Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
INFLAMMATION IN DIABETIC WOMEN WITH CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE

Diabetics have a much greater morbidity and mortality due to coronary heart disease (CHD) than non-diabetics. Furthermore, diabetic women have a 3.8 fold greater risk for CHD compared to diabetic men. Inflammation is now considered a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and also plays a role in diabetes. It is possible that diabetic women with cardiovascular disease (CVD) have a greater inflammatory response and increased interaction between white cells and platelets than diabetic men with CVD or non-diabetic women with CVD. This study tested the hypothesis that platelet-neutrophil conjugates, platelet activation, neutrophil activation, and cytokine production (interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-a), and interleukin-1 (IL-lp)) are increased in diabetic women with CVD compared to diabetic men with CVD and nondiabetic women with CVD. Neutrophil activation was assessed by measuring the expression of neutrophil CDl lb and the production of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). We found that the baseline expression of CDl lb and ROS was not statistically different among any of the groups. Platelet activation was quantified by the expression of GPIIb/IIIa and P-selectin. We found that the baseline expression of GPIIb/IIIa was not significantly different among any of the groups. Diabetic women with CVD had a 2 fold greater expression of platelet P-selectin compared to diabetic women without CVD. We also found the plateletneutrophil conjugate reactivity to platelet activating factor (PAF) was significantly increased by 60% in diabetic and non-diabetic women with CVD in comparison to
Detecting WSDL bad practices in code-first Web Services

Service-Oriented Computing (SOC) allows developers to structure applications as a set of reusable services. Web Services expose their functionality by using Web Service Description Language (WSDL). We found that there is a high correlation between well-known object-oriented metrics taken in the code implementing services and the occurrences of 'anti-patterns' in their WSDLs. We show that some simple refactorings performed early when developing Web Services can greatly improve the quality of WSDL documents. Then, the contribution of this work is a practical approach to guide practitioners in obtaining better WSDL designs that aligns with the technologies and techniques commonly used in the industry for building services.
Coagulation and Fibrinolysis During the First Year of Immunosuppressive Treatment in Renal Transplantation: Correspondence Between Hypercoagulable State and Steroid Therapy

An increased incidence of thromboembolic complications has been reported after kidney transplantation, and hypercoagulability has been associated with immunosuppressive treatment, specifically with Cyclosporin A. Hypercorticism due to prolonged steroid therapy or to Cushing's disease has been associated with a similar hypercoagulable state and thrombotic risk. The aims of this study were first to evaluate coagulation and fibrinolytic behavior in 27 patients at different times during the first year after renal transplantation and then to compare the same patients' coagulation and fibrinolytic findings 1 month after transplantation with those of a normal control group and a group of Cushing's patients. Compared with normal controls, renal transplant patients and Cushing's patients showed a similar hypercoagulable and hypofibrinolytic state, with a significant shortening in activated partial thromboplastin time and increase in factor VIII-von Willebrand factor complex, tissue plasminogen activator concentration, and plasminogen activator inhibitor activity and concentration. Other test results in the two groups showed no differences. The same abnormalities were present in the renal transplant group for the entire period of study. Our results suggest that a hypercoagulable and hypofibrinolytic state persists almost 1 year after renal transplantation and that these abnormalities are very similar to those present in Cushing's disease. Steroid treatment seems to play a key role in determining thromboembolic risk after renal transplantation. Key Words: Renal transplantation-Hypercoagulable state—von Willebrand factor-Hypofibrinolysis-Plasminogen activator inhibitor-Steroid therapy-Cyclosporin A.
Patterns of Alcohol Consumption and Sexual Behavior among Young Adults in Nightclubs

