Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Raised levels of IFN-gamma and IL-13 are associated with pre-diabetes amongst newly diagnosed patients with Tuberculosis.

OBJECTIVE To investigate pre-diabetes and diabetes in newly-diagnosed tuberculosis patients and to assess the association of serum cytokine levels with diabetes status. METHODS The cross-sectional study was conducted at Indus Hospital and The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi from May to November 2015, and included patients of either gender aged 18 years or more with a confirmed diagnosis of tuberculosis who were either newly diagnosed or had received up to 1 month of anti-tuberculosis therapy were included. Patients were enrolled from among those presenting to the clinics at Indus Hospital, Karachi, and the Department of Medicine, Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), Karachi. The patients were tested for glycosylated haemoglobin and random blood glucose. Diabetes was defined as HbA1c >6.5%; pre-diabetes as HbA1c=5.7-6.4%; and normoglycaemic as HbA1c <5.7%. Serum cytokines were investigated using the Bio-plex 27, Bio-Rad assay. SPSS version 19.0 was used for data analysis. RESULTS Of the 211 subjects, 110(52%) were females and 101(48%) were males. The overall median age of the sample was 26 years, and 100(47.3%) subjects were underweight. Of the total, 24(11.4%) had diabetes and 45(21.3%) had pre-diabetes. Of the diabetics, only 7(29%) knew their status prior to screening. Interferon-gamma and interleukin-13 were significantly different among tuberculosis patients with diabetes, pre-diabetes and normoglycaemia (p<0.05). Glycosylated haemoglobin levels showed a significant correlation with interferon-gamma levels. CONCLUSIONS Raised interleukin-13 and interferon-gamma levels in newly-diagnosed tuberculosis patients with pre-diabetes.
Relative mitochondrial area in branchial and renal epithelia of the tropical estuarine pufferfish Sphoeroides testudineus after acclimation to isosmotic seawater

The gills of teleost fishes are responsible both for gas exchange in respiration and salt transport in osmoregulation (JOBLING, 1995; ZADUNAISKY, 1996; PERRY, 1997; VAN DER HEIJDEN et al., 1997; EVANS et al., 1999; EVANS et al., 2005). In marine teleosts the gill epithelium secretes salt mainly through chloride cells (JOBLING, 1995; ZADUNAISKY, 1996; PERRY, 1997; VAN DER HEIJDEN et al., 1997; FERNANDES et al., 1998; EVANS et al., 2005). These cells are typically located between secondary lamellae at their insertion in the gill filament (inter-lamellar region) or in the gill filament itself (LAURENT & DUNEL, 1980; PERRY, 1997; FERNANDES et al., 1998; EVANS et al., 2005). These cells are rounded, display abundant mitochondria, a tubular system of endomembranes, sub-apical vesicles, and extensive intercellular junctional complexes (LAURENT & DUNEL, 1980; JOBLING, 1995; ZADUNAISKY, 1996; PERRy, 1997; EVANS et al., 2005).
Parásitos intestinales en caninos y felinos con cuadros digestivos en Santiago, Chile. Consideraciones en Salud Pública

Protozoa were found in 64.8% of dogs and in 66.5% of cats;helminthes in 24% of dogs and 45.2% of cats. The species found in dogs were Blastocystis sp. in 36%,Ameba sp. in 31%, Giardia intestinalis in 22%, Toxocara canis in 11%, Chilomastix sp. in 10%,Isospora sp. in 9%, Trichuris vulpis in 9%, Trichomonas sp. in 5%, Sarcocystis sp. in 4%, Dipylidiumcaninum in 2%, Ancylostomideos in 2%, Toxascaris leonina in 1%, Physaloptera sp. in 1%, Taeniasp. in 0.4%. Species found in cats were Blastocystis sp. in 37%, Ameba sp. in 30%, G intestinalis in19%, Chilomastix sp. in 12%, Isospora sp. in 12%, Toxocara cati in 10%, D caninum in 7%,Sarcocystis sp. in 5%, Trichomona sp. in 5%, Toxoplasma gondii in 4%, Taenia sp. in 2% andPhysaloptera sp. in 1%. Forty eight percent of parasites found in dogs and 49% found in cats havezoonotic potential. In dogs younger than six months Blastocystis sp. , Ameba sp. , G intestinalis,Chilomastix sp. , Isospora sp. and T canis were significantly more common; the same was observedfor Isospora in young cats. Approximately 60% of infected animals bore more than one parasite.
Generalized trace-distance measure connecting quantum and classical non-Markovianity

