impair the candidacidal activity of macrophages in SCID mice and decrease their innate resistance to acute systemic candidiasis and to systemic candidiasis of endogenous origin.
S-Nitrosylation of Cardiac Ion Channels

Nitric oxide (NO) exerts ubiquitous signaling via posttranslational modification of cysteine residues, a reaction termed S-nitrosylation. Important substrates of S-nitrosylation that influence cardiac function include receptors, enzymes, ion channels, transcription factors, and structural proteins. Cardiac ion channels subserving excitation-contraction coupling are potentially regulated by S-nitrosylation. Specificity is achieved in part by spatial colocalization of ion channels with nitric oxide synthases (NOSs), enzymatic sources of NO in biologic systems, and by coupling of NOS activity to localized calcium/second messenger concentrations. Ion channels regulate cardiac excitability and contractility in millisecond timescales, raising the possibility that NO-related species modulate heart function on a beat-to-beat basis. This review focuses on recent advances in understanding of NO regulation of the cardiac action potential and of the calcium release channel ryanodine receptor, which is crucial for the generation of force. S-Nitrosylation signaling is disrupted in pathological states in which the redox state of the cell is dysregulated, including ischemia, heart failure, and atrial fibrillationS.
Factors influencing consumers behavioral intention towards climate-friendly food consumption in Southern Germany

By altering personal diets individuals can avoid serious amounts of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Additionally, several studies documented that individuals have a positive intention to make climate-friendly food choices. Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze the factors which influence consumers behavioral intentions towards climate-friendly food consumption. The analysis is based on data from a face-to-face in-shop survey in southern Germany and is especially interested in the consumption of fruit and vegetables, since substituting animal products with fruit and vegetables can save high amounts of GHG emissions. Using an extended model of the Theory of Reasoned Action and structural equation modelling to analyze the data the survey was able to prove a large positive effect of Climate Attitudes and a medium positive effect of Subjective Norms on consumers behavioral intention towards climate-friendly food consumption. However, the assumed direct effect of Perceived Behavioral Competency on this issue could not be shown. On the basis of the results strategies to enhance climate-friendly food consumption are suggested. Acknowledgement : This work was supported by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (contract code: 17004X11). The authors acknowledge this financial support but are solely responsible for the content of this manuscript.
Merger and acquisition activities in the hospitality industry

Merger and Acquisition Activities in the Hospitality Industry by Hyun Kyung Chatfield Dr. M ichael Dalbor, Examination Committee Chair Professor o f Tourism and Convention Administration University o f Nevada, Las Vegas This study provides a comprehensive study o f hospitality mergers and acquisitions (M&As) for the period between 1985 and 2004. The cumulative abnormal returns (CARs) for hospitality target and acquiring firms around the announcement o f M&As are analyzed. The focus is on the returns o f target and acquiring firms, as well as returns by three different hospitality industry segments (hotel, restaurant and gaming), by nature o f acquisition, and by method o f payment. In addition, it examines the influence o f REIT and public status on the CARs o f M&A participants. The overall findings are mixed. Some results are consistent w ith previous studies. For instance, hospitality targets enjoy significantly positive returns. The target returns from both tender offers and mergers are significantly positive. This study finds hospitality bidder returns are slightly positive and significant. This is consistent w ith the synergy motive for M&As. Also bidder returns to cash offers are higher than those o f stock offers supporting information asymmetry and signaling theories.
Recommendations for standardization of measurements from M-mode echocardiograms.

Measurement sites and their landmarks on the M-mode echocardiogram have not been clearly standardized. AS a result, significant interobserver and even intralaboratory variation in measurement techniques and results exists The extent of these variation has recently been studied by the American Society of Echocardiography, who have made recommendations regarding quantification in M-mode echocardiography[1]. These recommendations were based on measurement techniques that gave most reproducible results when used by a group echocardiographers. It was also assumed that complete standardization was possible, and that for a single measurement, recommendations could be made that were valid in all circumstances. The Working Group in Echocardiography of the European Society of Cardiology has adopted a slightly more flexible approach to this problem, and the following criteria are recommended for standardization and quality control of M-mode echocardiograms.
Comparing the Productive Effects of Cash and Food Transfers in a Crisis Setting

The productive impacts of transfer programmes have received increased attention. However, little is known about such effects in emergency and crisis settings. Even less is known about whether transfer type – a food basket or a cash grant – influences the productive potential of such transfers. Theory suggests that, while cash transfers can relieve liquidity constraints associated with investments, subsidized food provision, by acting as a form of insurance, may prevent households from retreating to conservative income-generating strategies during volatile periods. Using a randomized field experiment in Yemen, we contrast the effects of transfer modality. The results demonstrate a modest productive impact of both modalities and suggest a role for both liquidity and price risk channels. Cash transfer recipients invested relatively more in activities with higher liquidity requirements (livestock), while food recipients incorporated higher-return crops into their agricultural portfolios.
THE DETERMINANTS AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF ADOPTING ACCOUNTING STANDARDS IN ISLAMIC BANKS: A CROSS COUNTRY STUDY

