Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CHALLENGES OF CONSTRUCTION PROCUREMENT: A DEVELOPING NATION’S PERSPECTIVE

Procurement has been identified as the link between a desire by the client for a construction project and the delivery of value products to agreed standards. Thus, it is an arrang ement which define contractual processes, funding p atterns, risk allocation, work structure and relationship amongst parties on a project. There is sufficient evidence in literatu e that procurement of public works in developing nations has failed to de liver necessary infrastructure required for economi c development of these nations. Particularly in Nigeria, much resources ha ve been committed to the delivery of infrastructure p ojects but limited benefits have been obtained. This research entails an exploratory qualitative study into the challenge s of construction procurement in Nigeria. The study uses an interview of construction industry professionals who were pu rposively sampled to identify factors mitigating effective construction procurement. Findings from the study show that impr ope implementation of legislative framework, funding, corruption, host ile operating environment, inadequate knowledge of practitioners of procurement methods and unstable economic environme nt ar factors affecting public procurement in Nige ria. The study concludes that for construction procurement to meet the need of delivering necessary infrastructure fo c nomic development in a nation like Nigeria, intrinsic issues within t he national environment have to be handled by relev ant stakeholders.
Negative Transpulmonary Pressure Disrupts Airway Morphogenesis by Suppressing Fgf10

Mechanical forces are increasingly recognized as important determinants of cell and tissue phenotype and also appear to play a critical role in organ development. During the fetal stages of lung morphogenesis, the pressure of the fluid within the lumen of the airways is higher than that within the chest cavity, resulting in a positive transpulmonary pressure. Several congenital defects decrease or reverse transpulmonary pressure across the developing airways and are associated with a reduced number of branches and a correspondingly underdeveloped lung that is insufficient for gas exchange after birth. The small size of the early pseudoglandular stage lung and its relative inaccessibility in utero have precluded experimental investigation of the effects of transpulmonary pressure on early branching morphogenesis. Here, we present a simple culture model to explore the effects of negative transpulmonary pressure on development of the embryonic airways. We found that negative transpulmonary pressure decreases branching, and that it does so in part by altering the expression of fibroblast growth factor 10 (Fgf10). The morphogenesis of lungs maintained under negative transpulmonary pressure can be rescued by supplementing the culture medium with exogenous FGF10. These data suggest that Fgf10 expression is regulated by mechanical stress in the developing airways. Understanding the mechanical signaling pathways that connect transpulmonary pressure to FGF10 can lead to the establishment of novel non-surgical approaches for ameliorating congenital lung defects.
Diverse styles of submarine venting on the ultraslow spreading Mid-Cayman Rise

Thirty years after the first discovery of high-temperature submarine venting, the vast majority of the global mid-ocean ridge remains unexplored for hydrothermal activity. Of particular interest are the world’s ultraslow spreading ridges that were the last to be demonstrated to host high-temperature venting but may host systems particularly relevant to prebiotic chemistry and the origins of life. Here we report evidence for previously unknown, diverse, and very deep hydrothermal vents along the ∼110 km long, ultraslow spreading Mid-Cayman Rise (MCR). Our data indicate that the MCR hosts at least three discrete hydrothermal sites, each representing a different type of water-rock interaction, including both mafic and ultramafic systems and, at ∼5,000 m, the deepest known hydrothermal vent. Although submarine hydrothermal circulation, in which seawater percolates through and reacts with host lithologies, occurs on all mid-ocean ridges, the diversity of vent types identified here and their relative geographic isolation make the MCR unique in the oceans. These new sites offer prospects for an expanded range of vent-fluid compositions, varieties of abiotic organic chemical synthesis and extremophile microorganisms, and unparalleled faunal biodiversity—all in close proximity.
New orthotopic implantation model of human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in athymic nude mice

Subcutaneous xenograft is a common method to establish animal models of human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, the growth microenvironment of transplanted tumors is different from primary tumors. Orthotopic implantation models can provide more biologically relevant context in which to study the disease. So far, an orthotopic implantation model of ESCC has rarely been reported.
Evidence-based practice for fatigue management in adults with cancer: exercise as an intervention.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To review and summarize the current state of the evidence for exercise as an intervention for cancer-related fatigue and to facilitate application to clinical practice. DATA SOURCES Articles, abstracts, and practice guidelines published through October 2003. DATA SYNTHESIS The strength of the evidence of effectiveness of exercise in managing cancer-related fatigue is growing. CONCLUSIONS All patients with cancer should be encouraged to maintain an optimum level of physical activity during and following cancer treatment. Patients with breast cancer and other selected patients should receive recommendations for moderate exercise programs. Referrals to physical therapy and/or rehabilitation may benefit certain patients, including those with comorbidities or deconditioning. Published multidisciplinary evidence-based guidelines for exercise programs involving patients with cancer are needed. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING Nurses may participate in implementing exercise interventions with patients with cancer in various roles depending on skill and knowledge--from encouraging physical activity to referring patients to physical therapy and/or rehabilitation programs to prescribing and monitoring exercise in certain patient populations.
Screening for tuberculosis on admission to highly endemic prisons? The case of Rio de Janeiro State prisons.

