Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PPA_A_248295 2093..2104

1RTI Health Solutions, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA; 2Bristol Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ, USA Purpose: Immuno-oncology treatments offer patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment options with greater probability of durable survival and a different toxicity profile compared with traditional chemotherapy. The objective of this study was to explore the importance of increases in the probability of long-term survival versus changes in expected (median) survival and treatment toxicities among patients with advanced NSCLC and physicians. Patients and Methods: In a discrete-choice experiment, oncologists and patients diagnosed with NSCLC chose between profiles of treatments for advanced NSCLC offering different combinations of benefits (expected, best-case, and worst-case survival) and risks. We analyzed preference data from each sample using a random-parameters logit model that controls for preference heterogeneity and the panel nature of the data. Results: Both patients and physicians expressed a strong preference for improving the probability of best-case survival; however, patients viewed increases in the probability of long-term survival as more important than increases in expected survival, while the opposite was true for physicians. Both patients and physicians weighted survival to be more important than toxicities. Conclusion: This study identified a potentially important divergence between physician and patient perspectives on survival statistics. Physicians placed more importance on increases in expected survival than did patients with NSCLC. The importance patients placed on longterm survival reinforce previous research identifying the primacy of hope as a value among seriously ill patients. The findings underscore the importance of considering patients’ priorities and in shared decision-making when choosing treatment.
Nitrogen level impact on the production of double row fodder of maize

Journal Research and Reviews, 13(01), Abstract Maize is the most important crop in Mexico, being central to the diets of consumers, particularly smallholders, and an undetermined amount is allocated as straw, green fodder, and, to a lesser extent, as silage for animal feed. Nitrogen fertilizer is considered one of the most important factors affecting growth, grain yield, and maize biomass production. In this context, the main objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different levels of nitrogen fertilizer on maize production. A randomized complete block experimental design consisted of three treatments of nitrogen (180, 160, and 80 kg/ha) with three replications and morphological (plant height, stem thickness, and rate of growth), yield, and yield components (cob weight, length, thickness, number of rows per cob, and plant biomass) variables were used. The results suggest that the increase in nitrogen levels increases all the parameters of maize production. However, at 160 kg/ha, the greatest production of fodder was recorded with 5.99 tons/ha, superior to the one reported at 180 kg/ha, which was 5.47 tons/ha. We conclude that the maize fodder production can be optimized with the use of 160 kg/ha in the conditions of the altiplano of San Luis Potosí (Mexico).
STUDY OF PERCEIVED HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT COMPETENCY AND DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN PRIVATE AND PUBLIC HOSPITALS IN IRAQ

To coordinate the complex environment hospitals, managers must possess enough managerial competencies. The underlying assumption is that there is a potential gap in management capacity between public and private hospitals in Iraq. This study aims to evaluate competency level of hospital managers and to compare their competencies in public and private hospitals. This study was descriptive-analytic, carried out in 2017 in Baghdad / Iraq. A survey using a self-administered questionnaire was conducted among 65 public and private hospitals managers. Respondents were asked to rate their competencies in a five-key subscale that included people-related skills, health delivery, self-management, task-related skills, as well as strategic planning and management. Ratings were based on a five-point Likert scale ranging from very low to excellent competency level. Self-assessment of competencies level showed that managers in all state hospitals evaluate their competency at a low level. Managers felt most competent in health delivery skills (3.73), people-related skills (3.65), strategic planning and management (3.60), relatively less competent in self-management (3.49) and task related skills (3.39). While being the mean total competency levels were significantly higher among male managers, those who participated in the healthcare/hospital management training courses, and those whose primary formal qualification was management in healthcare/hospital management (P=0.044). Similarly, managers who had more experience in their current position were more likely to report higher competencies level (P=0.046). Managers in private hospitals perceived themselves to be significantly more competent than their public hospitals colleagues in most of the management facets (P=0.001). There is a perceived lack of management capacity by managers of both public and private hospitals and the gap between public and private hospitals is small. There is widespread need for management training to be made available in Iraq.
Dysregulation of Immune Response in Patients With Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) in Wuhan, China

