Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Atherosclerosis in Rheumatology: Old and New Insights

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in general population worldwide. There is an increasing significance of cardiovascular risk in the field of rheumatology, and accordingly, the evidence on the relation between immune system disorders and atherosclerosis has been substantially growing especially in last decades. Since novel immune and metabolic factors are considered to participate in pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and increased cardiovascular risk in rheumatic patients, they are getting to the forefront of the research. Since novel therapeutic approaches have improved survival of rheumatic patients, and decreased morbidity caused by rheumatic disease activity and damage, the significance of other comorbidities leading to premature mortality has arisen. Nevertheless, appropriate recommendations for the management of cardiovascular risk are still lacking. Recently, European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) recommendations for management of the cardiovascular risk and comorbidities in patients with inflammatory arthropathies have been published. However, the cardiovascular management of these patients is still suboptimal. In addition, the situation in other orphan diseases such as idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, systemic sclerosis and others is even more uncertain and strongly requires further research. This chapter provides an overview of epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, screening and management of atherosclerosis in patients with rheumatic diseases.
How do firms actually combine personal and impersonal institutions to safeguard their contracts

A survey among managers offers new evidence on the relative importance of different contract- enforcement institutions and how they are combined for the governance of interfirm relationships. By model-based clustering, we identify three distinct governance strategies that rely on distinct combinations of institutions: (1) bilateral governance, relying mostly on morality and self-enforcement; (2) third- party governance, using a mix of courts, personal and corporate reputation and community norms; and (3) comprehensive governance, relying heavily on all in stitutions. Governance choice is largely an optimising response to transaction characteristics. This suggests that the real choices at the level of governance are not between personal and impersonal institutions but between (i) bilateral and third-party solutions, and (ii) the partial or comprehensive use of institutions.
Mechanical and comfort properties of hydroentangled nonwovens from comber noil

Cotton is one of the most important commodity fibres and is widely employed in apparels. At present, the share of natural fibres in production of nonwoven fabrics is low and are used in opt applications. The cotton fibre is conventionally converted into woven and knitted fabrics by short staple spinning methods. The comber noil is short fibre waste produced when cotton yarns are combed. The aims of the current study were to employ comber noil for the preparation of hydroentangled cotton nonwovens at varying water jet pressures and conveyor speeds. The effect of these parameters was studied with respect to mechanical and comfort properties of the prepared fabrics. The results showed that these variables can help to manufacture fibrous assemblies with engineered properties, according to required application area.
MODEL , STABLE ISOTOPE , AND RADIOTRACER CHARACTERIZATION OF ANAEROBIC METHANE OXIDATION IN GAS HYDRATE – BEARING SEDIMENTS OF THE BLAKE RIDGE

Anaerobic methane oxidation (AMO) was characterized in sediment cores from the Blake Ridge collected during Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Leg 164. Three independent lines of evidence support the occurrence and scale of AMO at Sites 994 and 995. First, concentration depth profiles of methane from Hole 995B exhibit a region of upward concavity suggestive of methane consumption. Diagenetic modeling of the concentration profile indicates a 1.85-m-thick zone of AMO centered at 21.22 mbsf, with a peak rate of 12.4 nM·d–1. Second, subsurface maxima in tracer-based sulfate reduction rates from Holes 994B and 995B were observed at depths that coincide with the model-predicted AMO zone. The subsurface zone of sulfate reduction was 2 m thick and had a depth integrated rate that compared favorably to that of AMO (1.3 vs. 1.1 nmol·cm–2·d–1, respectively). These features suggest close coupling of AMO and sulfate reduction in the Blake Ridge sediments. Third, measured δCH4 values are lightest at the point of peak model-predicted methane oxidation and become increasingly 13C-enriched with decreasing sediment depth, consistent with kinetic isotope fractionation during bacterially mediated methane oxidation. The isotopic data predict a somewhat (60 cm) shallower maximum depth of methane oxidation than do the model and sulfate reduction data.
NEDD9 promotes invasion and migration of colorectal cancer cell line HCT116 via JNK/EMT