Background: Alcohol consumption has been linked to a variety of sexual risk behaviors. However, much research addresses this connection among college students, ignoring other social contexts in which this association may be prevalent, such as club settings. Objectives: As such, this study assessed patterns of drinking and sexual activity among young adults who frequent nightclubs. Methods: Using time-space sampling, we surveyed 308 young adults (ages 18–29) in New York City clubs. Results: Participants reported binge drinking on 52% of drinking days. Roughly, 62% reported recent sex under the influence, and 29% of them reported being less safe in sexual situations as a result of their drinking. Men reported more days of drinking and binge drinking than women, and were more likely to report recent sex under the influence. Younger participants were more likely to report being less safe sexually while intoxicated. Recent binge drinking was associated with sex after drinking. Conclusions and Scientific Significance: These data suggest the need for targeted intervention and prevention efforts at nightclubs.
Semantic Web of Things: an analysis of the application semantics for the IoT moving towards the IoT convergence

The Internet of Things IoT is being applied for stovepipe solutions, since it presents a semantic description limited to a specific domain. IoT needs to be pushed towards a more open, interoperable and collaborative IoT. The first step has been the Web of Things WoT. WoT evolves the IoT with a common stack based on web services. But, even when a homogeneous access is reached through web protocols, a common understanding is not yet acquired. For this purpose, the Semantic Web of Things SWoT is proposed for the integration of the semantic web on the WoT. This work analyses the SWoT, presenting its different levels to offer an IoT convergence. Specifically, we analyse the trends for capillary networks and for cellular networks with standards such as IPSO, ZigBee, OMA, and the oneM2M initiative. This work also analyses the impact of the semantic-annotations/metadata in the performance of the resources.
Evaluation of a computer program (‘disect’) to consolidate anatomy knowledge: A randomised-controlled trial

Background: The teaching of anatomy to medical undergraduates continues to develop. Medical imaging can accurately demonstrate anatomy. ‘disect’ is a computer program which manipulates and reconstructs real CT images in 3-D. Aim: To implement and assess a novel computer-based imaging resource. Methods: Third-year undergraduate medical students at the University of East Anglia were randomised to different methods of delivering the program – either self-directed use or guided use with worksheets. Knowledge of gastro-intestinal anatomy was assessed using a 20-item test. Attitudes to using ‘disect’ were evaluated using Likert scales. Results: Most students reported the program was easy to use and a valuable resource for learning anatomy. There was no difference in scores between guided use and self-directed use (10.7 marks versus 10.6 marks, p = 0.52). Students who undertook the anatomy special study module, which involved dissection of the digestive system, performed best (12.8 marks versus 9.9 marks, p = 0.005). Conclusion: Students can adequately use a computer program to see major anatomical structures derived from CT scans. Students reported that learning anatomy can be aided by the imaging-based resource. Learning anatomy is a multi-modal activity and packages like ‘disect’ can enhance learning by supplementing current teaching methods.
Emerging Epidemic of Cardiovascular Disease in Developing Countries

As the twentieth century draws to a close, it is clear that cardiovascular disease (CVD) has become a ubiquitous cause of morbidity and a leading contributor to mortality in most countries.1 2 The rise and recent decline of the CVD epidemic in the developed countries have been well documented.3 4 The identification of major risk factors through population-based studies and effective control strategies combining community education and targeted management of high risk individuals have contributed to the fall in CVD mortality rates (inclusive of coronary and stroke deaths) that has been observed in almost all industrialized countries. It has been estimated that during the period 1965 to 1990, CVD related mortality fell by ≈50% in Australia, Canada, France, and the United States and by 60% in Japan.1 Other parts of Western Europe reported more modest declines (20% to 25%). The decline in stroke mortality has been more marked compared with the decline in coronary mortality. In the United States, the decline in stroke mortality commenced nearly two decades earlier than the decline in coronary mortality and maintained a sharper rate of decline. During the period 1979 to 1989, the age-adjusted mortality from stroke declined, in that country, by about one third, whereas the corresponding decline in coronary mortality was 22%. 4 5 In Japan, where stroke mortality outweighs coronary mortality, the impressive overall decline in CVD mortality is principally contributed by the former. The discordant trend of rising CVD mortality rates in Eastern Europe, however, is in sharp contrast to the decline in Western Europe.1 The emergence of the CVD epidemic in the developing countries during the past two to three decades has attracted less comment and little public health response, even within these countries. It is not widely realized that at present, the developing countries …
Expression of the Mouse MHC Class Ib H2-T11 Gene Product, a Paralog of H2-T23 (Qa-1) with Shared Peptide-Binding Specificity

