Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cutaneous Manifestations in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Pathophysiology, Clinical Features, and Therapy

Abstract:The skin is one of the most common extraintestinal organ system affected in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. The skin manifestations associated with IBD are polymorphic and can be classified into 4 categories according to their pathophysiology: (1) specific, (2) reactive, (3) associated, and (4) induced by IBD treatment. Cutaneous manifestations are regarded as specific if they share with IBD the same granulomatous histopathological pattern: perianal or metastatic Crohn's disease (commonly presenting with abscesses, fistulas or hidradenitis suppurativa-like features) is the prototype of this setting. Reactive cutaneous manifestations are different from IBD in the histopathology but have close physiopathological links: pyoderma gangrenosum, a neutrophil-mediated autoinflammatory skin disease typically manifesting as painful ulcers, is the paradigm of this group. Among the cutaneous diseases associated with IBD, the most commonly seen are erythema nodosum, a form of panniculitis most commonly involving bilateral pretibial areas, and psoriasis, a T helper 1/T helper 17–mediated erythematous squamous inflammatory disease. Finally, the number of cutaneous adverse reactions because of IBD therapies is progressively increasing. The most frequent drug-induced cutaneous manifestations are psoriasis-like, eczema-like, and lichenoid eruptions, as well as cutaneous lupus erythematosus for biologics, and nonmelanoma skin cancer, mainly basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas for thiopurines.
Oncology nurse training in cancer genetics

Editor—The rapid increase in understanding of cancer genetics in recent years means that few oncology nurses have sufficient knowledge to address the issues of patients concerned about inherited predisposition to cancer.1-3 While some nursing curricula have recently incorporated cancer genetics, this does not assist the large body of oncology nurses already in practice. The need for an educational programme in cancer genetics was highlighted locally by a focus group of senior level nurses and social workers practising in oncology (unpublished data). All felt inadequately equipped to deal with enquiries regarding family history and cancer risk from patients and staff. Nobody in the focus group was aware of the Australian protocols for referral to familial cancer clinics within their employing organisations and family history was not routinely collected. The Australian guidelines categorise families according to their level of cancer risk (“high”, “moderate”, or “low”) based on family history and/or the presence of a germline mutation known to predispose to cancer.4 In Australia, multidisciplinary Familial Cancer Centres provide genetic counselling, genetic testing, and risk management advice to those families judged to be at “high risk”. Those categorised at low or moderate inherited risk of cancer may also benefit from informed counselling but may not meet the criteria for referral to the Familial Cancer Centres. As cancers are common, a significant number of people in the community with a family history of cancer will be in these categories. Many will not have a single gene mutation, but are at somewhat increased risk of developing cancer and require surveillance advice.5-7 The person's perception of this risk may not reflect reality. People at moderate risk for breast cancer often overestimate their level of risk.8-10After receiving counselling and a personal risk estimate, most report feeling less worried and their …
A HYBRID METHOD FOR NOISE ATTENUATION IN FOGGY IMAGES

The treatment of images captured in situations where there is smoke or fog is a great challenge. Images corrupted by natural effects tend to lose color quality due to the dispersion and absorption of light by the cloudy medium formed by the particles present in the atmospheric environment leaving the im- age with low visibility of details, harming for example, applications of computer vision. Thus, in this sense, this article presents a hybrid method for attenua- tion of fog or smoke in digital images, the method is implemented through three stages, and in the first two stages noise filtering is done with two methods al- ready known in the literature, the method of He et al and Meng et al, and in the last step is to make a correction in the intensity of the pixels to improve color quality. After a statistical comparison of the filtering methods in this work us- ing objective metrics MSE, PSNR and SSIM, their visual results are illustrated, proving the improvement of the proposed method.
Endo-[beta]-Mannanase Activity Present in Cell Wall Extracts of Lettuce Endosperm prior to Radicle Emergence