Neural precursor cell-expressed, developmentally-downregulated 9 (NEDD9) is a multi-domain skeleton protein that serves an important role in the cell signaling process via modulating invasion, metastasis, proliferation and apoptosis of tumor cells. The present study identified that the expression levels of NEDD9 in colorectal cancer were elevated. Therefore, the effect of downregulating the expression of NEDD9 in terms of invasion and migration of colorectal cancer cells was investigated and the role of the JNK pathway in these processes was also investigated. The data revealed that downregulation of NEDD9 and JNK inhibitors suppressed invasion and migration, decreased expression levels of phosphorylated JNK, increased the expression levels of E-cadherin and decreased the expression levels of vimentin. In summary, NEDD9 promotes invasion and migration of colorectal cancer cells via the JNK pathway.
Can PC-based training boost working memory in ADHD preadolescents on medication? : a clinical intervention study

Author: Kjell Tore Hovik Title: Can PC-based training boost working memory in ADHD preadolescents on medication? Supervisor: Jens Egeland Background: Children with ADHD suffer from impairments in working memory, and recent studies have documented significant gains in working memory (WM) in children diagnosed with ADHD after participating in a PC-based WM training program. Earlier studies have focused on unmedicated children, while a majority of Norwegian children diagnosed with ADHD take ADHD medication for the disorder. The main question addressed in this study is whether ADHD children on medication would also show significant improvements in WM after PC-based WM training. A second issue examined is whether the results favor one of two established, but diverging, non-unitary models of the construct working memory. Method: Sixty-six children diagnosed with F90.0 Hyperkinetic disorder (ICD-10) currently receiving treatment in the child psychiatric services in two Norwegian counties were invited to participate. Participants were randomized into treatment and control groups. The treatment group underwent a 25-day training program; controls received treatment-as-usual. Data from the forty-four children in the study who were on ADHD medication is the basis for the study. Results: All subjects in the treatment group completed program requirements and showed significant gains on training tasks. The post-intervention testing showed a differential improvement in the treatment group on visual and verbal forward condition tasks, but no significant differential improvement on reverse order tasks; nor on two divided attention tasks. Conclusion: The results indicate that ADHD children on medication can improve on neuropsychological measures of verbal and visuospatial short-term memory by training systematically on computerized working memory tasks; the same gains on more complex verbal and visuospatial WM tasks were not registered in the current study. Investigations into possible transfer effects of the short-term memory gains to math and reading abilities, and the long-term effects of the training on functioning at home and at school will be needed before any conclusions or recommendations can be made about the benefits of the training program.
Effects of different pre‐freezing blanching procedures on the physicochemical properties of Brassica rapa leaves (Turnip Greens, Grelos)

Summary For optimal freeze storage, green vegetables should first be blanched. The present study compared four different procedures for the blanching of grelos (leaves of Brassica rapa L.): steaming for 2 min, immersion in boiling water for 2 min, immersion in boiling water containing 1% citric acid for 1 min, and immersion in boiling water containing 5% citric acid for 1 min. After blanching, the grelos were stored for up to 120 days at −18 °C, with sampling at two-weekly intervals for analysis of physicochemical properties (ash weight, vitamin C content, pH, acid value, moisture content and CIEL*a*b* colour variables). In almost all respects steam blanching gave the best results: notably, vitamin C losses were markedly lower, while moisture content and colour remained closer to those of the fresh product.
Body Mass Index and Age Correlation with Prostate-specific Antigen Density as Prostate Cancer Risk Indicators in a Screened Male University Population in Nigeria: A Pilot Study

