Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multiscale modeling of vascularized tissues via nonmatching immersed methods

We consider a multiscale approach based on immersed methods for the efficient computational modeling of tissues composed of an elastic matrix (in two or three dimensions) and a thin vascular structure (treated as a co‐dimension two manifold) at a given pressure. We derive different variational formulations of the coupled problem, in which the effect of the vasculature can be surrogated in the elasticity equations via singular or hypersingular forcing terms. These terms only depend on information defined on co‐dimension two manifolds (such as vessel center line, cross‐sectional area, and mean pressure over cross section), thus drastically reducing the complexity of the computational model. We perform several numerical tests, ranging from simple cases with known exact solutions to the modeling of materials with random distributions of vessels. In the latter case, we use our immersed method to perform an in silico characterization of the mechanical properties of the effective biphasic material tissue via statistical simulations.
Biochemical and toxicological studies of aqueous extract of Tithonia diversifolia ( Hemsl . ) leaves in wister albino rats

The effects of aqueous extracts of Tithonia diversifolia leaves on some biochemical indices such as body weight, blood parameters and liver functions were investigated in albino male wister rats. The safe dosage of the aqueous extract of T. diversifolia leaves were daily injected intraperitoneally (P 0.05) to a group of Wister strain rats over a period of 7 and 14 days respectively. During these periods the daily body weights of the control and treated rats showed significant difference (P 0.05). Also, the differences in the WBC and PCV values between the two groups were statistically significant (P 0.05). The serum level of glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) increased significantly (P 0.05) in the experimental group while that of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) did not show any significant change (P 0.05) compared to the control animals. The study showed that the aqueous extract of T. diversifolia even at a safe dose affects the liver functions index, and some haematological parameters.
Mergers and Acquisitions : Post-Merger and Acquisition Integration Strategies

Post-merger and acquisition integration era is the period where planned and thought through, as well as contingent strategies are deployed with the aim of achieving the motive/s for the merger or acquisition. This is the make or break stage of the whole merger and acquisition process. The study was basically a review of literature on the various strategies that are employed at this stage of the merger and acquisition process. It was aimed at finding the strategies that are most appropriate for all situations. At the end of the day, it was concluded that no one strategy stands tall, and that the appropriate strategy depends on a number of factors such as type of the deal, cultural differences, sizes of the firms involved, human resources available, motive/s for the merger/acquisition, environmental/industry uncertainties, competition, profits envisaged, complementarity, compatibility, and so on. It was also concluded that success at the end of the day will in most of the time depend on getting it right from the beginning, as well as getting the “people thing” or “human factor” right, as is one of the major causes of merger and acquisition failure.
Financial crises and incomplete information

This article presents a review of Giannetti's (2002a,b) models arguing that incomplete information may be more relevant than moral hazard in explaining banking crises and episodes of overlending. It argues that overlending problems are not necessarily due to investor moral hazard and guarantees on deposits. Instead, guarantees on deposits may even limit the losses accumulated by the banking system. In fact, if international investors have incomplete information on the average quality of the investment opportunities available in a country and firms are financed by a main bank, a soft budget constraint distortion arises, because of capital inflows. The model shows that in equilibrium international investors rationally do not require any risk premium until a substantial amount of losses has been accumulated, even if there are no guarantees on deposits. Bond market development, by increasing the number of lenders, can eliminate the soft budget constraint distortion and prevent banking crises.
Monoclonal antibody SEN7 recognizes a new epitope on the neural cell adhesion molecule present on small cell lung cancer but not on lymphocytes.