The mouse MHC class Ib gene H2-T11 is 95% identical at the DNA level to H2-T23, which encodes Qa-1, one of the most studied MHC class Ib molecules. H2-T11 mRNA was observed to be expressed widely in tissues of C57BL/6 mice, with the highest levels in thymus. To circumvent the availability of a specific mAb, cells were transduced with cDNA encoding T11 with a substituted α3 domain. Hybrid T11D3 protein was expressed at high levels similar to control T23D3 molecules on the surface of both TAP+ and TAP− cells. Soluble T11D3 was generated by folding in vitro with Qa-1 determinant modifier, the dominant peptide presented by Qa-1. The circular dichroism spectrum of this protein was similar to that of other MHC class I molecules, and it was observed to bind labeled Qa-1 determinant modifier peptide with rapid kinetics. By contrast to the Qa-1 control, T11 tetramers did not react with cells expressing CD94/NKG2A, supporting the conclusion that T11 cannot replace Qa-1 as a ligand for NK cell inhibitory receptors. T11 also failed to substitute for Qa-1 in the presentation of insulin to a Qa-1–restricted T cell hybridoma. Despite divergent function, T11 was observed to share peptide-loading specificity with Qa-1. Direct analysis by tandem mass spectrometry of peptides eluted from T11D3 and T23D3 isolated from Hela cells demonstrated a diversity of peptides with a clear motif that was shared between the two molecules. Thus, T11 is a paralog of T23 encoding an MHC class Ib molecule that shares peptide-binding specificity with Qa-1 but differs in function.
Age-Related Decrease in TCR Repertoire Diversity Measured with Deep and Normalized Sequence Profiling

The decrease of TCR diversity with aging has never been studied by direct methods. In this study, we combined high-throughput Illumina sequencing with unique cDNA molecular identifier technology to achieve deep and precisely normalized profiling of TCR β repertoires in 39 healthy donors aged 6–90 y. We demonstrate that TCR β diversity per 106 T cells decreases roughly linearly with age, with significant reduction already apparent by age 40. The percentage of naive T cells showed a strong correlation with measured TCR diversity and decreased linearly up to age 70. Remarkably, the oldest group (average age 82 y) was characterized by a higher percentage of naive CD4+ T cells, lower abundance of expanded clones, and increased TCR diversity compared with the previous age group (average age 62 y), suggesting the influence of age selection and association of these three related parameters with longevity. Interestingly, cross-analysis of individual TCR β repertoires revealed a set >10,000 of the most representative public TCR β clonotypes, whose abundance among the top 100,000 clones correlated with TCR diversity and decreased with aging.
Differential stimulation of corticol and dehydropiandrosterone levels by food in obese and normal subjects: relation to body fat distribution

BACKGROUND It has been previously shown that food intake elevates circulating ACTH and cortisol levels, but no report has been published regarding the changes in circulating dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). DHEA was originally described as a weak androgen, but more recently it has been associated with a wide range of metabolic functions. In addition, previous studies have described a hyper‐responsive hypothalamo‐pituitary‐adrenal axis in obese subjects in response to various stimuli, but the specific response to food has not been studied.
Virtual patient simulation for learning and assessment: Superior results in comparison with regular course exams

Background: Our study aimed to observe the differences in assessment results between virtual patient simulation (VPS) and regular course exams in an Internal Medicine course for undergraduate medical students. Methods: Four cohorts of students (n = 216) used: a VPS or lectures for learning (terms 1 and 2); VPS and lectures or only lectures (term 3); and a paired set-up with both VPS and lectures (term 4). The assessment results, measured with both a VPS-based exam and a paper-based exam, were compared. A scoring rubric (0–6), developed and validated for the purpose of the trial, was applied to both types of assessment. Mean score differences of the results were compared for the four cohorts. Results: Both VPS and regular examination results were significantly higher in the VPS group compared to regular exam group (p < 0.001) in terms 1, 2 and 3. The paired mean difference in term 4 was 0.66 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.50, 0.83; p < 0.001) for haematology and 0.57 (95% CI 0.45, 0.69; p < 0.001) for cardiology. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that using VPS both for learning and for assessment supports learning. VPS are better than traditional assessment methods when the virtual application is used for both learning and evaluation.
Nutrient requirements of poultry publication: History and need for an update