Background: Prostate-specific antigen density (PSAD) is one of the means of improving PSA sensitivity as a marker of a prostate cancer diagnosis. However, this ability is perceived to be obscured by certain factors such as high body mass index and age in Caucasian and western populations, which tends to reduce its sensitivity and lead to misclassification of at-risk patients for prostate cancer. Aim: We studied the correlation of body mass index (BMI) and age with prostate-specific antigen density (PSAD) as indicators of prostate cancer risk in a screened male population(40 years and above) in the University of Calabar, Nigeria. Study Design: A cross-sectional analytical study with consecutive participant recruitment. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in the University of Calabar Medical centre during a medical outreach. Materials and Methods: The study involved sixty-one (61) healthy male participants. BMI was mathematically determined from the weight and height and was categorized as underweight, normal weight, overweight and obesity based on the WHO classification with values of <18.5, 18.5-24.9, 25.0-29.9, and ≥30 (Kg/m2) respectively. Blood samples were collected and analyzed for PSA and transrectal ultrasound scan was done to estimate the prostate volume and was used to calculate the prostate-specific antigen density. Results: Over 67% of participants had PSA values below 4.0 ng/ml, 14.8% between 4.0-10.0 ng/ml, and 18% above 10.0 ng/ml. Body mass index (BMI) assessment revealed that 1.6% of the sampled population had BMI <18.5 Kg/m2, 32.8% had BMI between 18.5 Kg/m2 and 24.9 Kg/m2, while 50.8% were noticed to have a BMI of between 25.0 Kg/m2 and 29.9 Kg/m2, and 14.8% had BMI of 30 Kg/m2 and above. Conclusion: There was an inverse correlation of BMI with prostate-specific antigen density (PSAD) and a direct correlation of age with PSAD in this study of Nigerian men.
Genotyping of high-risk human papilloma virus (HR-HPV) and its role in cervical cancer among suspected women at reproductive age

One of the important causes of uterine and cervical malignancy and premalignancy lesions in human is the infection with papilloma virus, especially genotypes that belong to high-risk human papilloma virus (HR-HPV) group. The involvement of HPV DNA testing in an adjacent to cytological screening will be of positive impact in early discovery of cervical neoplasia among women at risk and will significantly minimize the mortality rate. The study subjects were screened for cervical neoplasia which may be caused by different genotypes of HR-HPV among Saudi females. Two hundred and thirty eight (n=238) cervical scrapings were collected from women who attended Maternity and Children Hospital (MCH) at Al-Madinah Al Munawarah between August 2015 to January 2017, and thereafter processed and examined cytologicaly using liquid based cytology (LBC). Simultaneously, one-step Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to examine the presence of HR-HPV different genotypes. Low incidence of precancerous epithelial lesions was observed among enrolled patients 13 (5.5%) with the following distribution: high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion in 5 cases (38.5%), low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion in 4 (30.8%) and four cases (30.8%) as a typical squamous cells of undetermined significance. Nevertheless, HR-HPV was detected only in 6 (2.5%) cases and overall prevalence of HR-HPV in abnormal Pap smears was 15.4% (2/13). On the other hand, HPV were also seen in 1.9% (4/238) among smears that were registered free from any type of malignancy (NILM). The study concluded very low prevalence of HR-HPV in routine cervical screening samples among suspected Saudi women. Additionally, weak correlation between HPV and the incidence of cervical neoplasia was also observed. This may direct the clinicians and researchers to look for other suspected HPV genotypes in this regards. Key words: Cervical cancer, high-risk human papilloma virus (HR-HPV), low-risk human papilloma virus (HR-HPV), Saudi women, Al-Madinah Al Munawarah, Saudi Arabia.
Heart failure patients with and without a history of stroke in the Netherlands: secondary analysis of psychosocial, behavioural and clinical outcomes up to three years from the COACH trial

Ski, C. F. , van der Wal, M. , Le Grande, M. , van Veldhuisen, D. , Lesman-Leegte, I. , Thompson , D. R. , . Jaarsma, T. (2019). Heart failure patients with and without a history of stroke in the Netherlands: secondary analysis of psychosocial, behavioural and clinical outcomes up to three years from the COACH trial. BMJ Open, 9(8), [e025525]. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018025525, https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-025525
COMPACTION CONTROL CRITERIA FOR CLAY HYDRAULIC BARRIERS