SETTING Rio de Janeiro (RJ) State prisons, where tuberculosis (TB) is highly endemic. OBJECTIVE To measure TB prevalence, identify risk factors and ascertain the most appropriate screening method among inmates of the RJ prisons. DESIGN Systematic chest X-rays (CXRs) were performed in 1696 male inmates of three RJ prisons. Inmates were selected for sputum examination and culture if their CXRs showed evidence of any pulmonary, pleural or mediastinal abnormality. TB diagnosis was based on bacteriological results or, if bacteriological results were negative, on response to TB treatment. RESULTS TB prevalence was 2.7% (46/1696), and 32/46 cases (69%) were bacteriologically confirmed, including 19 smear-positive cases. CXR lesions were extensive in 43% of cases. In the logistic regression model, TB-associated variables were being illiterate (adjusted OR 2.10, 95%CI 1.02-4.34), cough >or=3 weeks (aOR 2.85, 95%CI 1.54-5.27), history of TB treatment (aOR 3.61, 95%CI 1.76-7.39), and living in Rio City suburbs (aOR 4.54, 95%CI 1.02-20.07) and in Rio City (aOR 5.48, 95%CI 1.29-23.33). A screening based on cough >or=3 weeks followed by sputum smear examination would have identified only 9 of the 46 cases. CONCLUSION These results call for screening on admission to prison based, if feasible, on CXR, and demonstrate the urgent need to improve detention conditions and medical assistance in police remand cells.
Surgical anatomy of the spinal accessory nerve: is the great auricular point reliable?

OBJECTIVE The study was to exam if the great auricular point is a dependable landmark for finding the spinal accessory nerve. DESIGN A prospective study from January 2004 to August 2006 in a tertiary medical centre. SETTING A tertiary medical centre, Tzu Chi General Hospital. METHODS In the modified radical neck dissection, the topographic anatomy of spinal accessory was studied in 50 patients. MAIN OUTCOME The great auricular point (GAP) was identified and the length of sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM) below was measured. The distance between the spinal accessory nerve and the greater auricular point was measured. RESULTS The ratio of the length of the SCM below the nerve exiting point to the total length of the muscle was near 0.66. The mean distance between the GAP and the accessory nerve was 0.92 cm (SD +/- 0.27). CONCLUSIONS The great auricular point is a reliable landmark for identification of the accessory nerve during the neck dissection.
NF-κB and STAT5 Play Important Roles in the Regulation of Mouse Toll-Like Receptor 2 Gene Expression1

Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) is involved in the innate immunity by recognizing various bacterial components. We have previously reported that TLR2 gene expression is rapidly induced by LPS or inflammatory cytokines in macrophages, and by TCR engagement or IL-2/IL-15 stimulation in T cells. Here, to investigate the mechanisms governing TLR2 transcription, we cloned the 5′ upstream region of the mouse TLR2 (mTLR2) gene and mapped its transcriptional start site. The 5′ upstream region of the mTLR2 gene contains two NF-κB, two CCAAT/enhancer binding protein, one cAMP response element-binding protein, and one STAT consensus sequences. In mouse macrophage cell lines, deletion of both NF-κB sites caused the complete loss of mTLR2 promoter responsiveness to TNF-α. NF-κB sites were also important but not absolutely necessary for LPS-mediated mTLR2 promoter activation. In T cell lines, mTLR2 responsiveness to IL-15 was abrogated by the 3′ NF-κB mutation, whereas 5′ NF-κB showed no functional significance. The STAT binding site also seemed to contribute, as the deletion of this sequence significantly reduced the IL-15-mediated mTLR2 promoter activation. EMSAs confirmed nuclear protein binding to both NF-κB sites in macrophages following LPS and TNF-α stimulation and to the 3′ NF-κB site in T cells after IL-15 treatment. Thus, NF-κB activation is important but differently involved in the regulation of mTLR2 gene expression in macrophages and T cells following LPS or cytokine stimulation.
Kalirin, a Multifunctional PAM COOH-terminal Domain Interactor Protein, Affects Cytoskeletal Organization and ACTH Secretion from AtT-20 Cells*