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) endosperm cell walls isolated prior to radicle emergence underwent autohydrolysis, the rate of which was correlated with whether radicle emergence would subsequently occur. Extraction of endosperm cell walls with 6 M LiCl suppressed autohydrolysis, and the desalted extract possessed activity that was capable of hydrolyzing purified locust bean galactomannan but not arabinogalactan, carboxymethylcellulose, glucomannan, polygalacturonic acid, tomato galactomannan, or native lettuce endosperm cell walls. Some hydrolytic activity was detected on endosperm cell walls if they were modified by partial trifluoroacetic acid hydrolysis or pretreatment with guanidinium thiocyanate. In extended incubations the cell wall enzyme extract released only large molecular mass fragments from locust bean galactomannan, indicating primarily endo-activity. Galactomannan-hydrolyzing activity in the cell wall extract increased as a function of imbibition time and was greatest just prior to radicle emergence. Thermoinhibition (imbibition at 32[deg]C) or treatment with abscisic acid at a temperature optimal for germination (25[deg]C) suppressed both germination and endosperm cell wall mannanase activity, whereas alleviation of thermoinhibition with gibberellic acid was accompanied by significant enhancement of mannanase activity. We conclude that a cell wall-bound endo-[beta]-mannanase is expressed in lettuce endosperm prior to radicle emergence and is regulated by the same conditions that govern germination.
Image-guided ultrasound phased arrays are a disruptive technology for non-invasive therapy

Focused ultrasound offers a non-invasive way of depositing acoustic energy deep into the body, which can be harnessed for a broad spectrum of therapeutic purposes, including tissue ablation, the targeting of therapeutic agents, and stem cell delivery. Phased array transducers enable electronic control over the beam geometry and direction, and can be tailored to provide optimal energy deposition patterns for a given therapeutic application. Their use in combination with modern medical imaging for therapy guidance allows precise targeting, online monitoring, and post-treatment evaluation of the ultrasound-mediated bioeffects. In the past there have been some technical obstacles hindering the construction of large aperture, high-power, densely-populated phased arrays and, as a result, they have not been fully exploited for therapy delivery to date. However, recent research has made the construction of such arrays feasible, and it is expected that their continued development will both greatly improve the safety and efficacy of existing ultrasound therapies as well as enable treatments that are not currently possible with existing technology. This review will summarize the basic principles, current statures, and future potential of image-guided ultrasound phased arrays for therapy.
Comparative Acute Toxicity and Primary Irritancy of the Ethylidene and Vinyl Isomers of Norbornene

The acute toxicity and primary irritancy of the industrial chemicals 5‐ethylidene‐2‐norbornene (ENB) and 5‐vinyl‐2‐norbornene (VNB) were studied. They are of moderate acute peroral toxicity in the rat, with LD50 values for ENB of 2.54 (male) and 5.66 (female) ml kg−1, and for VNB of 5.90 (male) and 11.9 (female) ml kg−1. Percutaneous toxicity is slight in the rabbit by 24‐h occluded contact, with no mortalities for ENB up to 8.0 ml kg−1 and only one mortality (male) at 16.0 ml kg−1 VNB. Dynamically generated saturated vapor atmosphere LT50 values for ENB in the rat were 75 (male) and 125 (female) min, and for VNB they were 28 (male) and 37 (female) min. The 4‐h LC50 values for ENB were 2717 (male) and 3015 (female) ppm, and for VNB they were 2231 (male) and 2518 (female) ppm. Intravenously, the ENB LD50 ranged from 0.09 (male rabbit) to 0.11 ml kg−1 (female); corresponding LD50 values for VNB were 0.10–0.05 mg kg−1. Acute neurotoxic signs were seen by the intravenous and inhalation routes of exposure, including tremors, ataxia and convulsions; the latter were sufficient to cause vertebral column luxation or fracture, producing spinal cord compression and resultant hindlimb paralysis. Both ENB and VNB are moderately irritating to the skin (rabbit), causing erythema and edema, but not necrosis. Both materials cause slight conjunctival hyperemia and chemosis in rabbits, but not corneal injury. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Physiological and pathological implications of laminins: From the gene to the protein

