Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of intralesional meglumine antimoniate (glucantime) versus a combination of 50% topical trichloroacetic acid and local heat therapyby non-ablative radiofrequency on cutaneous leishmaniasis lesions

Mohammad Ali Nilforoushzadeh, Farahnaz Fatemi Naeeni, Narges Sattar, Elaheh Haftbaradaran, Fariba Jaffary, Gholamreza Askari 1 Skin and Stem Cell Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran And Skin Disease and Leishmaniasis Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. 2 Skin Disease and Leishmaniasis Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. 3 Skin Disease and Leishmaniasis Research Center And Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran And Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, Canada. 4 Skin Disease and Leishmaniasis Research Center And School of Nutrition and Food Science, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Impact of Logistics Outsourcing Strategy in Oil and Gas Industry in Uganda

The purpose of the study is to analyze the impact of logistics outsourcing strategy in the oil and gas industry in Uganda. The most outstanding benefit is that, companies outsourced their logistics activities to restructure their distribution networks and achieve competitive advantage. For this purpose purposive sampling method is used where qualitative data are collected and interpreted. Primary data are collected using research questionnaires where quantitative method is used in data presentation and analysis of the impact of logistics outsourcing strategy in the oil and gas industry. The research findings reveal that there are many benefits resulting from using logistics outsourcing strategy in the oil and gas industry and in the same way, challenges are faced by both oil and gas companies and logistics service providers in executing business contracts. Solutions are pursued to create an environment for the oil and gas industry and the third party logistics services providers to achieve a common goal. Findings show that it is very important to outsource full or part of logistics activities to logistics service providers in order to attain competitive advantage. Logistics outsourcing strategy plays an important role in the business especially in minimizing operating costs and spreading risk between the parties engaged in business contracts. Therefore it is necessary for company managers to check their strategies to make sure that logistics activities are in place.
Treatment of effluents coming from beamhouse section of tannery by microfiltration through Cordierite/Zirconia and Alumina tubular ceramic membranes

This study was conducted to evaluate the applicability of microfiltration in treating effluent coming from beamhouse section of tannery. Two tubular ceramic membranes were tested: A Zirconia ZrO2 membrane (M1) deposited on a macroporous support made from Cordierite and a commercial Alumina membrane (M2). The pore diameter of microfiltration layer is 0.23 µm for the first membrane (M1) and 0.2 µm for the second (M2). The average membrane permeabilities determined using pure distilled water are 1136 l/h. m². bar and 1033 l/h. m². bar, respectively. Microfiltration using Cordierite/ZrO2 membrane proved to be effective in removing the turbidity and the dark colour of the effluent and in reducing COD and TKN with almost the same efficiencies than that obtained with Alumina membrane: Tangential microfiltration process was seen to remove turbidity from the feed completely; the removal percentage of suspended solids from the effluent is between 98.5 and 100%. This technique operated at lower pressure (1 bar) showed significant reduction of COD (60-65%) and TKN (57-59%). The filtration’s effect on conductivity was negligible. The combination of microfiltration with other techniques should be carried out to achieve the treatment.
Pulmoner hipertansiyonun nadir bir sebebi : Takayasu arteritine bağlı iki taraflı pulmoner arter tutulumu ve pulmoner arter stent restenozu A rare cause of pulmonary hypertension : bilateral pulmonary artery involvement and pulmonary artery stent restenosis due to Takayasu arteritis