SUMMARY The NRC Nutrient Requirements of Poultry has been a benchmark publication for the research, judicial, and regulatory communities domestically and abroad since the first published edition in 1944. The poultry scientific community has looked to this publication for benchmark diet formulation. With extraordinary changes in growth and productive potential of modern poultry strains, as well as changes to body composition and egg output, it follows that nutrient needs have changed beyond what the bird can compensate for with increasing intake per unit of BW. Research publications used for amino acid and phosphorus recommendations in the last NRC are now, at best, from 1991 and at worst from 1947. To our collective credit, the poultry science community has published substantial amounts of data in those areas to warrant an update to the ninth revised edition of the NRC Nutrient Requirements of Poultry. Historically, our perception and definition of a nutrient requirement has changed from first being a requirement, as a percent of a diet, to preventing a nutrient deficiency, to now being a requirement to optimize growth or egg production response per unit of nutrient intake. As economics becomes an increasingly more important driver for the implications of research, the scientific community has begun to embrace the concept of return on investment of nutrient used for compositional growth or egg production. As these concepts take shape, the current edition’s format will have to undergo a substantial creative revision; possibly even embracing the concept of modeling of nutrient responses. Funding for such a revision will require a large financial investment from the NRC, the feed industry, commodity associations, as well as time investment by the scientific community.
Perceptions of clinical audit: a preliminary evaluation

The purpose of this study was to identify the priorities for evaluation and development using the perceptions of a sample of participants in clinical audit in Scotland. Semi‐structured interviews were held in four health board areas. The study indicated that the priorities for evaluation were: 1) the validity of the measures used in audit; 2) communications — both top‐down, bottom‐up, and across units and professions; 3) the systematic approach to planning programmes and projects; 4) implementation of change; 5) showing the improvement in patient care by closing the audit loop.
Chloroquine Promotes IL-17 Production by CD4+ T Cells via p38-Dependent IL-23 Release by Monocyte-Derived Langerhans-like Cells

Recent studies suggest a role for autophagy in the secretion of IL-1 cytokines regulating the development of inflammatory diseases. The antimalarial drug and autophagy/lysosome inhibitor chloroquine (CHQ) is considered as potential trigger of drug-induced or drug-aggravated psoriasis, in which Th17 cells sustain a persistent inflammation. In this study, we investigated the effect of CHQ on human monocyte-derived Langerhans-like cells (MoLC) and dendritic cells (MoDC) in response to IL-1β. The presence of CHQ reduced IL-12p70 release in both subsets, but surprisingly increased IL-6 production in MoDC and IL-23 in MoLC. Importantly, CHQ-treated MoLC promoted IL-17A secretion by CD4+ T cells and elevated RORC mRNA levels, whereas IFN-γ release was reduced. The dysregulation of IL-12 family cytokines in MoLC and MoDC occurred at the transcriptional level. Similar effects were obtained with other late autophagy inhibitors, whereas PI3K inhibitor 3-methyladenine failed to increase IL-23 secretion. The modulated cytokine release was dependent on IL-1 cytokine activation and abrogated by a specific IL-1R antagonist. CHQ elevated expression of TNFR-associated factor 6, a common intermediate in IL-1R and TLR-dependent signaling. Accordingly, treatment with Pam3CSK4 and CHQ enhanced IL-23 release in MoLC and MoDC. CHQ inhibited autophagic flux, confirmed by increased LC3-II and p62 expression, and activated ERK, p38, and JNK MAPK, but only inhibition of p38 abrogated IL-23 release by MoLC. Thus, our findings indicate that CHQ modulates cytokine release in a p38-dependent manner, suggesting an essential role of Langerhans cells and dendritic cells in CHQ-provoked psoriasis, possibly by promoting Th17 immunity.
Birthing outcomes from an Australian HypnoBirthing programme

