Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Autoinflammation: translating mechanism to therapy

Autoinflammatory syndromes are a clinically heterogeneous collection of diseases characterized by dysregulation of the innate immune system. The hereditary recurrent fever disorders were the first to be defined as autoinflammatory. Several of the responsible genes are now known to encode proteins forming multimeric complexes called inflammasomes, which are intracellular “danger sensors” that respond to a variety of different signals by activating caspase‐1, responsible for cleavage and subsequent release of bioactive IL‐1β. This discovery of the causative link between autoinflammation and IL‐1β maturation has led to a significantly improved understanding of the mechanisms of innate immunity, as well as life‐altering treatments for patients. Targeting IL‐1β for the treatment of autoinflammatory syndromes is an excellent example of the power of translational research. Given the central role of inflammation in many complex multigenic diseases, these treatments may benefit larger numbers of patients in the future. Here, we review current treatment strategies of autoinflammatory diseases with a focus on IL‐1 antagonism.
Pattern of Diseases and Care Outcomes of Neonates Admitted in Special Care Baby Unit of University College Hospital , Ibadan , Nigeria From 2007 To 2011

Background: Neonatal mortality is a major concern in Sub-Sahara Africa and its rates reflect a nation’s socio-economic status, efficiency and effectiveness of health care services. Approximately one quarter of all under – five child deaths occur in the neonatal period. This study aims at documenting the pattern of diseases and outcomes of neonates admitted into the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) of University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan from 2007 to 2011. Method and Material: This retrospective descriptive survey involved review of all records of newborns admitted into SCBU for a five-year period. Information extracted includes sociodemographic data, indications for admission, cares rendered; care outcomes and factors influencing outcomes. The outcome variables included survival, discharged against medical advice, complications and death. A checklist was developed to collect data of 1020 neonates. Result: Majority 918(90%) of the neonates was admitted within 24 hours of birthand mostly inborn 775 (76%) but from unbooked mothers 992 (97.3%). Prematurity low birth weight (LBW) 559 (54.8%) and birth asphyxia 196 (19.2%), were the most causes of admissions. Diseases contributing to neonatal death were prematurity LBW (27.4%), respiratory distress (20.6%) and birth asphyxia (17.3%). Overall, survival and mortality was 803 (78.7%) and 192 (18.8%) respectively. Mortality was significantly higher in the first 24 hours of admission and among neonates with LBW (p < 0.05). Neonate’s birth weight, maternal education, parity and breastfeeding were significantly associated with outcome of care. Conclusion: Prematurity LBW, birth asphyxia, respiratory distress and sepsis were the leading diseases in SCBU and neonatal mortality was 18.8%. Therefore it is suggested that antenatal screening, identification and timely referral of high risk pregnant women and those who are likely to deliver between 24 and 34 weeks of pregnancy for treatment with corticosteroids several days before delivery to prolong their pregnancy and speed up maturation of fetal lungs.
Prediction model of in-hospital mortality in elderly patients with acute heart failure based on retrospective study

Objectives The aim of this study was to develop a clinical risk model that is predictive of in-hospital mortality in elderly patients hospitalized with acute heart failure (AHF). Methods 2486 patients who were 60 years and older from intensive care units of Cardiology Department in the hospital were analyzed. Independent risk factors for in-hospital mortality were obtained by binary logistic regression and then used to establish the risk prediction score system (RPSS). The area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operator characteristic and C-statistic test were adopted to assess the performance of RPSS and to compare with previous get with the guidelines–heart failure (GWTG-HF). Results By binary logistic regression analysis, heart rate (OR: 1.043, 95% CI: 1.030–1.057, P < 0.001), left ventricular ejection fraction (OR: 0.918, 95% CI: 0.833–0.966, P < 0.001), pH value (OR: 0.001, 95% CI: 0.000–0.002, P < 0.001), renal dysfunction (OR: 0.120, 95% CI: 0.066–0.220, P < 0.001) and NT-pro BNP (OR: 3.463, 95% CI: 1.870–6.413, P < 0.001) were independent risk factors of in-hospital mortality for elderly AHF patients. Additionally, RPSS, which was composed of all the above-mentioned parameters, provided a better risk prediction than GWTG-THF (AUC: 0.873 vs. 0.818, P = 0.016). Conclusions Our risk prediction model, RPSS, provided a good prediction for in-hospital mortality in elderly patients with AHF.
Peer language socialization in an internationalized study abroad context : norms for talking about language