BACKGROUND: In December 2019, coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) emerged in Wuhan and rapidly spread throughout China. METHODS: Demographic and clinical data of all confirmed cases with COVID-19 on admission at Tongji Hospital from 10 January to 12 February 2020 were collected and analyzed. The data on laboratory examinations, including peripheral lymphocyte subsets, were analyzed and compared between patients with severe and nonsevere infection. RESULTS: Of the 452 patients with COVID-19 recruited, 286 were diagnosed as having severe infection. The median age was 58 years and 235 were male. The most common symptoms were fever, shortness of breath, expectoration, fatigue, dry cough, and myalgia. Severe cases tend to have lower lymphocyte counts, higher leukocyte counts and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), as well as lower percentages of monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils. Most severe cases demonstrated elevated levels of infection-related biomarkers and inflammatory cytokines. The number of T cells significantly decreased, and were more impaired in severe cases. Both helper T (Th) cells and suppressor T cells in patients with COVID-19 were below normal levels, with lower levels of Th cells in the severe group. The percentage of naive Th cells increased and memory Th cells decreased in severe cases. Patients with COVID-19 also have lower levels of regulatory T cells, which are more obviously decreased in severe cases. CONCLUSIONS: The novel coronavirus might mainly act on lymphocytes, especially T lymphocytes. Surveillance of NLR and lymphocyte subsets is helpful in the early screening of critical illness, diagnosis, and treatment of COVID-19.
Depression, Anxiety and Smart phone Addiction among Young People in South West Nigeria

: Smart phones are communication and entertainment tools with mental health consequences for heavy users. The study therefore examines the prevalence and relationship between depression, anxiety and smart phone addiction among young people in Nigeria. Using cross-sectional research design, a structured questionnaire comprising of demographic information, Smart phone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV), Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was used to collect data from 500 (51.6% females) respondents selected by quota technique, aged 16 to 32 years (X=21.95, SD= 2.88), at five higher institutions. Data was analyzes with descriptive statistics, correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis. Results showed 10.2% of the respondents manifested with probable smart phone addiction, 23.4% at the risk of smart phone addiction, 21.6% manifested with depression and 14.8% manifested with anxiety symptoms. There was significant relationship between addictive smart phone use and depression (r = 0.26, p < 0.01), anxiety(r = 0.23, p < 0.01), financial income level (r = 0.12, p < 0.01) and being married (r = -0.09, p < 0.05), but not with age and gender. Psychological predictors of smart phone addiction were depression (β=0.20, t=3.54, P <0.00), financial income level (β=0.14, t=3.12, P <0.01), marital status (β=-0.11, t=-2.40, P <0.05) and anxiety (β=0.11, t=1.98, P <0.05). All the independent variable jointly predict smart phone addiction at (R 2 = .10, F (6, 493) = 9.58, P <. 00). The prevalence and positive relationship between depression, anxiety and smart phone addiction indicate a need to challenge these menace. Smart phone should be used moderated by users to reduce its adverse effects on mental health.
Cadmium and its inorganic compounds

Several reviews on the absorption, distribution, retention and elimination of cadmium in the human organism are available (EC 1978; Friberg et al. 1974; Lauwerys 1980; WHO 1979, 1980). The present state of knowledge on the kinetics of cadmium can be summarized as follows: Depending on solubility behaviour and particle size, 20%–30% of the inhalable cadmium (particle size < 5 μm) is absorbed. The gastrointestinal absorption rate is below 10%, with large inter-individual variations (WHO 1980). Individual variations in the level of the iron store appear to be a major confounder. A state of iron defi1141
Fiscal Policy in the Presence of an Illiquid Asset and Household Heterogeneity

The effect of ﬁscal policy greatly depends on how households react to different income shocks. In this paper, utilizing the model of Violante et al. (2015), I investigate the effects of several ﬁscal policy measures in the presence of heterogeneity among households who save in two kinds of assets, including an illiquid asset subject to adjustment costs.
An Analysis of the Mechanical Properties of the Ponseti Method in Clubfoot Treatment