In our continuing attempt to select monoclonal antibodies for immunotargeting of small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) we have developed the IgG1 murine antibody SEN7 which by immunofluorescence stained all SCLC cell lines tested. On frozen tumor section six of seven SCLCs were positively stained. The reactivity of this antibody in a series of lung tumors and on normal tissues has some similarities with cluster 1 antibodies and cluster w4 antibodies, as defined by the First and Second International Workshop on Lung Cancer Antigens [P.C. L. Beverley, Y. Olabrian, J.A. Ledermann, L.G. Bobrow, and R.L. Souhami, Br. J. Cancer, 63 (Suppl): 10-19, 1991], particularly with regard to staining of neuroendocrine tissues. The similarities in staining of neuroendocrine tissues between antibody SEN7 and cluster 1 and cluster w4 antibodies prompted us to examine the binding of SEN7 with transfectants expressing the respective antigens. On the murine lymphoma cells B-9, stably transfected with a complementary DNA clone coding for an M(r) 140,000 isoform of human SCLC neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM), antibody SEN7 reacted positively whereas the cluster w4 antibody was negative. The reaction of antibody SEN7 with the NCAM transfected murine lymphoma cells was unexpected in view of its lack of binding to peripheral blood mononuclear cells which regularly stain positive with NCAM antibodies. Western blotting of a renatured SCLC extract revealed a strong band around M(r) 180,000 in contrast to other cluster 1 antibodies which recognized a broad polydisperse band with a molecular weight of 140,000 to 210,000. Antibody binding was sensitive to tunicamycin treatment, suggesting the epitope to reside on an N-linked carbohydrate structure. No significant competition for SEN7 binding on SCLC cells was seen with other NCAM antibodies against the three distinct epitopes described on SCLC. This finding together with the lack of staining of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and the selected reactivity with the M(r) 180,000 band of NCAM indicate the antibody SEN7 recognizes an epitope on NCAM which has not been described previously. Biodistribution studies with radiolabeled SEN7 in nude mice bearing s.c. SCLC xenografts demonstrated the selective localization of more than 30% of the total injected dose per g tissue at day 4 following i.v. injection. The homogeneous binding to SCLC, the lack of binding to peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and the favorable tumor localization in a xenograft model indicates that SEN7 is a good antibody for immunotargeting of SCLC.
Identical Mutations of the p53 Tumor Suppressor Gene in the Gliomatous and the Sarcomatous Components of Gliosarcomas Suggest a Common Origin from Glial Cells

Gliosarcomas are morphologically heterogeneous tumors of the central nervous system composed of gliomatous and sarcomatous components. The histogenesis of the latter is still a matter of debate. As mutations of the p53 tumor suppressor gene represent an early event in the development of gliomas, we attempted to determine whether both components of gliosarcomas share identical alterations of the p53 gene. Using single-strand conformation analysis (SSCA) and direct DNA sequencing of the p53 gene, we analyzed dissected gliomatous and sarcomatous parts of 12 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded gliosarcomas. The two tumors that contained a p53 alteration were found to carry the identical mutation (exon 5; codon 151, CCC — TCC; codon 173, GTG —> GTA) in the gliomatous and the sarcomatous components. These findings suggest a common origin of the two cellular components from neoplastic glial cells.
Influence of endurance training on energy intake, norepinephrine kinetics, and metabolic rate in older individuals.

The role of physical activity in the regulation of energy intake in older persons is presently unclear. We therefore examined the influence of endurance training on voluntary energy intake and the associated changes in resting metabolic rate (RMR) and norepinephrine (NE) kinetics in seven healthy (six men, one woman) older individuals (69.4 +/- 2.2 years) under supervised living conditions. Energy intake was measured by covert assessment in a clinical research environment during: (1) a 10-day inpatient control period (no exercise); (2) a 10-day light exercise period (150 kcal per session, 3 times/wk); and (3) a 10-day moderate exercise period (300 kcal per session, 3 times/wk). RMR was determined after all three periods, and NE kinetics were assessed before and after training by infusions of tritiated NE ([3H]-NE). No significant change in energy intake was found between the control (2,378 +/- 130 kcal/d) and light exercise (2,449 +/- 104 kcal/d) periods, whereas energy intake increased 17% (P less than .01) during moderate exercise (2,785 +/- 161 kcal/d). Changes in RMR paralleled those of energy intake, as no differences were noted in RMR after control (1.03 +/- 0.12 kcal/min) and light exercise periods (1.04 +/- 0.12 kcal/min), but RMR increased 9% (1.13 +/- 0.14 kcal/min, P less than .01) after moderate endurance training, despite no changes in body composition. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
An Investigation of the Risk Factors Causing Severe Injuries in Crashes Involving Gravel Trucks