iii LAY SUMMARY . v PREFACE . vi TABLE OF CONTENTS . vii LIST OF TABLES . i LIST OF FIGURES . ii LIST OF EXCERPTS . iii LIST OF ACRONYMS . iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . v DEDICATION . vi Chapter 1: Peer interaction in study abroad . 1 Chapter 2: Study abroad at an internationalized university . 18 Chapter 3: Theory and analytic focus . 40
Aortic iatrogenic perforation during transseptal puncture and successful occlusion with Amplatzer ductal occluder in a case of mitral paravalvular leak closure

Complications of transseptal puncture are significant and potentially life threatening. Aortic perforation is one of these complications and it needs to be repaired immediately. We report the case of a 48‐year‐old female with a history of rheumatic mitral valve disease. She underwent three previous mitral valve replacements. Her last echocardiogram reported an anterolateral leak in the mitral prosthesis. Catheterization was performed. During the procedure, when attempting to perform transseptal puncture, catheterization was complicated by a forcefully puncture of the aortic root by the Brockenbrough needle followed by an immediately advancement of an 8‐Fr Mullins sheath. We decided to leave the 8‐Fr sheath in the aortic root recognizing the danger of removing the sheath and finally we advanced a 6/4 mm Amplatzer ductal occluder (ADO I) through the Mullins sheath and under fluoroscopy and TEE guidance we achieved a successful deployment of the device and closure of the perforation. Subsequently, the paravalvular leak was closed with an Amplatzer Vascular Plug (AVP III 10/5 mm). There are only three cases of a similar technique for the same injury in which the authors describe successful closing of aortic perforation with percutaneous closure devices. Our case is the first described during a mitral paravalvular leak closure. It is also the first to describe a different technique of leaving the Mullins sheath in the aortic root and advancing the Amplatzer device through it to achieve successful closure of the aortic perforation. We preferred the percutaneous closure over open‐heart repair. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Military technological innovation in India: A tale of three projects

ABSTRACT This paper examines Indian strategy through the lens of military innovation. Comparing three major indigenous defense projects undertaken within a decade of each other, it asks why the Indian defense establishment managed to deliver on the Naval project while those of the Army and the Air Force were delayed by decades. To explain these differing outcomes, the paper argues, we need to analyze three inter-related issues: institutional capacity within the services; innovation strategy; and project management structures and accountability.
Using cytochrome P4501A1 expression in liver and blubber to understand effects of persistent organic pollutant exposure in stranded Pacific Island cetaceans

Elevated levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have been reported in tropical Pacific Island cetaceans and their environment. In addition, recent health concerns in cetacean populations have warranted investigation into potential physiological effects from POP exposure for this region. Cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) is a candidate for examining such effects. This well‐studied biomarker of exposure and effect was examined in stranded cetacean liver using immunoblot (n = 39, 16 species) and blubber using immunohistochemistry (n = 23, 10 species). Paired tissue samples allowed for CYP1A1 comparisons not only between species but also within each individual animal to examine differences between tissue types. Liver CYP1A1 expression correlated positively and significantly with blubber concentrations of all POP categories (n = 39, p < 0.050) except octachlorostyrene and pentachlorobenzene (p > 0.100). Among Stenella species, liver CYP1A1 tissue expression was correlated negatively with the sum of all blubber layer endothelial cell CYP1A1 expression (n = 14, p = 0.049). Overall, elevated expression of liver CYP1A1 confirms its use as a biomarker of POP exposure to cetaceans stranded in the tropical Pacific basin. Environ Toxicol Chem 2015;34:1989–1995. © 2015 SETAC
The Evaluation of Hazards to Man and the Environment during the Composting of Sewage Sludge