The extracellular matrix plays an important role in modulating the behavior of cells with which it interacts. There are a number of families of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins including collagens, proteoglycans and laminins (LM). LM are the major component of the basal lamina (BL). Here, we review the current knowledge on their structure, self-assembly, binding mechanisms, diverse tissue-expression patterns and its impact on pathology. Studies and hypothesis exploring the role of LM and their polymorphic genes on autoimmune diseases (AIDs) such as systemic lupus erythematosus and Sjögren's syndrome (SS) are also discussed.
A survey of techniques applied to non-stationary waveforms in electrical power systems

The well-known and ever-present time-varying and non-stationary nature of waveforms in power systems requires a comprehensive and precise analytical basis that needs to be incorporated in the system studies and analyses. This time-varying behavior is due to continuous changes in system configurations, linear load levels and operating modes of nonlinear load / equipment and thus present conceptual and practical challenges. The objective of this paper is to provide a comprehensive bibliographical survey of the proposed techniques to deal with time-varying and non-stationary waveforms in power systems.
Are There Breast Cancer Patients with Node-Negative Small Tumours, Who Do Not Benefit from Adjuvant Systemic Therapy?

Objective: To identify subgroups of patients with pT1 pN0 breast cancer (BC) who might not profit from adjuvant systemic therapy (AST). Methods: Data of 3,774 pT1 pN0 BC patients from 17 certified BC centres within the BRENDA study group were collected between 1992 and 2008 and retrospectively analysed. Uni- and multivariate analyses were performed using Kaplan-Meier methods and Cox regression models. Results: 279 (7.4%) of the pT1 pN0 BC patients were T1a, 944 (25.0%) were T1b and 2,551 (67.6%) were T1c. There was no significant difference (p > 0.1) in recurrence-free survival (RFS)/overall survival (OAS) between patients with pT1a, pT1b, and T1c. Patients receiving any type of AST had a better outcome compared to women without AST after adjusting for age, tumour size, and intrinsic subtypes (RFS: p < 0.001; OAS: p < 0.001). AST was the most important prognostic parameter for RFS followed by intrinsic subtypes and age. Conclusion: Patients with pT1 pN0 BC profit from AST independently of molecular subtypes, tumour size, age or comorbidity, with 5-year RFS of more than 95%. The correct definition of subgroups of patients who do not need AST is still an open question.
Prognostic significance of the interaction between abnormal umbilical and middle cerebral artery Doppler velocimetry in pregnancies complicated by fetal growth restriction

Objective. To evaluate the prognostic significance of the interaction between umbilical artery (UA) and middle cerebral artery (MCA) Doppler measurements in pregnancies complicated by fetal growth restriction (FGR). Design. Cohort study. Setting. Third‐level Perinatology Center in Northern Italy. Population. A study of 184 singleton pregnancies at 24–35 weeks’ gestational age complicated by FGR and abnormal UA Doppler measurements. Methods. FGR was diagnosed by serial ultrasonograms. Neonatal brain damage was defined as the presence of cystic leukomalacia or grade III‐IV intraventricular hemorrhage. Main outcome measures. Perinatal death and neonatal brain damage. Results. The prevalence of fetal/neonatal death or brain damage was 18.2% (16/88) in pregnancies with UA absent/reversed diastolic flow and 4.2% (4/96) in those with increased UA Doppler pulsatility. Stepwise logistic regression identified decreasing gestational age (OR = 1.75, 95% confidence interval, CI = 1.35–2.22) and absent/reversed UA blood flow (OR = 3.34, 95% CI = 1.1–10.9) as predictors of fetal/neonatal death or brain damage. A MCA pulsatility index below the 10th percentile was a risk factor for fetal/neonatal death or brain damage among women with absent/reversed UA diastolic flow (14/53 as compared to 2/35; OR = 5.9, CI =1.4–40.3) but not in pregnancies with forward velocity (1/33 as compared to 3/63; OR = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.02–6.13, Synergy index = 27.7, p = 0.007). Conclusions. In pregnancies complicated by FGR and absent/reversed UA end diastolic flow, vasodilatation of the MCA is a risk factor for neonatal death or brain damage.
Molecular mechanism underlying muscle mass retention in hibernating bats: Role of periodic arousal