Background and aim: HypnoBirthing, which is steadily increasing in popularity both in Australia and overseas, is a set programme consisting of 10–12 hours of instruction for couples approaching the later stages of pregnancy and birth. A survey was carried out to investigate how Australian participants attending the HypnoBirthing programme between 2007 and 2010 compared to other studies where hypnosis was used for childbirth. Results: The average length for both stages of labour was shorter in the HypnoBirthing group compared to general population figures. Caesarean section rates were lower, as was the use of gas and epidurals. Of the 81 participants, 46 (51 %) did not use any pain medication at all and the overall discomfort level for labour and birth was 5.8 out of 10 with 32 % of the participants scoring under 5.8, including two participants who recorded zero discomfort. Conclusion: Women attending the HypnoBirthing programme demonstrated similar results to those found in other research in hypnosis for .
A Critical Role for Human Caspase-4 in Endotoxin Sensitivity

Response to endotoxins is an important part of the organismal reaction to Gram-negative bacteria and plays a critical role in sepsis and septic shock, as well as other conditions such as metabolic endotoxemia. Humans are generally more sensitive to endotoxins when compared with experimental animals such as mice. Inflammatory caspases mediate endotoxin-induced IL-1β secretion and lethality in mice, and caspase-4 is an inflammatory caspase that is found in the human, and not mouse, genome. To test whether caspase-4 is involved in endotoxin sensitivity, we developed a transgenic mouse expressing human caspase-4 in its genomic context. Caspase-4 transgenic mice exhibited significantly higher endotoxin sensitivity, as measured by enhanced cytokine secretion and lethality following LPS challenge. Using bone marrow–derived macrophages, we then observed that caspase-4 can support activation of caspase-1 and secretion of IL-1β and IL-18 in response to priming signals (LPS or Pam3CSK4) alone, without the need for second signals to stimulate the assembly of the inflammasome. These findings indicate that the regulation of caspase-1 activity by human caspase-4 could represent a unique mechanism in humans, as compared with laboratory rodents, and may partially explain the higher sensitivity to endotoxins observed in humans. Regulation of the expression, activation, or activity of caspase-4 therefore represents targets for systemic inflammatory response syndrome, sepsis, septic shock, and related disorders.
Myeloid-Specific Disruption of Tyrosine Phosphatase Shp2 Promotes Alternative Activation of Macrophages and Predisposes Mice to Pulmonary Fibrosis

The alternative activation of M2 macrophages in the lungs has been implicated as a causative agent in pulmonary fibrosis; however, the mechanisms underlying M2 polarization are poorly characterized. In this study, we investigated the role of the ubiquitously expressed Src homology domain–containing tyrosine phosphatase Shp2 in this process. Shp2 inactivation augmented IL-4–mediated M2 polarization in vitro, suggesting that Shp2 regulates macrophage skewing and prevents a bias toward the M2 phenotype. Conditional removal of Shp2 in monocytes/macrophages with lysozyme M promoter–driven Cre recombinase caused an IL-4–mediated shift toward M2 polarization. Additionally, an increase in arginase activity was detected in Shp2∆/∆ mice after i.p. injection of chitin, whereas Shp2-deficient macrophages showed enhanced M2 polarization and protection against schistosome egg–induced schistosomiasis. Furthermore, mutants were more sensitive than control mice to bleomycin-induced inflammation and pulmonary fibrosis. Shp2 was associated with IL-4Rα and inhibited JAK1/STAT6 signaling through its phosphatase activity; loss of Shp2 promoted the association of JAK1 with IL-4Rα, which enhanced IL-4–mediated JAK1/STAT6 activation that resulted in M2 skewing. Taken together, these findings define a role for Shp2 in alveolar macrophages and reveal that Shp2 is required to inhibit the progression of M2-associated pulmonary fibrosis.