We establish a direct connection of quantum Markovianity of an open quantum system to its classical counterpart by generalizing the criterion based on the information flow. Here, the flow is characterized by the time evolution of Helstrom matrices, given by the weighted difference of statistical operators, under the action of the quantum dynamical evolution. It turns out that the introduced criterion is equivalent to P-divisibility of a quantum process, namely divisibility in terms of positive maps, which provides a direct connection to classical Markovian stochastic processes. Moreover, it is shown that similar mathematical representations as those found for the original trace distance based measure hold true for the associated, generalized measure for quantum non-Markovianity. That is, we prove orthogonality of optimal states showing a maximal information backflow and establish a local and universal representation of the measure. We illustrate some properties of the generalized criterion by means of examples.
Predictors of white blood cell interleukin-6 DNA methylation levels in healthy subjects

DNA methylation at gene regulatory sequences has been associated with risk of human diseases. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) methylation is a candidate biomarker for predicting disease risk, but factors that influence IL-6 methylation in healthy individuals remain largely unknown. The aim of this study was to identify predictors of IL-6 methylation in white blood cells (WBCs) from 673 healthy individuals. DNA methylation of IL-6 regulatory sequences in peripheral WBCs was quantified by PCR-pyrosequencing. Individuals with higher body mass index (BMI) (≥23.6 kg/m2) had higher IL-6 methylation levels (β = 2.08%, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 0.59% to 3.58%), compared with subjects with lower BMI. Serum triglyceride also correlated with IL-6 methylation, and an interquartile increase in triglyceride was associated with a 0.69% (95% CI: 0.02% to 1.36%) increase in IL-6 methylation. No associations were found with age, gender, alcohol consumption, smoking, diabetes, hypertension, total serum cholesterol or plasma homocysteine. The total number of WBCs and interquartile plasma C-reactive protein levels were inversely associated with IL-6 methylation. These findings need to be considered in designing future epidemiological investigations aimed at identifying associations between IL-6 methylation and health outcomes.
Growth and Injury Patterns of Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus L.) Seedlings as Affected by Hardwood Overstory Density and Weeding Treatments

White pine seedlings were underplanted under a range of overstory densities in a hardwood stand in northern Minnesota. Vegetation surrounding seedlings was left untreated (control), weeded annually, or completely removed through monthly weeding. After 4 years, the benefit of weeding woody competition for diameter growth of seedlings was limited to areas with relatively open overstory conditions. Seedling height growth was reduced in areas with higher overstory density, but improved through weeding treatments that removed woody vegetation. The removal of herbaceous vegetation did not improve growth of seedlings in any conditions. Open growing conditions created by overstory removal and weed control resulted in higher incidences of seedling injuries, e.g., through infection by white pine blister rust. Conditions for pine bark adelgids also were enhanced in areas with low overstory densities and weeding treatments. The incidence for white pine weevil seems to follow a similar pattern, although the number of trees infected was minimal. Results show that improving growing conditions through management of the overstory and understory vegetation improves seedling growth rates, but must be balanced with potentially higher incidences of seedling injuries under more open conditions. North. J. Appl. For. 21(2):61–68.
Improvement of pulmonary function and life quality on high paraplegia patients through pulmonary rehabilitation

Background: Spinal cord injury is often accompanied by paraplegia with respiratory failure, brings about patients suffering. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of pulmonary rehabilitation on pulmonary function and life quality in patients with advanced high paraplegia. Methods: Total of 98 patients with spinal cord injury were randomly divided into experimental group (49 cases) and control group (49 cases). All patients received conventional rehabilitation therapy, experimental group received another 12 months pulmonary rehabilitation therapy. The pulmonary function and life quality were used to analyze the effects of pulmonary rehabilitation. Results: The experimental group with pulmonary rehabilitation had significant improvements. The pulmonary function indicators such as forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), maximal ventilation volume (MVV), forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV1/FVC had been greatly improved (P < 0.01). The indicators of life quality such as physical function, social function, role emotional, mental health and body pain had been greatly improved (P < 0.01). Conclusion: The pulmonary rehabilitation had great improvements on the pulmonary function and life quality in patients with advanced high paraplegia.
Graphene on Pt(111): Growth and Substrate interaction