Hibernators like bats show only marginal muscle atrophy during prolonged hibernation. The current study was designed to test the hypothesis that hibernators use periodic arousal to increase protein anabolism that compensates for the continuous muscle proteolysis during disuse. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the effects of 3‐month hibernation (HB) and 7‐day post‐arousal torpor (TP) followed by re‐arousal (RA) on signaling activities in the pectoral muscles of summer‐active (SA) and dormant Murina leucogaster bats. The bats did not lose muscle mass relative to body mass during the HB or TP‐to‐RA period. For the first 30‐min following arousal, the peak amplitude and frequency of electromyographic spikes increased 3.1‐ and 1.4‐fold, respectively, indicating massive myofiber recruitment and elevated motor signaling during shivering. Immunoblot analyses of whole‐tissue lysates revealed several principal outcomes: (1) for the 3‐month HB, the phosphorylation levels of Akt1 (p‐Akt1) and p‐mTOR decreased significantly compared to SA bats, but p‐FoxO1 levels remained unaltered; (2) for the TP‐to‐RA period, p‐Akt1 and p‐FoxO1 varied little, while p‐mTOR showed biphasic oscillation; (3) proteolytic signals (i.e., atrogin‐1, MuRF1, Skp2 and calpain‐1) remained constant during the HB and TP‐to‐RA period. These results suggest that the resistive properties of torpid bat muscle against atrophy might be attained primarily by relatively constant proteolysis in combination with oscillatory anabolic activity (e.g., p‐mTOR) corresponding to the frequency of arousals occurring throughout hibernation. J. Cell. Physiol. 222: 313–319, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Does India Attain 'Self Sufficiency' in Food Production?

Food production has been one of the major concerns for Indian political climate. Major agricultural changes and policies were initiated to bring more agricultural productivity in India. Union Government also strives to bring more growth in Agricultural sector through five year plan initiations. Yet, result seems to be slower agricultural growth and lack of proper vision & implementation. Major concerns like water availability, improper distribution & water management, pollution, increasing population, rural migration to urban, economic diversion towards other sectors, and increasing rural poverty are in increasing trend. Authors bring statistical evidence for above mentioned concerns and decision makers to consider these issues critically for any policy initiations. Authors stress that unless agricultural productivity increases, average Indian poverty statistics will not reduce. By 2030, India will reach first in world population, might also face severe food crisis. It’s now time for Indian government to rethink on their economic policies to bring life for dieing agricultural sector.
The Pea SAD Short-Chain Dehydrogenase/Reductase: Quinone Reduction, Tissue Distribution, and Heterologous Expression1[W][OA]

The pea (Pisum sativum) tetrameric short-chain alcohol dehydrogenase-like protein (SAD) family consists of at least three highly similar members (SAD-A, -B, and -C). According to mRNA data, environmental stimuli induce SAD expression. The aim of this study was to characterize the SAD proteins by examining their catalytic function, distribution in pea, and induction in different tissues. In enzyme activity assays using a range of potential substrates, the SAD-C enzyme was shown to reduce one- or two-ring-membered quinones lacking long hydrophobic hydrocarbon tails. Immunological assays using a specific antiserum against the protein demonstrated that different tissues and cell types contain small amounts of SAD protein that was predominantly located within epidermal or subepidermal cells and around vascular tissue. Particularly high local concentrations were observed in the protoderm of the seed cotyledonary axis. Two bow-shaped rows of cells in the ovary and the placental surface facing the ovule also exhibited considerable SAD staining. Ultraviolet-B irradiation led to increased staining in epidermal and subepidermal cells of leaves and stems. The different localization patterns of SAD suggest functions both in development and in responses to environmental stimuli. Finally, the pea SAD-C promoter was shown to confer heterologous wound-induced expression in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), which confirmed that the inducibility of its expression is regulated at the transcriptional level.
Basic Concepts on Community-Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia in Pediatrics