Composting is considered an effective treatment option to eliminate or substantially reduce potential hazards relating to the recycling of sewage sludge (SS) on land. The variation of four major types of hazards (heavy metals, instability, pathogenic potential and antibiotic resistance) was studied during laboratory-scale composting of two mixtures of sludge and green waste (1:1 and 1:2 v/v). The heavy metal content of the final compost was governed by the initial contamination of SS, with the bulking agent ratio having practically no effect. The composts would meet the heavy metal standards of the United States of America (USA) and the European Union member states, but would fail the most stringent of them. A higher ratio of bulking agent led to a higher stabilisation rate, nitrogen retention and final degree of stability. A good level of sanitisation was achieved for both mixtures, despite the relatively low temperatures attained in the laboratory system. The antibiotic resistance was limited among the E. coli strains examined, but its occurrence was more frequent among the Enterococcus spp. strains. The type of antibiotics against which resistance was mainly detected indicates that this might not be acquired, thus, not posing a serious epidemiological risk through the land application of the SS derived composts.
Simplified staging system for predicting the prognosis of patients with resectable liver metastasis: development and validation.

HYPOTHESIS Although several staging systems for colorectal liver metastasis have been proposed, simple and generally accepted staging systems are not available for this disease. We hypothesized that more detailed analysis of primary colorectal cancer may make it possible to develop a simple staging system and that its stratification ability may be demonstrated by validation against data from unrelated patients. DESIGN Retrospective analysis of prospectively documented data, development of a stage, and validation against an unrelated cohort. SETTING Four tertiary referral centers. PATIENTS Twenty-two clinicopathologic factors were examined in 369 consecutive patients who underwent curative resection for liver metastasis from colorectal cancer (original cohort). Using the independent prognostic factors, a simplified staging system was developed and was validated by data from 229 unrelated patients (validation cohort). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Kaplan-Meier survival curve analyses between different prognostic groups in the cohorts. RESULTS Multivariate analysis revealed several independent prognostic variables, including hepatic lymph node metastasis (relative risk 4.39), 4 or more colorectal lymph node metastases (RR 1.50), carcinoembryonic antigen level of 50 ng/mL or higher (RR 1.29), and multiple hepatic metastases (RR 1.27). Patients with hepatic lymph node metastasis were assigned to stage 4, and the remaining patients were divided according to number of factors: none, stage 1; 1, stage 2; 2 or 3, stage 3. In the original cohort, median survival in stages 1, 2, 3, and 4 was 7.2, 3.5, 2.0, and 1.3 years, respectively. In the validation cohort, these values were 9.6, 4.1, 2.8, and 1.6 years, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The proposed simplified staging system was easy to use, was highly predictive of patient outcome, and permitted categorization of patients into treatment groups. Although we validated this staging system, further validation and improvements are needed.
Effect of nitrate in the rooting medium on carbohydrate composition of soybean nodules.

Nodulated soybean plants (Glycine max [L.] Merr) were grown in sand culture. Carbohydrate composition of nodules, roots, and leaf blades was determined and related to the effects of nitrate in nutrient solution on nodule growth and on nitrogenase activity of nodules.When plants were grown without nitrate for 6 weeks and then supplied with 150 milligrams NO(3)-N/liter for 4 or 7 days, there was an 80% decline in acetylene reduction activity of nodulated roots, relative to the 0-N control. The 80% decline in nitrogenase activity was accompanied by a decline in nodule glucose concentration of about 0.15 milligram per gram fresh weight and an increase in nodule sucrose concentration of about 0.23 milligram per gram fresh weight.Plants were grown with 0, 30, or 100 milligrams NO(3)-N/liter for 5 or 6 weeks to study long-term effects of nitrate on nodule growth. The 100-N treatment reduced nodule weight/plant by 70% but reduced the sum of sucrose + glucose + fructose concentration in nodules by only 12%. The ratios of [sucrose] in nodules/[sucrose] in roots and [fructose] in nodules/ [fructose] in roots increased slightly in response to nitrate, indicating that nitrate affects sugar concentration in roots more than sugar concentration in nodules.The effect of nitrate on glucose concentration of nodules was consistently negative. However, if it is assumed that sucrose, glucose, and fructose are equivalent in their ability to support nodule functions, then the overall results are not consistent with the hypothesis that nitrate inhibits nodule growth and activity by reducing the accumulation of carbohydrate in nodules.
Building Integrated Shading and Building Applied Photovoltaic System Assessment in the Energy Performance and Thermal Comfort of Office Buildings