Özet– Elli üç yaşında kadın hasta halsizlik ve nefes darlığı yakınmaları ile başvurdu. Transtorasik ekokardiyografde sistolik pulmoner arter basıncı (PAB) 90 mmHg saptandı, yapılan sağ kalp kateterizasyonu ile hastaya pulmoner arter hipertansiyonu (PAH) tanısı konuldu. Pulmoner anjiyografde pulmoner arterlerde darlık saptandı ve hastada Takayasu arteritine bağlı PAH bulunduğuna karar verildi. Hastaya immünsupresif ve kortikosteriod tedavi altında pulmoner arter darlığına yönelik olarak balon anjiyoplasti uygulandı. Biz bu olguda izole pulmoner arter tutulumuna bağlı PAH gelişen ve stent restenozu saptanan hastayı tartışmayı ve literatürü gözden geçirmeyi planladık. Summary– A 53-year-old female patient was admitted with complaints of dyspnea and fatigue. On transthoracic echocardiography, systolic pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) was measured as 90 mmHg, and right heart catheterization revealed pulmonary arterial hypertension. Pulmonary angiography demonstrated bilateral pulmonary artery stenosis, and the diagnosis was determined as Takayasu arteritis. Balloon angioplasty was performed under corticosteroid and immunosuppressive treatment. In this case report, we planned to present a patient in whom bilateral pulmonary artery stenosis developed due to Takayasu arteritis, and discuss the patient in the light of the current literature.
The sensitivity of flowline models of tidewater glaciers to parameter uncertainty

Abstract. Depth-integrated (1-D) flowline models have been widely used to simulate fast-flowing tidewater glaciers and predict change because the continuous grounding line tracking, high horizontal resolution, and physically based calving criterion that are essential to realistic modeling of tidewater glaciers can easily be incorporated into the models while maintaining high computational efficiency. As with all models, the values for parameters describing ice rheology and basal friction must be assumed and/or tuned based on observations. For prognostic studies, these parameters are typically tuned so that the glacier matches observed thickness and speeds at an initial state, to which a perturbation is applied. While it is well know that ice flow models are sensitive to these parameters, the sensitivity of tidewater glacier models has not been systematically investigated. Here we investigate the sensitivity of such flowline models of outlet glacier dynamics to uncertainty in three key parameters that influence a glacier's resistive stress components. We find that, within typical observational uncertainty, similar initial (i.e., steady-state) glacier configurations can be produced with substantially different combinations of parameter values, leading to differing transient responses after a perturbation is applied. In cases where the glacier is initially grounded near flotation across a basal over-deepening, as typically observed for rapidly changing glaciers, these differences can be dramatic owing to the threshold of stability imposed by the flotation criterion. The simulated transient response is particularly sensitive to the parameterization of ice rheology: differences in ice temperature of ~ 2 °C can determine whether the glaciers thin to flotation and retreat unstably or remain grounded on a marine shoal. Due to the highly non-linear dependence of tidewater glaciers on model parameters, we recommend that their predictions are accompanied by sensitivity tests that take parameter uncertainty into account.
Construction and Characterization of an Acapsular Mutant of Pasteurella multocida Strain P-1059 (A:3)

To further investigate the role of capsule involved in virulence of Pasteurella multocida P-1059 (A:3), a hexB deleted mutant was constructed by homologous recombination. The DNA replacement was confirmed by PCR, Reverse transcription (RT)-PCR and DNA sequencing. Experiments were conducted to compare the differences of biological characteristics such as capsular structure, capsular polysaccharide content, virulence and serum resistance between the hexB deleted mutant of ΔhexB and wild-type strain P-1059, as well as the complemented strain P-1059C. And the ability of the acapsular mutant ΔhexB to induced protection against wild-type challenge in chickens. Electron microscopy examination of the ΔhexB showed the absence of capsular material compared to the P-1059 and P-1059C. The ΔhexB was sensitive to the bactericidal action of chicken serum, whereas the P-1059 and P-1059C were both resistant. The ΔhexB was highly attenuated in chickens by intravenously injection, and intramuscular administration of ΔhexB to chickens stimulated significant protection against P-1059 and the homologous strain X-73(A:1). These results demonstrated that the capsule is a major virulence factor of Pasteurella multocida serotype A:3 strains.
Intralesional injections of 5-FU in the treatment of keloids, hypertrophic scars, and contractures