This study investigates the determinants of adopting accounting standards (AAOIFI, IFRS or local standards) in thirty different countries with an Islamic banking industry. This study also examines the link between corporate governance disclosure, corporate social responsibility disclosure, and the adoption of accounting standards in the Islamic banking industry (IBI) as consequences for the adoption process. To the best of my knowledge, this is the only study that empirically investigates this topic. Environmental determinism theory is used as a framework to develop and test for explanations of the accounting standards used in countries where Islamic banks operate. Using multinomial logistic analysis to investigate the determinants of adopting any of the accounting standards sets (AAOIFI, IFRS, LOCAL), I find that both internal environmental factors, such as the level of education and the sophistication of the financial press, as well as enforcement factors, such as the existence of a centralised Sharia committee, are likely to have an impact on the accounting standards adopted by the Islamic banking industry. In regard to the second objective of examining the link between corporate governance disclosure, corporate social responsibility disclosure, and the adoption of accounting standards in the Islamic banking industry (IBI), multivariate regression was used to analyse the data. The results present that: there is an association between corporate governance disclosure and social responsibility disclosure with the accounting standard adopted in the country. The analysis also presents that both types of disclosure within the IBI is associated with the other non-accounting institutions in the country as openness to economy, political stability, and enforcement mechanisms such as a centralised Sharia committee in the country. This result implies that the specific accounting standards adopted by the Islamic banking industry are subject to the internal environment of, and the enforcement mechanisms imposed by, the country. This result further suggests that accounting institutions such as accounting standards adoption and non-accounting institutions are associated with disclosure practices in
A comparison of the glutamate release inhibition and anti‐allodynic effects of gabapentin, lamotrigine, and riluzole in a model of neuropathic pain

The effects of treatment with the anti‐convulsant agents, lamotrigine and riluzole were compared with gabapentin in a rat experimental model of neuropathic pain. Rats were treated intraperitoneally, with gabapentin (30, 100 and 300 mg/kg), lamotrigine (2, 10 and 50 mg/kg) or riluzole (6 and 12 mg/kg) prior to, and every 12 h for 4 days following chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve. Mechanical and cold sensitivity were assessed prior to surgery (baseline) and then at 4, 8 and 12 days following CCI. The four‐day treatment with each of the agents was effective at producing reductions in the development of mechanical and cold hypersensitivity for periods ranging from the fourth to 12th day. The highest doses of each of the agents were also assessed on formalin‐induced nociceptive behaviors and on formalin‐induced increases in extracellular glutamate (Glu) and aspartate (Asp) in the spinal cord dorsal horn (SCDH) of awake behaving rats using in vivo microdialysis. Nociceptive scores in formalin test were significantly decreased by gabapentin (300 mg/kg i.p.) and riluzole (12 mg/kg i.p.), but not by lamotrigine (50 mg/kg i.p.). Formalin‐induced increases in glutamate levels in SCDH were lowered significantly, as compared with the controls, with all drugs both in the first phase and second phases, with the greatest effects for riluzole and gabapentin. Similar suppressive effects of the drugs were observed on formalin‐induced increases in spinal aspartate, except that gabapentin and lamotrigine produced effects only during the second phase. Riluzole produced profound and prolonged reductions in the spinal levels of glutamate and aspartate both for basal and formalin‐stimulated release. In conclusion, the results suggest that the anti‐convulsant agents gabapentin, lamotrigine and riluzole may reduce the development of hyperalgesia in a rat model of neuropathic pain by reducing the spinal release of glutamate. Riluzole’s pronounced suppressive effects on spinal EAA levels is attributed to its established role as a glutamate release inhibitor and an enhancer of glutamate transporter activity.
Migration as a driver of changing household structures: implications for local livelihoods and adaptation

ABSTRACT Rapid environmental change, increasing climate variability, land fragmentation, and underlying institutional lacunae have shaped rural livelihoods in India. Increasingly, rural-urban migration has been a significant livelihood strategy to manage risks, meet aspirations, and move out of increasingly unprofitable agriculture. I argue that this movement of people is changing shape household structures, and the metrics to assess these transitions, often through categories of male- and female-headed households, fall short in understanding the experiences and outcomes of migration. Using a household survey (n = 825) and life history interviews (n = 16) to study rural-urban migration in South India, I demonstrate that shifting household configurations due to migration and commuting have implications for the risk management strategies people undertake. This calls for an expanded understanding of the ‘household’, which captures the realities of multi-local households, and consequently, for an expanded conceptualisation of ‘local adaptation’. Such an understanding is sensitive to the ‘beyond-local’ flows and networks that shape household risk management behaviour and has implications for improving the effectiveness of climate change adaptation interventions.