Congenital clubfoot is a complex pediatric foot deformity, occurring in approximately 1 in 1000 live births and resulting in significant disability, deformity, and pain if left untreated. The Ponseti method of manipulation is widely recognized as the gold standard treatment for congenital clubfoot; however, its mechanical aspects have not yet been fully explored. During the multiple manipulation-casting cycles, the tendons and ligaments on the medial and posterior aspect of the foot and ankle, which are identified as the rate-limiting tissues, usually undergo weekly sequential stretches, with a plaster of Paris cast applied after the stretch to maintain the length gained. This triggers extracellular matrix remodeling and tissue growth, but due to the viscoelastic properties of tendons and ligaments, the initial strain size, rate, and loading history will affect the relaxation behavior and mechanical strength of the tissue. To increase the efficiency of the Ponseti treatment, we discuss the theoretical possibilities of decreasing the size of the strain step and interval of casting and/or increasing the overall number of casts. This modification may provide more tensile stimuli, allow more time for remodeling, and preserve the mechanical integrity of the soft tissues.
Fc g RIIB Ile232Thr transmembrane polymorphism associated with human systemic lupus erythematosus decreases afﬁnity to lipid rafts and attenuates inhibitory effects on B cell receptor signaling

The B cell inhibitory receptor Fc g RIIB plays crucial roles in the maintenance of self-tolerance. We have identiﬁed a polymorphism FCGR2B c.695T > C that results in the non-conservative replacement of 232Ile at the transmembrane helix to Thr and demonstrated the association of the polymorphism with susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in Asians. In this study, we examined the impact of FCGR2B c.695T > C on the functional properties of Fc g RIIB by expressing each allele product in a human B cell line ST486 lacking endogenous Fc g RIIB. Fc g RIIB 232Thr was found to be signiﬁcantly less potent than wild-type 232Ile in inhibiting B cell receptor (BCR)-mediated phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate accumulation, Akt and PLC g 2 activation and calcium mobilization, and to display decreased levels of tyrosine phosphorylation and SH2-containing 5 0 -inositolphosphate phosphatase recruitment compared with 232Ile after IgG Fc-mediated coligation with BCR. Notably, a quantitative analysis of the subcellular distribution of Fc g RIIB using I-labeled anti-Fc g RIIB revealed that Fc g RIIB 232Thr is less effectively distributed to detergent-insoluble lipid rafts than 232Ile, ﬁndings in accordance with the importance of the transmembrane amino acid residues, in particular large hydrophobic amino acids including Ile, in the association of membrane proteins with lipid rafts. Given the crucial roles of lipid rafts in integrating BCR signaling, decreased association of Fc g RIIB 232Thr could contribute to its impaired inhibitory potential. Collectively, the present ﬁndings indicate that the Ile232Thr substitution affects the localization and function of Fc g RIIB and that the molecular mechanism may link the polymorphism and susceptibility to SLE.
Optimal Prevention and Treatment in a Dynamic Drug Model with Diverse Feedbacks and Relapse

This thesis aims at modelling and analysing the implications of potential relapse in a dynamic drug model. More precisely, an optimal control model incorporating the two states “drug users” and “teetotallers” is formulated. The main feature of the model is the fact that individuals quitting drug use do not simply leave the system but rather end up in the precarious state of a teetotaller with a certain risk of relapse. Relapsing teetotallers constitute a second inflow of drug users in addition to ordinary initiation. However, teetotallers are also assumed to have a dissuasive effect on initiation. Consequently, the number of teetotallers has both a positive and a negative effect on the overall drug problem. Moreover, the dynamical system is influenced by the controls “prevention” and “treatment”. Especially the use of treatment in consideration of high relapse rates is of substantial interest. After an introductory exploration of the underlying uncontrolled dynamics, Pontryagin’s Maximum Principle is applied in order to solve the optimal control model. As a consequence of the model’s complexity, the optimal solution and stable paths are calculated numerically using the Matlab-toolbox OCMat. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis, describing the impact of variations of model parameters on the long-run solution, is conducted.
Non-opioidergic mechanism mediating morphine-induced antianalgesia in the mouse spinal cord