Objective: Gravel trucks that transport heavy materials such as gravel, sand, dirt, or crushed rock require great skill and attention for safe driving, especially when they carry excessive loads or drive at unwarranted speeds that tend to cause serious accidents. Very few studies in the past have attempted to examine the effect of risk factors on the severity of injury associated with gravel truck crashes. This study intends to assess the impact of risk factors on the severity of injury associated with gravel truck crashes. Methods: Factors that contribute to 2 severity levels of fatalities or injuries and property damage only were examined by using the binary logit model. This article also estimates the effects of risk factors on various types of crashes involving gravel trucks; for example, head-on, angle, sideswipe, and rear-end. Results: Some factors associated with lack of driver awareness, geometric improvements to roads or intersections, and the desire to achieve higher salaries by making more runs in a day were found to have a significant effect on causing severe injuries in gravel truck accidents. Conclusions: Some policy recommendations to prevent gravel truck–involved crashes that resulted in serious injuries include mandating gravel truck operators and companies to strictly enforce the maximum legal driving hours and improve the wage system of a low pay base and high-bonus by runs, in addition to a required driver training program, mandating gravel truck drivers to attend a traffic safety program for the education and awareness of risky driving behaviors—for example, overloading, speeding, and prolonged driving—before obtaining a professional driver's license.
Early Onset Schizophrenia Associated With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Clinical Features and Correlates

Objectives Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is notably a comorbid disorder in patients with schizophrenia. This study aimed to evaluate clinical features and correlates of early onset patients with schizophrenia with OCD. Methods In the present study, we included 10 patients with both schizophrenia and OCD and 19 patients with schizophrenia without OCD. The mean antipsychotic doses the patients needed for treatment are standardized as chlorpromazine equivalent dose. Results The mean antipsychotic doses at first episode were 491 ± 376 mg/d in schizophrenia comorbid OCD group and 290 ± 209 mg/d in the schizophrenia without OCD group (P = 0.018). This significant difference was also found for the mean doses at the assessment for the study (512.40 ± 336.22 mg/d in schizophrenia comorbid OCD and 296.05 ± 147.25 mg/d in patients with schizophrenia without OCD, P = 0.012). There was no statistical difference in the mean scores of Clinical Global Impression and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale between schizophrenia with and without OCD group, respectively. (Clinical Global Impression: 5 ± 0.66 vs 4.36 ± 0.83, P = 0.094; Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale: 67.60 ± 11.84 vs 69.84 ± 14.62, P = 0.573). Conclusions Adolescents with schizophrenia and OCD needed more antipsychotic doses for acute exacerbation and the maintenance of reduction of psychosis severity than adolescents with only schizophrenia. We could suggest that OCD comorbidity in schizophrenia is more treatment resistant, although the severity of the schizophrenia was similar between study groups. There was no correlation between OCD and schizophrenia symptoms either.
Knowledge of Prostate Cancer and Attitude towards Screening among Male Patients in Federal Teaching Hospital , Ido-Ekiti

DOI: 10.21276/sjams.2017. 5.10. 27 Abstract: Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among Nigerian men and the second most common cause of death from cancer in men worldwide. This study assesses the knowledge of prostate cancer and attitude towards screening among male patients in federal medical center, Ido Ekiti, Ekiti State. This study is a descriptive cross-sectional study. Self-administered structured questionnaires were used to collect information from patients attending urology clinic in a tertiary institution. Descriptive and inferential statistics was used to analyze the captured data at 0.05 level of significance. A response rate of 85.8% was recorded. Knowledge of prostate cancer was generally poor but about 46.0% of the respondents agreed that incidence of prostate cancer increases with age and only about one-quarter (n=25; 26.6%) of the respondents knew that prostate specific antigen (PSA) and digital rectal examination (DRE) are screening methods for prostate cancer. Attitude towards screening was also poor. Result shows that there was a significant relationship between educational level (p=0.008), knowledge of prostate cancer (p=0.006) and willingness to screen. There is a low level of knowledge of prostate cancer among respondents and their attitude towards screening is relatively poor, hence there is urgent need to increase awareness through various means such as campaign, media, and outpatients clinics.
Outcome after injury: memories, health-related quality of life, anxiety, and symptoms of depression after intensive care.