The treatment of keloids and hypertrophic scars are an everyday challenge for the dermatologist. Despite the existence of a large therapeutic armamentarium, a variable rate of effectiveness, side effects, and recurrences make it diffi cult to achieve satisfactory results. As an isolated or in-combination therapy, 5-fl uorouracil has the potential to be a part of the treatment paradigm for hypertrophic and keloid scars. Objective: To evaluate, during 12 years, the outcomes of the use of 5-FU (50 mg/ml) in a ratio of 9:1 with triamcinolone acetonide (20 mg/ml) in patients bearing keloids and hypertrophic scars. Methods: Retrospective study of 32 patients with keloids, hypertrophic scars, and cicatricial fi brosis who underwent 1 to 17 intralesional injections of a combination of 5-FU and triamcinolone acetonide in fortnightly intervals. A visual analog scale (VAS) was employed to evaluate the pain/discomfort caused by the lesion, as well as to assess the patient’s perception of the scar when seeing it in the mirror. Results: In the comparison of the visual analogue scales (VAS) after the treatment, there was a signifi cant reduction in the level of pain/discomfort (VAS pain) (p = 0.001) and in the assessment of the scar’s appearance in the mirror (VAS mirror) (p <0.001). Three patients (9.4%) had complications: hyperchromia (two patients = 6.3%) and atrophy (one patient = 3.1%). Conclusions: 5-FU injections in hypertrophic scars, keloids, and fi broses was found to be a minimally invasive, cost effective, and easily reproducible therapeutic approach with consistent results, which does not invalidate or preclude other techniques
Usefulness of Nucleic Acids (DNA/RNA) from Buccal Cells Isolated fromMouthwashes using a Modified Method

Human buccal cells are an easy source of nucleic acids (DNA/RNA) other than human blood. We have extracted buccal cells from mouthwashes of 10 individuals and tested its usefulness for genotyping, telomere length determination and gene expression. Genomic DNA was extracted using a salt precipitation method whereas total RNA was extracted using Hipura total RNA extraction kit. The quantity and quality of DNA and RNA was found to be satisfactory. PCR amplification was achieved using locus specific primers and genotyping was performed for minisatellites, microsatellites and Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Telomere length was determined from the genomic DNA of buccal cells obtained from mouthwashes. Telomere length obtained from the DNA isolated from buccal cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells was compared. Real time quantitative PCR was successfully performed for GADD45A, G6PD, B-Actin and B2M. In conclusion, our method of DNA /RNA extraction can be considered as an alternative method of sample collection for forensic medicine.
Density‐dependent dispersal and the speed of range expansions

The speed of range expansions, be it invasive species colonizing a new area or species tracking a moving climatic niche, critically depends on dispersal. Models for species' range expansions generally assume dispersal to be independent of local population densities. However, animals often disperse in response to high population size or alternatively may avoid or leave areas of very low population sizes. We explore whether such density dependence in dispersal can safely be ignored when predicting the speed of range expansions.
Seroreactivity of Syphilis Among Blood Donors of A Blood Bank

INTRODUCTION: Blood transfusion involves transfer of biological material from man to man. Many infectious diseases are likely to be transmitted by blood transfusion. Syphilis, known in India as Portuguese disease or firanga or firangi roga reached the subcontinent in early 16 th century and soon became widespread. A comparison of the present data on syphilis reactivity among blood donors with that seen a decade back (1986 - 1990) revealed a sharp decline from 14. 6% to 9.26% in syphilis. Since there was no data from our geographical area about syphilis seroreactivity among blood donors, the present study was conducted to know the seroreactivity of syphilis among voluntary and replacement blood donors. METHODS: The present study was carried out in Blood bank of S.N Medical College, Bagalkot from July 2012 to June 2013. Two ml of blood sample was collected in labeled pilot tube at the time of collection of blood from donor tubing of blood bag. Serum was separated. The samples were tested for syphilis by RPR test. RESULTS: Out of the 8187 blood donors, 7461 (91.13%) were replacement donors and remaining 726 (8.87%) were voluntary donors. Out of total 8187 donors screened, 4 (0.04%) units were seroreactive for rapid plasma regain test for syphilis. Four seroreactive units were from replacement donors. CONCLSION: Seroreactivity of syphilis is low in our geographical area. Voluntary donations are safer as compared to replacement ones and should be encouraged.
Transfer of the solar signal from the stratosphere to the troposphere: Northern winter

