Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ameliorative effects of dietary clinoptilolite on pathological changes in broiler chickens during aflatoxicosis.

The amelioration of aflatoxicosis in broiler chickens was examined by feeding two concentrations of natural zeolite (clinoptilolite). Clinoptilolite (ClI), incorporated into the diet at 1.5 and 2.5 per cent, was evaluated for the ability to reduce the deleterious effects of 2.5 mg total aflatoxin (AF) kg(-1)diet on growing broiler chicks from 1 to 21 days of age. A total of 360 broiler chicks were divided into six treatment groups [Control, AF, CLI (1.5 per cent), AF plus CLI (1.5 per cent), CLI (2.5 per cent), and AF plus CLI (2.5 per cent)] each consisting of 60 chicks. Compared to controls, the AF consuming chicks showed increases in the relative weights of liver and kidney; and gross-histopathologic hepatic lesions such as paleness, friability, diffuse hydropic degeneration and/or fatty change, bile-duct hyperplasia and periportal fibrosis. Glumerular hypertrophy, increases in the number of mesengial cells and hydropic degeneration of tubuler epithelium in kidneys of chicks fed diet AF alone were also observed. Atrophy and lymphoid depletion were seen in the thymuses and bursa of Fabricius from the chicks fed AF alone. The additions of CLI (1.5 and 2.5 per cent) to the AF -containing diet moderately (significantly in some cases) decreased the number of affected broilers and/or the severity of lesions. The addition of CLI to the AF-free diet did not produce any significant changes compared with the controls. These results suggest that CLI was effective for the protection of AF-toxication in broilers and it could contribute to a solution of the AF problem in poultry production.
Women in couples antenatal HIV counseling and testing are not more likely to report adverse social events

Background: Couple counseling has been promoted as a strategy to improve uptake of interventions to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission (pMTCT) and to minimize adverse social outcomes associated with disclosure of HIV status. Objectives: We tested whether women counseled antenatally as part of a couple were more likely to accept HIV testing and nevirapine in a pMTCT program, and whether they would be less likely to experience later adverse social events than women counseled alone. Methods: A pMTCT program that included active community education and outreach to encourage couple counseling and testing was implemented in two antenatal clinics in Lusaka, Zambia. A subset of HIV-positive women was asked to report their experience of adverse social events 6 months after delivery. Couple-counseled women were compared with individual-counseled women stratified by whether or not they had disclosed their HIV status to their partners. Results: Nine percent (868) of 9409 women counseled antenatally were counseled with their husband. Couple-counseled women were more likely to accept HIV testing (96%) than women counseled alone (79%); however uptake of nevirapine was not improved. Six months after delivery, 28% of 324 HIV-positive women reported at least one adverse social event (including physical violence, verbal abuse, divorce or separation). There were no significant differences in reported adverse social events between couple- and individual-counseled women. Conclusions: Couple counseling did not increase the risk of adverse social events associated with HIV disclosure. Support services and interventions to improve social situations for people living with HIV need to be further evaluated.
Modulating impact of human chorionic gonadotropin hormone on the maturation and function of hematopoietic cells

hCG hormone is a naturally occurring, immune‐modulating agent, which is highly expressed during pregnancy and causes improvements of some autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis and Crohnˈs disease. Little is known about its immune‐modulating effects. This study in MNCs of women who received hCG as preconditioning prior to IVF demonstrates that hCG increases anti‐inflammatory IL‐27 expression and reduces inflammatory IL‐17 expression. In addition, we found increased IL‐10 levels and elevated numbers of Tregs in peripheral blood of women after hCG application. Rejection of allogeneic skin grafts was delayed in female mice receiving hCG. We conclude that hCG may be useful for the induction of immune tolerance in solid organ transplantation.
Ethanol-induced free radicals and hepatic DNA strand breaks are prevented in vivo by antioxidants: effects of acute and chronic ethanol exposure.