: Intrathecal (i.t.) pretreatment with a low dose (0.3 nmol) of morphine causes an attenuation of i.t. morphine-produced analgesia; the phenomenon has been defined as morphine-induced antianalgesia. The opioid-produced analgesia was measured with the tail-flick (TF) test in male CD-1 mice. Intrathecal pretreatment with low dose (0.3 nmol) of morphine time-dependently attenuated i.t. morphine-produced (3.0 nmol) TF inhibition and reached a maximal effect at 45 min. Intrathecal pretreatment with morphine (0.009-0.3 nmol) for 45 min also dose-dependently attenuated morphine-produced TF inhibition. The i.t. morphine-induced antianalgesia was dose-dependently blocked by the non-selective µ -opioid receptor antagonist (-)-naloxone and by its non-opioid enantiomer (+)-naloxone, but not by endomorphin-2-sensitive µ -opioid receptor antagonist 3-methoxynaltrexone. Blockade of δ -opioid receptors, κ -opioid receptors and NMDA receptors by i.t. pretreatment with naltrindole, nor-binaltorphimine and MK-801, respectively, did not affect the i.t. morphine-induced antianalgesia. Intrathecal pretreatment with antiserum against dynorphin A (1-17), [Leu]enkephalin, [Met]enkephalin, β -endorphin, cholecystokinin or substance P also did not affect the i.t. morphine-induced antianalgesia. The i.t. morphine pretreatment also attenuated the TF inhibition produced by opioid µ agonist [ D -Ala 2 , N -Me-Phe 4 , Gly-ol 5 ]enkephalin, δ agonist deltorphin II and κ agonist U50,488H. It is concluded that i.t. pretreatment with low doses (0.09-0.3 nmol) of morphine stimulates a non-opioid receptor system to elicit an antianalgesic effect against µ -, δ or κ opioid agonist-produced analgesia. Dynorphin A (1-17), [Leu]enkephalin, [Met]enkephalin, β -endorphin, cholecystokinin, substance P and NMDA receptors are not involved in mediating this morphine-induced antianalgesia. Our results obtained from the present studies imply that the phenomenon of the acute nociceptive tolerance to morphine, which occurs after pretreatment with morphine may be in part mediated by the activation of this non-opioid antianalgesic mechanism of morphine.
Regulatory T + CD25+ Regulation by CD4 In Vitro Expansion Improves In Vivo

CD4 (cid:1) CD25 (cid:1) T regulatory cells (Tregs) can actively suppress immune responses and thus have substantial therapeutical potential. Clinical application is, however, frustrated by their scarcity, anergic status, and lack of deﬁned speciﬁcity. We found that a single injection of a small number of expanded but not fresh HY-speciﬁc Tregs protected syngeneic male skin grafts from rejection by immune-competent recipients. The expanded Tregs were predominantly located in the grafts and graft-draining lymph nodes. In vitro expanded Tregs displayed a phenotype of CD25 high CD4 low Foxp3 (cid:1) CTLA4 (cid:1) , and also up-regulated IL10 and TGF (cid:2) while down-regulating IFN- (cid:3) , GM-CSF, IL5, and TNF- (cid:4) production. Furthermore, expanded Tregs appeared to express a reduced level of Foxp3, which could be prevented by adding TGF (cid:2) to the culture, and they also tended to lose Foxp3 following the repeated stimulation. Finally, a proportion of expanded HY-speciﬁc Tregs secreted IL2 in response to their cognate peptide, and this ﬁnding could be conﬁrmed using Tregs from Foxp3 GFP reporter mice. We not only demonstrated that expanded Tregs are superior to fresh Tregs in suppressing T cell responses against alloantigens, but also revealed some novel immunobiological properties of expended Tregs which are very instructive for modifying current Treg expansion procedures. The Journal of Immunology, 2008, 180: 858–869.
Characterization of SiO 2 Sol-Gel Coated Ti6Al4V Alloy Obtained by using TEOS and GPTMS