BACKGROUND To examine the relationship between delusional memories from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) stay, health related quality of life (HRQoL), anxiety, and symptoms of depression in patients with physical trauma, 6 months to 18 months after their ICU stay. METHODS Multicenter study in five combined medical and surgical ICUs (n = 239). A questionnaire comprising the Medical outcome Short Form 36, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale, and the Intensive Care Unit Memory tool was sent to the patients with trauma 6 months to 18 months after their discharge from the ICU. Clinical data were drawn from patient records in retrospect. A matched reference sample (n = 159) was randomly drawn from the Swedish Short Form 36 norm database (n = 8,930). RESULTS Patients with trauma had significantly lower HRQoL than the reference sample. One or more delusional memories such as hallucinations, nightmares, dreams, or sensations of people trying to hurt them in the ICU were experienced by 26%. These patients were significantly younger, had a longer ICU stay, relied more on mechanical ventilation, and had higher Injury Severity Score and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores. They also reported a significantly poorer HRQoL and a higher probability of experiencing anxiety (51% vs. 29%) and symptoms of depression (48% vs. 26%) compared with patients without such memories. CONCLUSIONS Our results highlight the importance of treating the delusional memories experienced by ICU patients with a trauma diagnosis as a postinjury factor with a potential to create anxiety and symptoms of depression and which may affect HRQoL after discharge.
Determination of epileptic focus side in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy using long-term noninvasive fNIRS/EEG monitoring for presurgical evaluation

Abstract. Noninvasive localization of an epileptogenic zone is a fundamental step for presurgical evaluation of epileptic patients. Here, we applied long-term simultaneous functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS)/electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring for focus diagnosis in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE). Six MTLE patients underwent long-term (8–16 h per day for 4 days) fNIRS/EEG monitoring for the occurrence of spontaneous seizures. Four spontaneous seizures were successfully recorded out of the six patients. To determine oxy-Hb amplitude, the period-average values of oxy-Hb across 20 s from the EEG- or clinically defined epileptic onset were calculated for both hemispheres from the simultaneously recorded fNIRS data. The average oxy-Hb values for the temporal lobe at the earlier EEG- or clinically defined epileptic onsets were greater for the epileptic side than for the contralateral side after EEG activity suppression, spike train, and clinical seizure in all four cases. The true laterality was determined based on the relief of seizures by selective amygdalo-hippocampectomy. Thus, oxy-Hb amplitude could be a reliable measure for determining the epileptic focus side. Long-term simultaneous fNIRS/EEG measurement serves as an effective tool for recording spontaneous seizures. Cerebral hemodynamic measurement by fNIRS would serve as a valuable supplementary noninvasive measurement method for presurgical evaluation of MTLE.
An investigation of an Artificial Neural Network method for personal identification using kinematic parameters from specific body parts