Ethanol was given to male Wistar rats as an acute dose (5 g/kg) or continuously at 5% (w/v) in a liquid diet to provide 36% of the caloric requirement. Free radicals generated in the liver were collected as a stable adduct in bile following the in vivo administration of the spin trapping agent alpha-(4-pyridyl-1-oxide)-N-tert-butylnitrone (POBN; 700 mg/kg). [1-(13)C]ethanol was used to confirm the formation of the 1-hydroxyethyl radical and to demonstrate that this was ethanol-derived in the case of the single-dose treatment. Free radical production increased up to 1h after the acute dose and then plateaued over the next 30 min. During chronic exposure to ethanol, free radical generation increased significantly after 1 week and then declined again to remain at a low level over the next 2 weeks; this transient increase corresponded closely with the induction of cytochrome P-450 2E1 (CYP 2E1) in response to ethanol feeding. Single-cell electrophoresis was used to investigate effects on DNA. After an acute dose of ethanol, the frequency of single-strand breaks increased from 1 h to peak at 6 h but then declined again to control values by 12 h. During the chronic exposure, an increase in the frequency of DNA breaks was seen at 3 days, reached a peak at 1 week and then decreased slowly over the next 5 weeks. The effects of antioxidants on these parameters was investigated after an acute dose of ethanol. Pre-treatment with vitamin C (400 mg/kg, i.p., daily for 5 days) or vitamin E (100 mg/kg, i.p., for 5 days) prior to the administration of ethanol (5 g/kg) inhibited generation of the 1-hydroxyethyl-POBN adduct by 30 and 50%, respectively, and both agents prevented the increased frequency of DNA single-strand breaks caused by ethanol. The significance of the temporal coincidence of changes in the above parameters in response to ethanol is discussed.
Control of Pre‐rift Lithospheric Structure on the Architecture and Evolution of Continental Rifts: Insights From the Main Ethiopian Rift, East Africa

We investigate the along‐axis variations in architecture, segmentation, and evolution of the Main Ethiopian Rift (MER), East Africa, and relate these characteristics to the regional geology, lithospheric structure, and surface processes. We first illustrate significant along‐axis variations in basin architecture through analysis of simplified geological cross sections in different rift sectors. We then integrate this information with a new analysis of Ethiopian topography and hydrography to illustrate how rift architecture (basin symmetry/asymmetry) is reflected in the margin topography and has been likely amplified by a positive feedback between tectonics (flexural uplift) and surface processes (fluvial erosion and unloading). This analysis shows that ~70% of the 500 km long MER is asymmetric, with most of the asymmetric rift sectors being characterized by a master fault system on the eastern margin. We finally relate rift architecture and segmentation to the regional geology and geophysical constraints on the lithosphere. We provide strong evidence that rift architecture is controlled by the contrasting nature of the lithosphere beneath the homogeneous, strong Somalian Plateau and the weaker, more heterogeneous Ethiopian Plateau, differences originating from the presence of pre‐rift zones of weakness on the Ethiopian Plateau and likely amplified by surface processes. The data provided by this integrated analysis suggest that asymmetric rifts may directly progress to focused axial tectonic‐magmatic activity, without transitioning into a symmetric rifting stage. These observations have important implications for the asymmetry of continental rifts and conjugate passive margins worldwide.
Peritransplant Immunoadsorption for Positive Crossmatch Deceased Donor Kidney Transplantation

Various desensitization protocols were shown to enable successful living donor kidney transplantation across a positive complement‐dependent cytotoxicity crossmatch (CDCXM). Positive crossmatch transplantation, however, is less well established for deceased donor transplantation. We report a cohort of 68 deceased donor renal allograft recipients who, on the basis of broad sensitization (lymphocytotoxic panel reactivity ≥40%), were subjected to a protocol of peritransplant immunoadsorption (IA). Treatment consisted of a single session of immediate pretransplant IA (protein A) followed by posttransplant IA and antilymphocyte antibody therapy. Twenty‐one patients had a positive CDCXM, which could be rendered negative by pretransplant apheresis. Solid phase HLA antibody detection revealed preformed donor‐specific antibodies (DSA) in all 21 CDCXM‐positive and in 30 CDCXM‐negative recipients. At 5 years, overall graft survival, death‐censored graft survival and patient survival were 63%, 76% and 87%, respectively, without any differences between CDCXM‐positive, CDCXM‐negative/DSA‐positive and CDCXM‐negative/DSA‐negative recipients. Furthermore, groups did not differ regarding rates of antibody‐mediated rejection (24% vs. 30% vs. 24%, p = 0.84), cellular rejection (14% vs. 23% vs. 18%, p = 0.7) or allograft function (median 5‐year serum creatinine: 1.3 vs. 1.8 vs. 1.7 mg/dL, p = 0.62). Our results suggest that peritransplant IA is an effective strategy for rapid desensitization in deceased donor transplantation.
A Microfludic Assay Device for Study of Cell Migration on ECM-mimicking Suspended Nanofibers in Presence of Biochemical Cues