Non-residential and more specifically office buildings are, nowadays, an integral part of the building stock and milestones of urban areas in most of the developed and developing countries all over the world. Compared to other building types, office buildings present some of the highest specific energy consumption rates. In the present study, a typical nine-story office is assessed for a number of different building integrated retrofitting measures. Measurements of indoor environmental conditions were used in order to validate the developed simulation model of the building in EnergyPlus. Then, a number of different building integration options for photovoltaic systems and shading options are examined, in order to evaluate the best option in terms of indoor air quality, thermal comfort and energy consumption. The amount of electricity produced can meet 65% of the building’s annual electricity requirements, while the shading options can reduce energy requirements by as much as 33%. Although this in not a value that can be dismissed easily, it becomes clear that further—and more deeply aiming—measures are needed, if the building is to achieve near zero energy status.
The raw material basis of global value chains: allocating environmental responsibility based on value generation

ABSTRACT A new approach to allocate environmental responsibility, the ‘value added-based responsibility’ allocation, is presented in this article. This metric allocates total environmental pressures occurring along an international supply chain to the participating sectors and countries according to the share of value added they generate within that specific supply chain. We show that – due to their position in global value chains – certain sectors (e.g. services) and countries (e.g. Germany) receive significantly greater responsibility compared to other allocation approaches. This adds a new perspective to the discussions concerning a fair distribution of mitigation costs among nations, companies and consumers.
Electric fields guide migration of epidermal stem cells and promote skin wound healing

Migration of epidermal stem cells (EpSCs) into wounds may play an important role in wound healing. Endogenous electric fields (EFs) arise naturally at wounds. Consistent with previous reports, we measured outward electric currents at rat skin wounds using vibrating probes. Topical use of prostaglandin E2 significantly promoted wound healing. However, it is not known whether EpSCs respond to EFs. We first isolated and characterized EpSCs from rat skin. We then demonstrated that EpSCs isolated from the epidermis migrated directionally toward the cathode in EFs of 50–400 mV/mm. The directedness values increased in a dose‐ and time‐dependent fashion. The migration speed of EpSCs was significantly increased in EFs. EFs induced asymmetric polymerization of intracellular F‐actin and activation of the extracellular signal‐regulated kinase 1/2 and phosphatidylinositol‐3‐kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B pathways. Inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor, extracellular signal‐regulated kinase 1/2, or PI3K significantly inhibited the cathodal distribution of F‐actin and the electrotactic response of EpSCs. These data for the first time show that EpSCs possess obvious electrotaxis, in which the epidermal growth factor receptor–mitogen activated protein kinase–PI3K pathways are involved. These data thus suggest a novel aspect of electric signaling in wound healing—to stimulate and guide migration of EpSCs and to regulate wound healing.
Deletions within the Epstein-Barr Virus Latent Membrane Protein-1 Oncogene in Adult Ordinary, HIV-Associated and Paediatric Hodgkin's Disease