In the present study kinematic data elicited via a body motion analysis system were used in order to accurately identify individuals throughout specific periods of time. Fifteen males participated in a series of running trials interspersed with an eight-week training period. Body motion analysis comprised data from video recordings during running. After video analysis, various kinematic parameters related to motion of specific body parts (trunk, hip, knee, calf) were compared in order to measure body motion analysis’ recognition efficiency. These kinematic parameters were used as inputs for a classical artificial neural network, in order to recognize each individual, whilst, the output represented the identity of the individual. The artificial neural network is optimized regarding the values of crucial parameters such as the number of neurons, the time parameter and the 1 Faculty of Physical and Cultural Education, Hellenic Army Academy. 2 Department of Physical Education and Sports Science, University of Athens. 3 Department of Mathematics & Engineering Sciences, Hellenic Army Academy. 4 Electric Circuits Laboratory, Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering Division, Hellenic Naval Academy. Article Info: Received : November 12, 2014. Revised : February 15, 2015. Published online : September 15, 2015. 126 An investigation of an Artificial Neural Network method . initial value of the learning rate, etc. using the evaluation set. Three identification indices were selected. The general identification index (Ig) which expressed the % of the correct positive and correct negative identifications to the total population. The false negative index (If-neg) which expressed the % of the incorrect identifications of a non-authentic individual and the false positive index (If-pos) which expressed the % of the incorrect identifications of an authentic individual. The statistics showed that even with the use of 16 additional kinematic parameters the efficiency of the identification process was not improved. Further analysis showed that separately some kinematic parameters provided either higher If-neg or If-pos values whilst others presented low values in both identification indices. It seems that the need for satisfying the biometric criterion of social acceptability resulted in the use of parameters derived from specific body parts which diminished the video analysis efficiency and consequently person identification ability of body motion analysis.
Potency of Human Cardiosphere‐Derived Cells from Patients with Ischemic Heart Disease Is Associated with Robust Vascular Supportive Ability

Cardiosphere‐derived cell (CDC) infusion into damaged myocardium has shown some reparative effect; this could be improved by better selection of patients and cell subtype. CDCs isolated from patients with ischemic heart disease are able to support vessel formation in vitro but this ability varies between patients. The primary aim of our study was to investigate whether the vascular supportive function of CDCs impacts on their therapeutic potential, with the goal of improving patient stratification. A subgroup of patients produced CDCs which did not efficiently support vessel formation (poor supporter CDCs), had reduced levels of proliferation and increased senescence, despite them being isolated in the same manner and having a similar immunophenotype to CDCs able to support vessel formation. In a rodent model of myocardial infarction, poor supporter CDCs had a limited reparative effect when compared to CDCs which had efficiently supported vessel formation in vitro. This work suggests that not all patients provide cells which are suitable for cell therapy. Assessing the vascular supportive function of cells could be used to stratify which patients will truly benefit from cell therapy and those who would be better suited to an allogeneic transplant or regenerative preconditioning of their cells in a precision medicine fashion. This could reduce costs, culture times and improve clinical outcomes and patient prognosis. Stem Cells Translational Medicine 2017;6:1399–1411
PILOT SCALE BIOCHAR PRODUCTION FROM PALM KERNEL SHELL ( PKS ) IN A FIXED BED ALLOTHERMAL REACTOR

Oil palm biomass wastes such as oil palm fronds (OPF), empty fruit bunches (EFB) and palm kernel shells (PKS) are amongst the most abundantly available agricultural residues in Malaysia. Of these, an average 0.16 t PKS per tonne crude palm oil (CPO) is commonly used in palm oil mills as boiler fuel to generate steam and electricity, while the remaining unused 0.20 t PKS per tonne CPO are often sold as fuel. In order to diversify and add value to the remaining PKS, it is proposed to convert it into biochar to sequester CO2 and improve the productivity of low-fertility soil. In this study, PKS was carbonised under allothermal conditions at various temperatures (400°C to 600°C) and residence times (30 and 60 min) using the biochar experimenters kit (BEK). Biochar yield decreased from 52.1 ± 15.5 wt% at 400°C (30 min) to 33.4 ± 1.4 wt% at 600°C (60 min), while pH, elemental and fixed carbon content increased with temperature and residence time. The VM/FC (0.25 to 0.60) and O/C (0.12 – 0.23) ratios suggest that PKS biochar is an effective carbon sink with a half-life in soil > 100 years.
Hospital Nurse Staffing and Patient Outcomes: A Review of Current Literature

An aging nursing workforce, decreased enrollment in nursing schools, financial constraints in healthcare, hospital restructuring and reengineering, and consistent challenges in nursing recruitment and retention have contributed to shortages within the hospital-based nursing workforce. The effects of these shortages have been thought to be associated with various adverse patient outcomes. This article reviews current research studies and presents recommendations for ongoing nursing practice.