The atmospheric response to the solar cycle has been previously investigated with the Freie Universitat Berlin Climate Middle Atmosphere Model (FUB-CMAM) using prescribed spectral solar UV and ozone changes as well as prescribed equatorial, QBO-like winds. The solar signal is transferred from the upper to the lower stratosphere through a modulation of the polar night jet and the Brewer-Dobson circulation. These model experiments are further investigated here to show the transfer of the solar signal from the lower stratosphere to the troposphere and down to the surface during Northern Hemisphere winter. Analysis focuses on the transition from significant stratospheric effects in October and November to significant tropospheric effects in December and January. The results highlight the importance of stratospheric circulation changes for the troposphere. Together with the poleward-downward movement of zonal wind anomalies and enhanced equatorward planetary wave propagation, an AO-like pattern develops in the troposphere in December and January during solar maximum. In the middle of November, one third of eddy-forced tropospheric mean meridional circulation and surface pressure tendency changes can be attributed to the stratosphere, whereas most of the polar surface pressure tendency changes from the end of November through the middle of December are related to tropospheric mechanical forcing changes. The weakening of the Brewer-Dobson circulation during solar maximum leads to dynamical heating in the tropical lower stratosphere, inducing circulation changes in the tropical troposphere and down to the surface that are strongest in January. The simulated tropospheric effects are identified as indirect effects from the stratosphere because the sea surface temperatures are identical in the solar maximum and minimum experiment. These results confirm those from other simplified model studies as well as results from observations.
An estimate of the cross‐frontal transport at the shelf break of the East China Sea with the Finite Volume Coastal Ocean Model

[1] The Finite Volume Coastal Ocean Model (FVCOM) is used to estimate the onshore cross-frontal transport at the shelf break of the East China Sea. Boundary conditions of FVCOM are provided by the Princeton Ocean Model simulating ocean currents in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea realistically. One advantage of this study is that the unstructured triangular cell grid of FVCOM resolves complex bottom topography that may trigger Kuroshio frontal waves. It is anticipated that these nonlinear frontal waves enhance the exchange of seawater between the Kuroshio and shelf regions. Kuroshio frontal waves in the model are excited around the location where the bottom slope changes abruptly, and have the phase speed and amplitude consistent with those observed in the East China Sea. In addition, the model reproduces the onshore transport associated with growing frontal waves in the upper and lower layers. On the basis of passive tracer experiments, the annually averaged onshore-transport integrated along the shelf break is estimated to be 0.85 × 106 m3/s.
Effects of the hydrophilic extract of Juniperus excelsa on renal function in male Wistar rats

Introduction: Ores plant (Juniperus excelsa) has been used for a long-time in the treatment of kidney disease. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of J. excelsa extract on renal function in male Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: In this study, 32 male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into four groups of eight rats. Distilled water was used for the healthy control group and the other three groups received doses of 10%, 25% and 50% of the extract for one month. Prior to the intervention and on the 15th and 30th days after intervention, 24-hour urine was collected for measurement of protein, creatinine, and urine volume. On the 30th day, the rats were anesthetized with ether and in addition to the urinary samples, serum samples were taken directly from their heart to check for creatinine, urea, sodium, and potassium. Additionally, both kidneys were removed and examined for histological changes. Results: There was a significant difference between the groups before and after intervention regarding creatinine clearance (P=0.008). The mean serum urea on the 15th and 30th days of study was respectively 93±37.33 and 86.47±71.07 mg/dL (P=0.001). In pathology examination, minimal infiltration of inflammatory cells in the interstitium and mild decrease in thickness of renal tubules was observed in 50% dose of the extract. Conclusion: This study showed that the greatest impact of J. excelsa on the renal function of the male Wistar rats was in doses of 50% of the extracts.
To Assess or Not to Assess: Tensions Negotiated in Six Years of Teaching Teachers about Computational Thinking