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a common disease in infancy, requiring several pediatric specialties for its diagnosis and treatment. Establishing the causal agent of pneumonia is essential to guarantee the most appropriate and effective therapy and is pivotal to the development of therapeutic and preventive strategies. However, determining the etiology of pneumonia is still a challenge due to the relative inaccessibility of infected tissue and the difficulty in obtaining non-contaminated samples of the upper airway. Broncho alveolar lavage (BAL) yields adequate samples, but should be reserved for severe cases with poor outcome. Blood cultures should be obtained in all children in whom bacterial pneumonia is suspected. Serum samples should be collected during the acute phase and during convalescence as a preventive measure in case a microbiological diagnosis is not established during the acute period of the disease. Recent diagnostic advances have introduced the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which in great measure has increased the ability to identify airway pathogens. Immunological markers provide information complementing clinical findings. New and more sensitive techniques should be evaluated to detect the etiological agents of severe pneumonia in children, particularly in developing countries.
Lootcers, Rent-Scrapers, and Dividend-ollectors: Corruption and Growth in Zaire, South Korea, and the Philippines

Does corruption systematically reduce economic growth? Is so, are countries with high levels of corruption likely to be among those with relatively low rates of growth while countries with low levels of corruption are likely to among those with high rates of growth? According to a recent study by Paolo Mauro, the answer ought to be yes. ' Using a data set that ranked 68 countries on a scale of 1 to 10 in terms of corruption, bureaucratic red tape, and judicial honesty, Mauro demonstrated that, when controlling for a variety of economic and sociopolitical factors, the relationship between corruption and growth is negative, which implies that as a group highly corrupt countries should have significantly lower growth rates than more honest countries. Mauro's rigorous application of quantitative methods yields results that are in many ways convincing. Yet, his finding that the corruption-growth relationship is unilinear and negative is theoretically controversial. His finding is problematic in part because it relies on a definition of corruption that is at odds with a significant portion of the literature. The problem is less in Mauro's formal definition of what constitutes corruption. Instead, the problem lies in his implicit assumption that all forms of corruption are approximately equal in their impact on growth. Whereas Mauro treats corruption as an undifferentiated phenomena, students of corruption have long argued that the impact of corruption depends not simply on its amount, but also on its form. Thus, going back to the early 1960s, scholars such as Nathaniel H. Leff argued that in certain contexts corruption might help overcome obstacles to
Expression Dynamics of Arsenic Respiration and Detoxification in Shewanella sp. Strain ANA-3

ABSTRACT Because arsenate [As(V)] reduction by bacteria can significantly enhance arsenic mobility in the environment, it is important to be able to predict when this activity will occur. Currently, two bacterial systems are known that specifically reduce As(V), namely, a respiratory system (encoded by the arr genes) and a detoxification system (encoded by the ars genes). Here we analyze the conditions under which these two systems are expressed in Shewanella sp. strain ANA-3. The ars system is expressed under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions, whereas the arr system is only expressed anaerobically and is repressed by oxygen and nitrate. When cells are grown on As(V), the arr system is maximally induced during exponential growth, with peak expression of the ars system occurring at the beginning of stationary phase. Both the arr and ars systems are specifically induced by arsenite [As(III)], but the arr system is activated by a concentration of As(III) that is 1,000 times lower than that required for the arsC system (≤100 nM versus ≤100 μM, respectively). A double mutant was constructed that does not reduce As(V) under any growth conditions. In this strain background, As(V) is capable of inducing the arr system at low micromolar concentrations, but it does not induce the ars system. Collectively, these results demonstrate that the two As(V) reductase systems in ANA-3 respond to different amounts and types of inorganic arsenic.