In situ low-energy electron microscopy (LEEM) of graphene growth combined with measurements of the graphene structure and electronic band structure has been used to study graphene on Pt(111). Growth by carbon segregation produces macroscopic monolayer graphene domains extending continuously across Pt(111) substrate steps and bounded by strongly faceted edges. LEEM during cooling from the growth temperature shows the propagation of wrinkles in the graphene sheet, driven by thermal stress. The lattice mismatch between graphene and Pt(111) is accommodated by moire structures with a large number of different rotational variants, without a clear preference for a particular interface geometry. Fast and slow growing graphene domains exhibit moire structures with small [e.g., (3 x 3){sub G}, ({radical}6 x {radical}6)R2{sub G}, and (2 x 2)R4{sub G}] and large unit cells [e.g., ({radical}44 x {radical}44)R15{sub G}, ({radical}52 x {radical}52)R14{sub G}, and (8 x 8){sub G}], respectively. A weak substrate coupling, suggested by the growth and structural properties of monolayer graphene on Pt(111), is confirmed by maps of the band structure, which is close to that of isolated graphene aside from minimal hole doping due to charge transfer from the metal. Finally, the decoupled graphene monolayer on Pt(111) appears impenetrable to carbon diffusion, which self-limitsmore » the graphene growth at monolayer thickness. Thicker graphene domains, which can form at boundaries between monolayer domains, have been used to characterize the properties of few-layer graphene on Pt(111). « less
The Vanishing Idea of a Scholarly Life: Workload Calculations and the Loss of Academic Integrity in Western Sydney.

The loss of collegiality and the loss of academic integrity were key themes raised during forums, personal interviews, a survey and focus groups conducted with University of Western Sydney academic staff as part of a research project into academic work load agreements. In this paper the experiences related by participants are placed in the light of current literature. This paper follows Soliman and Soliman (1997) in suggesting that academics must make their work visible or the essential broad contribution of academic work will never be fully understood by managers whose priorities are sometimes peripheral to educational processes. It outlines difficulties academics are experiencing in the key areas of casualisation, teaching and research, and administration, which are contributing to loss of collegiality.
Is There Any Relationship between Unemployment in Young Graduates and Psychological Resources? An Empirical Research from the Conservation of Resources Theory

espanolRESUMEN La situacion de crisis que ha vivido el mundo occidental desde 2007 ha generado miles de desempleados. Uno de los paises mas afectados por el desempleo es Espana, en especial los jovenes (34.7%). A la vista de este contexto intentamos analizar el rol de los recursos psicologicos, el bienestar, el distres y el eustres en jovenes graduados empleados y desempleados. Hemos utilizado una muestra de 542 jovenes graduados, de los cuales el 48.3% estaban desempleados y los que trabajaban ocupaban puestos relacionados con su formacion academica. Nuestros resultados sugieren que: 1) es algo mas probable que los jovenes recien graduados encuentren trabajo si tienen puntuaciones altas en optimismo, 2) la resiliencia, el optimismo, la autonomia, la autoeficacia, el dominio del entorno y la satisfaccion general con la vida estan deteriorados en los jovenes sin trabajo, a la par que aumenta en ellos el afecto negativo y 3) el dominio del entorno juega un papel fundamental en los jovenes graduados desempleados, dado que su perdida guarda relacion con el distres mientras que su ganancia se relaciona con el eustres. Los resultados de esta investigacion son relevantes para implementar programas de entrenamiento que contribuyan a mejorar el bienestar y la calidad de vida de estas personas desempleadas, lo que les permitira estar en una mejor disposicion para encontrar trabajo. EnglishABSTRACT The recession suffered in the western world since 2007 has left thousands of people unemployed. One of the countries most affected by unemployment is Spain and specially its young population (34.7%). Considering this context, we try to find out the role of psychological resources, well-being, distress, and eustress, among young employed and unemployed graduates. We worked with a sample of 542 young graduates, of whom 48.3% were unemployed, and those employed held job positions related to their academic background. Our results suggest that: 1) it is somewhat likely for young recent graduates to find a job if they score high in optimism; 2) resilience, optimism, autonomy, self-efficacy, environmental mastery, and overall life satisfaction are deteriorated in unemployment youth, while negative affect is increased in this group; and 3) environmental mastery plays a fundamental role among young unemployed graduates, for its loss is related to distress while its gain is related to eustress. The results of this research are relevant with regards to the implementation of training programs that contribute to the improvement of the well-being and life quality of these unemployed individuals, therefore allowing them to be in a better position to find a job.
Spinal curvatures of children and adolescents – a cross-sectional study