Eukaryotic cell chemotaxis, or directed cell migration in response to a chemoeffector gradient, plays a central role in many important biological process such as wound healing, cancer metastasis, and embryogenesis. In vivo, cells migrate on fibrous ECM, but chemotaxis studies are typically conducted on flat substrates which fail to recapitulate ECM or 3D gel environments with heterogeneous and poorly defined biophysical properties. To address these challenges, this thesis focused on developing a microfluidic assay device which utilizes a reductionist approach to study single cell chemotaxis on aligned, suspended ECMmimicking nanofibers. The device is comprised of a network of microfluidic mixing channels which produce a temporally invariant, linear chemical gradient over nanofiber scaffolds in an observation channel. The microfluidic device design was guided by a numerical model and validated with experimental testing. This device was used to study mouse embryonic fibroblast NIH/3T3 response to platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) on flat polystyrene and suspended, polystyrene nanofibers with small (15 μm), and large (25 μm) spacing. Cell aspect ratio is lowest for flat polystyrene (spread morphology) and highest for large-spaced fibers (spindle morphology). Cells migrating on fibers begin to show a chemotaxis response to a PDGF gradient 10 times shallower than that required for chemotaxis response on a flat substrate. Furthermore, cells with spindle morphology maintain a robust and strong response over a broad range of chemoattractant concentration. These cells also had a 45% increase in speed and 26% increase in persistence over cells on flat polystyrene. The findings of this thesis suggest that 2D substrates may not be sufficient for studying physiologically relevant chemotaxis.
Cultural Relevance of Physical Activity Intervention Research with Underrepresented Populations

This article describes cultural relevance in physical activity intervention research with underrepresented populations. Seventy-one extant studies which tested interventions to increase physical activity among underrepresented adults were included. Verbatim descriptions of efforts to enhance cultural relevance of study designs and interventions were extracted and then content analyzed. We found strategies to enhance cultural relevance of interventions as soliciting input from population members, linking intervention content with values, addressing language and literacy challenges, incorporating population media figures, using culturally relevant forms of physical activity, and addressing specific population linked barriers to activity. Methodological approaches included specialized recruitment and study locations, culturally relevant measures, underrepresented personnel, and cost-awareness study procedures to prevent fiscal barriers to participation. Most reported activities were surface matching. Existing research neither compared the effectiveness of cultural relevance approaches to standardized interventions nor addressed economic, education, geographic, or cultural heterogeneity among groups.
The RNA recognition motif, a plastic RNA‐binding platform to regulate post‐transcriptional gene expression

The RNA recognition motif (RRM), also known as RNA‐binding domain (RBD) or ribonucleoprotein domain (RNP) is one of the most abundant protein domains in eukaryotes. Based on the comparison of more than 40 structures including 15 complexes (RRM–RNA or RRM–protein), we reviewed the structure–function relationships of this domain. We identified and classified the different structural elements of the RRM that are important for binding a multitude of RNA sequences and proteins. Common structural aspects were extracted that allowed us to define a structural leitmotif of the RRM–nucleic acid interface with its variations. Outside of the two conserved RNP motifs that lie in the center of the RRM β‐sheet, the two external β‐strands, the loops, the C‐ and N‐termini, or even a second RRM domain allow high RNA‐binding affinity and specific recognition. Protein–RRM interactions that have been found in several structures reinforce the notion of an extreme structural versatility of this domain supporting the numerous biological functions of the RRM‐containing proteins.
Effects of Access to and Treatment in Specialist Facilities on Survival From Epithelial Ovarian Cancer in Australian Women: A Data Linkage Study