The aims of this study were the following: a) to perform Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) strain type assignment in three groups of Hodgkin's disease(HD): adult ordinary (39 cases), paediatric (24 cases), and HIV-associated (30 cases) and to compare the prevalence of type 1 and type 2 in each of the groups with that existing in two reference populations made up of 50 adults and 39 children; b) to assess the frequency of latent membrane protein-1 (LMP-1) 30-base pair (bp) deletions in the HD groups and in the healthy controls; and c) to relate the presence of LMP-1 deletions with EBV type. Type 2 EBV was observed in 12.8% of ordinary HD, in 26.7% of HIV-associated HD, in 25% of paediatric HD, in 4% of adult controls, and in none of the healthy children. The existence of double infections by type 1 and 2 EBV was also observed in 5.1% of ordinary HD, in 6.7% of HIV-associated HD, and in 10% of adult controls. The 30-bp deletion was identified overall in 33.3% of ordinary HD, in 83.3 % of HIV-positive HD, 79.2% of paediatric HD, 34.7% of adult controls, and 36.4% of healthy children. Statistical analysis showed a significant association of the deleted strains with HD occurring in HIV-positive patients (P= 0.00003) and childhood HD (P= 0.006). On the other hand, the prevalence of the 30-bp deletion in the adult ordinary HD group reflects the prevalence of the deletion in the general population. Co-infections by deleted and non-deleted EBV strains were detected in 12.8% of ordinary HD, in 33.3% of HIV-associated HD, in 50% of paediatric HD, in 26.5% of adult controls, and in 27.3% of healthy children. Concerning the relationship between the deletion and the EBV typing, 26% of type 1 specimens carried the 30-bp deletion in an isolated manner compared with 64.7% of type 2. The statistical analysis showed that the deletion was associated with type 2 strains when coinfections were excluded and only the cases in which the deletion appeared alone were considered (P=0.003).
The Abnormal Renal Vasodilator Response to D1-Like Receptor Stimulation in Conscious SHR Can Be Normalized by AT1 Blockade

Background: We previously showed that the renal vasodilator response to a D1-like receptor agonist is blunted in conscious SHR compared with WKY rats. The mechanism of this impaired dopaminergic responsiveness in SHR is unclear. An altered balance between the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and the dopaminergic system may be involved. To determine the interaction between the RAAS and the dopaminergic system in the blunted D1-like responsiveness in SHR, we studied the renal vasodilator response to the D1-like receptor agonist fenoldopam before and after 7 days of pretreatment with the AT1-receptor antagonist (AT1-A) L158,809 in conscious SHR and WKY rats. Methods: Effective renal plasma flow (ERPF) was measured by the clearance of 131I-hippuran. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was measured via an intraarterial catheter. Results: Without pretreatment, MAP was reduced to comparable degrees by fenoldopam in WKY (−7 ± 4%, ns) and SHR (−6 ± 1%, P < 0.05). However, ERPF was significantly more increased (P < 0.006) by fenoldopam in WKY (+26 ± 2%, P < 0.0001) than in SHR (+2 ± 2%, ns). AT1-A treatment reduced MAP and increased ERPF and glomerular filtration rate significantly in both strains. Pretreatment with AT1-A significantly potentiated the fenoldopam-induced rise in ERPF in SHR, but not in WKY, without affecting the blood pressure responses in either strain. As a result, during pretreatment with an AT1-A, the rise in ERPF by fenoldopam was similar in both strains (SHR +25 ± 2%, P < 0.0001; WKY +33 ± 2%, P < 0.0001). Conclusions: These results suggest that the RAAS accounts for the blunted renal vasodilator response to a D1-like receptor agonist in SHR. A dysbalance between the dopaminergic system and the RAAS may be involved in the abnormal renal hemodynamic regulation in SHR.
Artificial Bee Colony based design optimization of a six-phase induction motor

Artificial Bee Colony Algorithm (ABC) has been used to optimize the design of a six-phase induction motor (SPIM). Multi-objective function has been considered for optimization. Comparison of the optimum design using Artificial Bee Colony Algorithm with that of traditional design and Genetic Algorithm (GA) based optimum design has been presented, which shows that improved design can be achieved by Artificial Bee Colony technique of optimization. Comparison of the results obtained has been done to find the fittest method of optimization for the said purpose. Performances of the induction motor have been evaluated for each design effectively.