Summary Study aim: The aim was to assess the spinal curvatures of primary and lower secondary male and female students from Silesia and to identify individual variations that can determine spinal posture. Material and methods: The study involved 331 girls and 286 boys aged 8 to 16 years. Eligible criteria were non-participation in any professional sport training, and participation in mandatory physical education classes. Posture was evaluated using the moiré method. Measurements of somatic parameters were made with a medical scale using a height meter and a Tanita electronic balance. Results: Dimorphic postural differences of boys and girls were seen mainly in the shape of lumbar lordosis. Girls were more lordotic than boys at all ages except 10-years-olds. Angle γ was significantly greater in 9-, 15- and 16-year-old girls than boys. LLA was significantly more prominent in 15- and 16-year-old girls than boys. Thoracic kyphosis was significantly more prominent in 8- and 11-year-old boys than girls. We also found a significant effect of age and somatic parameters. In boys mean lumbar lordosis was more pronounced in 10-year-olds. In girls fat mass, fat percentage and BMI correlated with angle α and angle Δ. In boys body height and mass, fat mass, total body water and BMI correlated with angles β, γ, Δ, and lordosis lumbar angle. Conclusions: The shape of lumbar lordosis is associated with age and gender. Lumbar lordosis decreases with age in male children and adolescents. Our study revealed poor correlations between sagittal spinal curvatures and somatic parameters.
PREDICTIONS FOR ULTRA-DEEP RADIO COUNTS OF STAR-FORMING GALAXIES

We have worked outty predictions for the radio counts of star-forming galaxies down to nJy levels, along with redshift distributions down to the detection limits of the phase 1 Square Kilometer Array MID telescope (SKA1-MID) and of its precursors. Such predictions were obtained by coupling epoch-dependent star formation rate (SFR) functions with relations between SFR and radio (synchrotron and free–free) emission. The SFR functions were derived taking into account both the dust-obscured and the unobscured star formation, by combining far-infrared, ultraviolet, and Hα luminosity functions up to high redshifts. We have also revisited the South Pole Telescope counts of dusty galaxies at 95 GHz, performing a detailed analysis of the Spectral Energy Distributions. Our results show that the deepest SKA1-MID surveys will detect high-z galaxies with SFRs two orders of magnitude lower compared to Herschel surveys. The highest redshift tails of the distributions at the detection limits of planned SKA1-MID surveys comprise a substantial fraction of strongly lensed galaxies. We predict that a survey down to 0.25 μJy at 1.4 GHz will detect about 1200 strongly lensed galaxies per square degree, at redshifts of up to 10. For about 30% of them the SKA1-MID will detect at least 2 images. The SKA1-MID will thus provide a comprehensive view of the star formation history throughout the re-ionization epoch, unaffected by dust extinction. We have also provided specific predictions for the EMU/ASKAP and MIGHTEE/MeerKAT surveys.
Effects of Foliar Application of Boron (B) on the Grain Set and Yield of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Aims: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of foliar application of boron (B) on the grain set and yield of wheat (cv. Shatabdi). Study Design: The experiment was designed with six boron treatments, arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Place and Duration of Study: The field trial was conducted at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) farm, Mymensingh during 27 November 2010 to 24 March 2011. Methodology: The B treatments were (i) B control, (ii) soil application of B, (iii) seed priming into boric acid solution, (iv) foliar spray of B at primordial stage of crop, (v) foliar spray of B at booting stage and (vi) foliar spray of B at primordial and booting stages. The rate of B for soil application was 1.5 kg B ha from boric acid (17% B) and the rate for each foliar spray was 0.4% boric acid solution. Seed priming was done by soaking wheat seeds into 0.1% boric acid solution for 10 hours and then seeds were dried before sowing. Every plot received 115 kg N, 25 kg P, 75 kg K and 15 kg S per hectare from urea, TSP, MoP and gypsum, respectively. Original Research Article Fakir et al.; AJEA, 12(2): 1-8, 2016; Article no.AJEA. 24286 2 Results: The treatment receiving foliar spray of B at both primordial and booting stages of the crop performed the highest yield (3630 kg ha) which was statistically similar with the yield recorded with foliar spray of B at booting or primordial stage of crop and with soil application of B before crop (wheat) was sown; all the yields were significantly higher over the yield noted with seed priming or control treatment. The control treatment (no B application) had the lowest grain yield (2600 kg ha) which was significantly lower than the yield observed with the seed priming treatment. Conclusion: Wheat yield was affected due to grain set failure induced by boron deficiency and it was possible to overcome this element deficiency by soil application at 1.5 kg B ha or foliar application of 0.4% boric acid solution at primordial or booting stage of crop.
Tolerizing CTL by Sustained Hepatic PD-L1 Expression Provides a New Therapy Approach in Mouse Sepsis

Cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activation contributes to liver damage during sepsis, but the mechanisms involved are largely unknown. Understanding the underlying principle will permit interference with CTL activation and thus, provide a new therapeutic option. Methods: To elucidate the mechanism leading to CTL activation we used the Hepa1-6 cell line in vitro and the mouse model of in vivo polymicrobial sepsis, following cecal-ligation and -puncture (CLP) in wildtype, myeloid specific NOX-2, global NOX2 and NOX4 knockout mice, and their survival as a final readout. In this in vivo setting, we also determined hepatic mRNA and protein expression as well as clinical parameters of liver damage - aspartate- and alanine amino-transaminases. Hepatocyte specific overexpression of PD-L1 was achieved in vivo by adenoviral infection and transposon-based gene transfer using hydrodynamic injection. Results: We observed downregulation of PD-L1 on hepatocytes in the murine sepsis model. Adenoviral and transposon-based gene transfer to restore PD-L1 expression, significantly improved survival and reduced the release of liver damage, as PD-L1 is a co-receptor that negatively regulates T cell function. Similar protection was observed during pharmacological intervention using recombinant PD-L1-Fc. N-acetylcysteine blocked the downregulation of PD-L1 suggesting the involvement of reactive oxygen species. This was confirmed in vivo, as we observed significant upregulation of PD-L1 expression in NOX4 knockout mice, following sham operation, whereas its expression in global as well as myeloid lineage NOX2 knockout mice was comparable to that in the wild type animals. PD-L1 expression remained high following CLP only in total NOX2 knockouts, resulting in significantly reduced release of liver damage markers. Conclusion: These results suggest that, contrary to common assumption, maintaining PD-L1 expression on hepatocytes improves liver damage and survival of mice during sepsis. We conclude that administering recombinant PD-L1 or inhibiting NOX2 activity might offer a new therapeutic option in sepsis.
‘There is No Mother to Take Care of You’. Views of Unaccompanied Children on Healthcare, Their Mental Health and Rearing Environment

ABSTRACT This study aimed to shed light on the opinions of unaccompanied refugee children (N = 98) in various care facilities in the Netherlands (small living groups, small living units, foster families, large reception centres) about their mental health, their healthcare needs and their rearing environment. A mixed methods design was applied. The quality of the child-rearing environment and the age on arrival in the host country proved to be predictive of mental health outcomes. Unaccompanied children living in large reception centres experienced the lowest quality of rearing environment, the highest mental health problems and poor access to mental healthcare. Implications for practice and research are reflected upon.
Acute Erosive Gastritis Due to Pine Processionary Caterpillar Setae Ingestion in a Dog ( Bir Köpekte

Direct contact with the Pine Processionary Caterpillar (PPC) Thaumetopoea species induces severe local allergic and toxic reactions both in man, dogs even in cats in Mediterranean countries, with the necessitate of medical intervention. Caterpillars are the larvae of these insects look like hairy and colored orange-brown with blue bands, have covering of irritant hairs which called as setae; along its whole body except ventral surface [1]. These chitinous spines are rich in thaumetopoein, which makes them an urticating protein [2]. Furthermore, setae of the caterpillar could also keep their potential toxicity in the left nests after chitin changing period [3]. The aim of the present case report is to define first clinical manifestation of an acute erosive gastritis due to PPC setae ingestion in a four months old, male Pembroke Welsh Corgi.