Objective The aim of this study was to determine whether the distance of residence from a Gynecological Oncology Service (GOS) was associated with a better survival from ovarian cancer. Methods We linked cancer registry records to hospital records for 3749 women with ovarian cancer diagnosed between 2000 and 2008 in New South Wales, Australia. Access to a GOS was measured in kilometers from a woman’s geocoded address to the geocoded address of the closest public GOS hospital. Flexible parametric survival, Cox proportional hazards, and logistic regression models were fitted to examine whether better access to a GOS was associated with a better survival and whether extensive surgery was received for ovarian cancer after adjustment for patient, tumor, and treatment factors. Results Hazard of death from ovarian cancer was greater in women who were treated in a public general hospital than in women treated in a GOS hospital (hazards ratio, 0.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.64–0.95), and greater in those who did not have extensive surgery than in those who did (hazards ratio, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.38–0.58). The further women with ovarian cancer lived from a public GOS hospital, the more likely they were to be treated in a public general hospital. Women were 19 times more likely (odds ratio, 19.40; 95% CI, 13.92–27.04) to be treated only in a general hospital when they lived 187 km or more from a public GOS hospital than women who lived within 5 km of one. Conclusions Distance of residence from GOS hospitals in Australia is an important determinant of access to GOS hospitals. Treatment in a public or private GOS hospital and having surgery were the strongest predictors of survival from epithelial ovarian cancer. Research is required into the barriers to referral of patients with ovarian cancer for care in GOS hospitals; low population density limits options for supply of GOS in rural areas.
Efficiency of Accounting Information System and Performance Measures – Literature Review

Accounting information system had been widely used by many organizations to automate and integrate their business operations . The main objective s of many businesses to adopt this system are to improve their business efficiency and increase competitiveness. The qualitative characteristic of any Accounting Information System can be maintained if there is a sound internal control system. Internal control is run to ensure the achievement of operational goals and performance. Therefore the purpose of this study is to examine the efficiency of Accounting Information System on performance measures using the secondary data in which it was found that accounting information system is of great importance to both businesses and organization in which it helps in facilitating management decision making, internal controls ,quality of the financial report ,and it facilitates the company’s transaction and it also plays an important role i n economic system, and the study recommends that businesses, firms and organization should adopt the use of AIS because adequate accounting information is essential for every effective decision making process and adequate information is possible if accounting information systems are run efficiently also, efficient Accounting Information Systems ensures that all levels of management get sufficient, adequate, relevant and true information for planning and controlling activities of the business organization.
Factors Associated with Quality of Life in Adult Epilepsy Patients: a Hospital Based Study from South India

Background: Epilepsy is a chronic condition which affects quality of life (QOL). QOL is considered as an important outcome measure and component of management in studies of adult epilepsy. Objective: To evaluate factors associated with quality of life in adult epilepsy patients. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed to examine the quality of life in 560 adult patients with epilepsy. The data collected included detailed clinical and socio-demographic data, epilepsy details, psychiatric diagnosis (ICD-10 for Mental and behavioral disorders), Liverpool seizure severity scale (LSSS) and Quality of life in epilepsy (QOLIE-31) are assessed. Descriptive statistics-Percentages, ANOVA, Univariate odds and Multiple Logistic Regression analysis with step-down procedure were done. Results: Study population comprised 337 males and 223 females with mean age of 29.26 + 10.83 (range 18-50) years. On Univariate Odds ratio (OR) (95% CI) for single anti-epileptic drug (AED) 2.75(1.85 to 4.09) and absence of psychiatric diagnosis 1.60(1.02 to 2.53) are predictors for good QOL. On one-way ANOVA with QOLIE subscales, seizure frequency and psychiatric diagnosis were found to be statistically significant (p<0.01) but no significant interaction between them. On Logistic Regression step down procedure, psychiatric diagnosis (OR 95% C.I) 7.29(1.65 to 32.10) and multiple AED 1.86(1.24 to 3.51) was found to be predicting factors for poor QOLIE. Conclusion: The presence of psychiatric diagnosis (Depression and Anxiety) was the strongest predictor of poor QOLIE patients. Early psychiatric evaluation and intervention would improve quality of life in epilepsy patients.
Therapeutic monitoring of mycophenolate mofetil.

Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) has become the single most used immunosuppressant in solid-organ transplantation. Despite a well-documented relationship and efficacy (in terms of acute rejection prophylaxis) and exposure to mycophenolic acids (MPA) as measured by area under the curve (AUC), excellent results have been achieved using a fixed-dosage regimen. In the past several years, there has been an increased interest in the utility of monitoring MPA concentrations to both increase efficacy and decrease toxicity, particularly in many current drug minimization protocols. MMF is morpholinoethyl ester of MPA, a potent and reversible inhibitor of inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH), isoform 2 (1). MPA originally was discovered from Penicillium brevicompactum and related fungi in the late 19th century, and its major activity on IMPDH first was reported in 1969 (2). MPA was developed as an immunosuppressant by Syntex in 1980s to complement existing immunosuppressive agents, including calcineurin inhibitor, azathioprine, and corticosteroids (3). IMPDH became a target for immunosuppression because lymphocytes depend on the de novo guanosine nucleotide synthesis pathway for DNA synthesis and cell division (3). Because other cell types, including neurons, depend primarily on the alternative salvage pathway for DNA synthesis, MPA selectively inhibits the proliferation of human T and B lymphocytes. Since the 1990s, when large, double-blind, randomized trials in kidney transplant recipients (4–6) showed the efficacy of MMF in preventing early acute rejection, in combination with cyclosporine (CsA) and prednisone, MMF has been used widely as a part of various combination regimens of immunosuppressive agents. To appreciate fully the complexities and controversies involved in therapeutic monitoring, one must have a substantial understanding of the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of MPA. This review covers the basic pharmacology of MMF and then discusses the data that are available on the utility of monitoring of MPA concentrations. MMF, being a pro-drug of MPA, …
Novel Snapback-Free Reverse-Conducting SOI-LIGBT With Dual Embedded Diodes

A novel 500 V reverse-conducting (RC) silicon-on-insulator lateral insulated gate bipolar transistor (SOI-LIGBT) with dual embedded diodes (DEDs) is proposed to eliminate the snapback, and its mechanism is investigated by simulation. The RC is realized by the internal diode, which consists of two p-i-n diodes (D1 and D2). The two diodes are connected in series. In the RC-state, the current flows through D1 first and then through D2. D2 is embedded in the anode region of the proposed DED-LIGBT and is fully isolated by the deep-oxide trench. In the forward conducting state, D2 is reverse biased and the electrons from the N<sup>+</sup> cathode can only flow into the P<sup>+</sup> anode. The DEDs reroute the electron current path, and thus, the snapback is avoided. Moreover, by adjusting the width of D2 (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${W}_{b})$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, the internal diode of the DED structure achieves superior reverse recovery time (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${t}_{\text {rr}})$ </tex-math></inline-formula> and reverse recovery peak current (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${I}_{\text {rrm}})$ </tex-math></inline-formula> to the conventional SOI p-i-n diode.
Integrated call control in a CDMA cellular system

Soft handoff is an essential component of code-division multiple-access (CDMA) digital mobile communication systems. While soft handoff has some advantages of system capacity and communication quality, it also has some disadvantages arising from the excessive use of channel resources. In this study, we propose a new control policy to alleviate effectively this excessive use of channel resources. For CDMA cellular mobile systems consisting of homogeneous cells, a variety of traffic parameters are estimated by the detailed traffic analysis, based on which a Markovian queueing model is developed to analyze the performance of the proposed call control policy. With a well-known performance objective, a mathematical problem of finding optimal call control parameters is proposed, along with its solution method.