Compacted clays are commonly used as hydraulic barriers. In the construction of a clay hydraulic barrier it is important to use a water content-dry unit weight criterion that results in low hydraulic conductivity. Recently several compaction criteria have been proposed for the construction of soil hydraulic barriers. Discrepancies exist, however, in the acceptable water content-dry unit weight zones defined by these criteria. Three of these criteria are reviewed and compared. The advantages and disadvantages of each criterion are discussed with emphasis on efficiency, effectiveness, and practicality of use during construction. An evaluation is presented that suggests that a criterion based on achieving a minimum initial degree of saturation (i.e., the leftmost boundary of the water content-dry unit weight zone is a contour of constant degree of saturation) has desirable attributes and has several advantages over the other approaches. Laboratory and field data on compaction and hydraulic conductivity of several clay soils are examined to evaluate the validity of the degree-of-saturation approach. The data show that this approach provides good control over the quality of compacted clays in the field and is more accommodating to natural variations in soil composition and compaction characteristics than are the other approaches. A case history is presented that illustrates the degree-of-saturation compaction criterion.
EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS AND INTELLIGENCE IN TYPICALLY DEVELOPING CHILDREN 1

With regard to conceptual similarity between executive functions and intelligence, the aim of this research was to determine their correlation in typically developing children. The sample included 114 children of both sexes (59/51.8% of girls), between 8.7 and 10.8 years of age (M=9.80; SD=0.57). Dodrill’s Stroop Test, Go/No-Go Task, Listening Span Task, Digit Span Backward, Odd-one-out span, Figure Span Backward, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Twenty Questions Task and Tower of London were used for the assessment of executive functions. Intelligence was assessed by Raven’s Progressive Matrices. Pearson’s correlation and partial correlation coefficients were used in statistical analysis of the results. A low to moderate correlation was determined between intelligence and the variables of all applied executive functions tasks, both in verbal and non-verbal domain (p≤0.000-0.05). Inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, and planning ability correlated with fluid intelligence in the range of r=0.20-0.30, while the correlation with working memory was in the range of r=0.40-0.50.
Nasal Carriage of Enterotoxigenic Staphylococcus aureus and Risk Factors among Food Handlers-Egypt

Food handlers play a major role in the transmission of food borne diseases which represents a global health burden. Carriage of Staphylococcus aureus, in general, and enterotoxigenic strains, in part icular, is an important risk factor for the contamination of food. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus among 200 food handlers working in 3 different food processing plants in Egypt. Sixty-one (31%) persons were found to be carriers of Staphylococcus aureus of which twenty-one (34.4%) harboured enterotoxigenic staphylococcal strains. The most frequently found enterotoxins were Types A and C (12 isolates each), followed by Type B and Type D (7 isolates, 5 isolates) respectively. A co mbination of two or three enterotoxins was produced by some of the isolates. The three processing plants recorded statistically significant differences amongst examined personnel in nasal carriage, however neither of the risk factors assessed including age, gender, marital status, education, duration in work, frequency and method of hand wash, incidence of chronic sinusitis and smoking were significant risk determinants of S. aureus nasal carriage. The obtained results should be of public health concern and highlights the need for primary health care and hygiene among food handlers.
Changes to the tropical circulation in the mid-Pliocene and their implications for future climate

Abstract. The two components of the tropical overturning circulation, the meridional Hadley circulation (HC) and the zonal Walker circulation (WC), are key to the re-distribution of moisture, heat and mass in the atmosphere. The mid-Pliocene Warm Period (mPWP; ∼ 3.3–3 Ma) is considered a very rough analogue of near-term future climate change, yet changes to the tropical overturning circulations in the mPWP are poorly understood. Here, climate model simulations from the Pliocene Model Intercomparison Project (PlioMIP) are analyzed to show that the tropical overturning circulations in the mPWP were weaker than preindustrial circulations, just as they are projected to be in future climate change. The weakening HC response is consistent with future projections, and its strength is strongly related to the meridional gradient of sea surface warming between the tropical and subtropical oceans. The weakening of the WC is less robust in PlioMIP than in future projections, largely due to inter-model variations in simulated warming of the tropical Indian Ocean (TIO). When the TIO warms faster (slower) than the tropical mean, local upper tropospheric divergence increases (decreases) and the WC weakens less (more). These results provide strong evidence that changes to the tropical overturning circulation in the mPWP and future climate are primarily controlled by zonal (WC) and meridional (HC) gradients in tropical–subtropical sea surface temperatures.
Precipitation of Heavy Organics (Asphaltenes) from Crude Oil Residue Using Binary Mixtures of n-Alkanes