: Synthesis of silicon oxide (SiO 2 ) via the sol-gel method and SiO 2 coating ability on to Ti6Al4V alloy were investigated, in the novel study. Ti6Al4V alloy is the most used alloy in biomedical applications due to its many advantages. However, it has a minor disadvantage like releasing ions into the human body. In this study, the substrate material Ti6Al4V alloy samples were coated using the sol-gel method with alkoxysilane solutions (tetraethyl orthosilicate, TEOS; Si(OC 2 H 5 ) 4 and glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane, GPTMS; C 9 H 20 O 5 Si) containing the unit of prepared Si(OR) n after the surface preparations were made. The prepared solutions were examined using thermal analysis methods and the process temperatures to be applied to the coatings were determined according to the results of the analysis. Coated samples were subjected to aging, drying, and sintering processes at specified temperatures. The morphologies and structures of the samples were investigated by using a scanning electron microscope with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The sol-gel coating ability of the silicon oxide on the surface of the Ti6Al4V alloys has been discussed. The results demonstrate that cracks were observed in coating produced by TEOS precursor whereas the coatings used GPTMS precursor exhibited crack-free surface independently of dipping number. The crack formation tended to reduce with increasing dipping number of coatings produced by TEOS precursor. Distances between coating islets gradually became smaller as the number of dippings increased, and the continuity of the coatings increased. It has been observed that SiO 2 coating layers produced with GPTMS are obtained in a more continuous and crack-free form than the layers produced with TEOS.
Feasibility of intercropping in rabi castor ( Ricinus communis L.)

An experiment on feasibility of intercropping in rabi castor was conducted at C. P. College of Agriculture, Sardarkrushinagar on loamy sand soil using randomized block design with three replications during 2013-14. Results revealed that rabi castor intercropped with lucerne, carrot, fenugreek and chicory at1:2 row ratio produced significantly higher castor equivalent yield, 3297, 3237, 3057, 2731 and kg/ha respectively over sole castor and other intercrops as sole. Among the intercrops castor + lucerne and castor + chicory found equally effective with respect to castor equivalent yield and found significantly superior over rest of the treatments. While intercropping of castor + fenugreek and castor + lucerne at 1:2 row ratio recorded significantly higher LER (Land equivalent ratio) value than sole crops and other intercropping systems.The maximum net return of ` 75492/ha obtained when castor was intercropped with lucerne followed by castor + carrot and castor + chicory at 1:2 row ratio.The highest benefit cost ratio of 2.33 obtained in castor + lucerne (1:2) followed bycastor + fenugreek and castor + carrot at 1:2 row ratio over other intercropping systems.
DHA Protects Against Hepatic Steatosis by Activating Sirt1 in a High Fat Diet-Induced Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Mouse Model Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Targets and Therapy

Aim: Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; C22; n-3) shows bene ﬁ cial effects on Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Deacetylase Sirtuin1 (Sirt1) was reported to increase energy metabolism and decrease lipogenesis. Here, we investigated whether DHA plays a role in protecting against hepatic steatosis via Sirt1. Main Methods: Both in vivo and in vitro hepatic steatosis models were used: diet-induced obesity (DIO) model (middle-aged C57BL/6 mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD)) and palmitic acid (PA)-induced lipid accumulation cell model (HepG2 cells). Key Findings: In DIO mice, treatment with DHA (gavage supplementation) for 8 weeks not only inhibited the lipid accumulation, but also increased fatty acids (FA) oxidation and induced triglyceride export in liver. These changes were accompanied by attenuation of in ﬂ ammation. Moreover, DHA reversed the HFD-induced reduction of Sirt1 in liver. Interestingly, the bene ﬁ cial effects of DHA were reversed by lentivirus-mediated Sirt1 knockdown, accompanied with increased expression of markers of lipogenesis, in ﬂ ammation and reduced FA oxidation. In HepG2 cells, DHA prevented the accumulation of PA-induced lipid droplets, the decrease of FA oxidation and the reduction of Sirt1 level. Inhibition of Sirt1 by sirtinol partially reversed the bene ﬁ cial effects of DHA on PA-treated cells. Signi ﬁ cance: DHA alleviated hepatic steatosis and reduced in ﬂ ammation of liver in obese middle-aged mice by mechanisms involving Sirt1 activation.