Coding and computational thinking have recently become compulsory skills in many school systems globally. Teaching these new skills presents a challenge for many teachers. A notable example of professional development designed using Constructionist principles to address this challenge is ScratchEd. Upon reflecting on her experiences designing and running ScratchEd, Karen Brennan identified five tensions faced by professional development providers, and proposed that these tensions could be used for scrutinising and critiquing professional development. In this paper we analyse, through the lens of Brennan’s tensions, the process we have followed to design, evaluate and improve professional development. We argue that while we have experienced the same tensions, the extent to which we assess learning is a new tension that extends those identified by Brennan. There are strong reasons to assess teachers’ knowledge, however, quantitative measures of learning could be at odds with Constructionism: as Papert argued in Mindstorms, constructionist educators should study their learning environments as anthropologists. Consequently, we have called this new tension the tension between anthropology and assessment.
Molecular detection and characterization of Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp. and Campylobacter spp. isolated from broiler meat in Jamalpur, Tangail, Netrokona and Kishoreganj districts of Bangladesh

The study was conducted to isolate, identify and characterize bacterial samples from broiler meat collected from 20 different upazilla markets of Jamalpur, Tangail, Netrokona and Kishoreganj districts of Bangladesh. A total of 20 samples were subjected to bacteriological isolation and identification, and the isolated bacteria were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing using disc diffusion method. Among the samples, 75% (n=15) were contaminated with Campylobacter spp. , 70% (n=14) were with Salmonella species and 85% (n=17) were contaminated with Escherichia coli. The Campylobacter spp. , Salmonella spp. and E. coli were isolated and identified by culturing on Blood agar, Xylose-Lysine Deoxycholate (XLD) agar, and MacConky and eosin methylene blue (EMB) agar respectively. Isolates of Campylobacter spp. , Salmonella spp. and E. coli were biochemically analyzed. Campylobacter specific 16S rRNA genes were amplified from the isolates. Campylobacter spp. and E. coli isolates were positive to 16S rRNA gene based polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Almost all isolates of Campylobacter spp. , Salmonella spp. and E. coli showed highest susceptibility to ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin and gentamicin. However, most isolates were resistant to amoxicillin and erythromycin. Some isolates showed susceptibility to tetracycline, streptomycin and azithromycin. The findings of this study revealed that there is presence of multidrug resistant isolates of Campylobacter spp. , Salmonella spp. and E. coli in broiler meat. Results of this research project demonstrated the high level of microbial contamination and occurrence of pathogenic bacteria in broiler meat sold in markets of Bangladesh. Key words: Broiler meat, Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter, molecular detection, characterization.
Consumption, Wealth, Stock and Government Bond Returns: International Evidence

In this paper, we show, from the consumer’s budget constraint, that the residuals of the trend relationship among consumption, aggregate wealth, and labour income should predict both stock returns and government bond yields. We use data for several OECD countries and find that when agents expect future stock returns to be higher, they will temporarily allow consumption to rise. Regarding government bond yields, when bonds are seen as a component of asset wealth, then investors react in the same way. If, however, the increase in the yields is perceived as signalling a future rise in taxes, then they will temporarily reduce their consumption.
Effects of activated charcoal, plant growth regulators and ultrasonic pre-treatments on in vitro germination and protocorm formation of Calanthe hybrids

Many Asian orchids are threatened by extinction because of over-collection, habitat destruction and poor germination percentage (2%) in nature. In an attempt to develop a suitable protocol for the asymbiotic germination of Calanthe hybrid seeds, modified Hyponex medium supplemented with different concentrations of activated charcoal (0, 0.01, 0.1 g l-1), α-napthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) (0.1, 0.5, 1.0 mg l-1) were tested. Addition of 0.1 g l-1 activated charcoal without NAA or BA in the modified Hyponex medium significantly accelerated the rate of seed germination. Whereas, the effect of NAA or BA without activated charcoal on the rate of seed germination was shown to be non-effective. However, addition of 0.1 mg l-1 NAA or 0.5 mg l-1 BA in combination with 0.1 g l-1 activated charcoal in the germination medium was proven effective to enhance rate of seed germination compared to other treatments. Meanwhile, the rate of seed germination and number of protocorm formation increased with increasing ultrasonic pre-treatment time (up to 10 min) without destroying embryos, showing significant effect especially for the cultivars characterized as low germination capability in nature.