Two solvent mixtures: n-pentane/n-hexane and n-heptane/n-octane at ten different percentage ratios were used to dissolve 2.5 g of vacuum distilled Anthan crude oil residue (500°C). The crude oil/n-alkane mixture in different conical flasks was stoppered, shaked mechanically and allowed to stand overnight. The resultant solution was subsequently filtered using a vacuum pump to afford the different weights of the residue (asphaltenes). The result of the weights of asphaltenes obtained at the different ratios of solvent mixtures showed that the highest amount of precipitate was obtained at 100% n-pentane solvent. Also there was a sharp increase in the amount of asphaltenes precipitated when the percentage ratio of n-pentane to n-hexane precipitant was 40:60 and when the ratio of n-heptane to n-octane precipitant was 30:70. A good understanding of the contribution of the different n-alkane solvents in the precipitation of asphaltenes is very necessary to flow assurance of crude oils in terms of solid precipitation.
Outcomes of an intensive exercise-based swallowing program for persons with Parkinson's disease: A single-case experiment

The leading cause of death in Parkinson’s disease (PD) is aspiration pneumonia, a negative consequence of swallowing impairment. Approximately 80%, and upward of 95%, of persons with Parkinson’s disease (PwPD) will present with progressive dysphagia, or swallowing impairment. Dysphagia may also lead to dehydration, malnutrition, weight loss, reduced quality of life, hospital readmissions, and high financial burden. Recent evidence suggests swallowing exercise is beneficial for PwPD and there is growing evidence that supports intense programs combining exercises, which may provide sufficient treatment intensity to improve swallowing. The present study investigated whether a four-week Intensive exercise-based Swallowing Program (ISP) combining lingual and respiratory exercises for two PwPD would improve outcomes on multiple probe and endpoint measures of swallowing, respiratory, and vocal functions. Specifically, probes included maximum isometric pressures (MIP) of the tongue, maximum expiratory pressure (MEP), maximum phonation time (MPT), and maximum phonation intensity (MPI). Endpoint measurements consisted of the Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability (MASA), Timed Water Test (TWT), Repetitive Saliva Swallow Test (RSST), and Swallowing Quality of Life Questionnaire (SWAL-QOL). Post-treatment gains occurred in lingual strength, MEP, and MPI (p < .003) with moderate-to-strong effect sizes. Both MASA scores and TWT swallowing capacity increased, and RSST performance improved to or was maintained within healthy ranges. Neither MPT, an untrained task, nor SWAL-QOL scores significantly changed. Overall, results suggest a positive, synergistic effect of combined treatment modalities evidenced by gains in both swallowing and respiratory systems. Future investigation is warranted to further develop efficacious ISPs for PwPD and to determine their effectiveness to ameliorate the negative consequences of dysphagia. OUTCOMES OF AN INTENSIVE EXERCISE-BASED SWALLOWING PROGRAM FOR PERSONS WITH PARKINSON’S DISEASE: A SINGLE-CASE EXPERIMENT A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts Jocelyn Jenks University of Northern Iowa
Vibration stability of Orion laser facility

In 2005 the UK Ministry of Defence awarded a contract for construction of the Orion laser facility at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE). Orion delivers a power density of 1021 W/cm2 on a 5 μm target, making it a world-class facility for the study of high energy density physics. The ability to target to such high precision depends on the ‘stability’ of the building and internal structures with respect to thermal expansion and vibration. This paper concerns experimental activities supporting the prediction and evaluation of the minute vibrations against a ‘budget’ comprising the effects of all vibration sources, internal and external, and the sequence of experimental campaigns and signal evaluation that fed into this process. This involved a sequence of dynamics-based measurements of foundation pile stiffness, vibration propagation from both controlled and uncontrolled sources at stages during the construction and, finally, evaluation of vibration levels in the as-built facility due to internal machine.