The production and regulated secretion of bioactive peptides require a series of lumenal enzymes to convert inactive precursors into bioactive peptides plus several cytosolic proteins to govern granule formation, maturation, translocation, and exocytosis. Peptidylglycine α-amidating monooxygenase (PAM), an enzyme essential for biosynthesis of many peptides, is an integral membrane protein with trafficking information in both its lumenal and cytosolic domains. Kalirin, a PAM cytosolic domain interactor protein with spectrin-like repeats and GDP/GTP exchange factor activity for Rac1, is expressed with PAM in neurons but is not expressed in the anterior pituitary or AtT-20 corticotrope cells. Expression of Kalirin alters the cytoskeletal organization of Chinese hamster ovary and AtT-20 cells expressing membrane PAM. Expression of membrane PAM also alters cytoskeletal organization, demonstrating the presence of endogenous proteins that can mediate this effect. Significant amounts of both PAM and Kalirin fractionate with cytoskeletal elements. Since cytoskeletal organization is critical for exocytosis, constitutive-like and regulated secretions were evaluated. Whereas the constitutive-like secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) is increased by expression of membrane PAM, regulated secretion is eliminated. Expression of Kalirin in AtT-20 cells expressing membrane PAM restores stimulated secretion of ACTH. Thus, Kalirin or its homologue may be essential for regulated secretion, and the PAM-Kalirin interaction may coordinate intragranular with cytosolic events.
Automated synthesis of feature functions for pattern detection

In pattern detection systems, the general techniques of feature extraction and selection perform linear transformations from primitive feature vectors to new vectors of lower dimensionality. At times, new extracted features might be linear combinations of some primitive features that are not able to provide better classification accuracy. To solve this problem, we propose the integration of genetic programming and the expectation maximization algorithm (GP-EM) to automatically synthesize feature functions based on primitive input features for breast cancer detection. With the Gaussian mixture model, the proposed algorithm is able to perform nonlinear transformations of primitive feature vectors and data modeling simultaneously. Compared to the performance of other algorithms, such us the support vector machine, multi-layer perceptrons, inductive machine learning and logistic regression, which all used the entire primitive feature set, the proposed algorithm achieves a higher recognition rate by using one single synthesized feature function.
Experimental study of 650V AlGaN/GaN HEMT short-circuit safe operating area (SCSOA)

The short-circuit reliability of power switches plays very important part in many applications, where a 10μs short-circuit duration at 400V is usually required for 650V switches. Although emerging high voltage AlGaN/GaN HEMT technologies have shown switching advantages, the short-circuit performance has not been thoroughly investigated. In this work, we present an experimental study and numerical simulation analysis of 650V AlGaN/GaN HEMTs short-circuit safe-operating-area (SCSOA), and provide a theory for the reduction in ruggedness at high voltage short circuit conditions.
Yersinia pestis strains of ancient phylogenetic branch 0.ANT are widely spread in the high-mountain plague foci of Kyrgyzstan

Fifty six Yersinia pestis strains, isolated over the period of more than 50 years in three high-mountain foci of Kyrgyzstan (Tien Shan, Alai, and Talas), have been characterized by means of PCR and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) typing methods. Seven of these strains were also characterized by means of whole genome sequencing and genome-wide SNP phylogenetic analysis. It was found that forty two strains belong to 0.ANT2, 0.ANT3 and 0.ANT5 phylogenetic branches. From these, strains of 0.ANT2 and 0.ANT3 branches were earlier detected in China only, whereas 0.ANT5 phylogenetic branch was identified for Y. pestis phylogeny for the first time. According to the results of genome-wide SNP analysis, 0.ANT5 strains are ones of the most closely related to Y. pestis strain responsible for the Justinianic Plague. We have also found out that four of the studied strains belong to the phylogenetic branch 2.MED1, and ten strains from Talas high-mountain focus belong to the phylogenetic branch 0.PE4 (sub-branch 0.PE4t). Established diversity of Y. pestis strains and extensive dissemination of the strains pertaining to the 0.ANT branch confirm the antiquity of the mentioned above plague foci and suggest that strains of the 0.ANT branch, which serve as precursors for all highly virulent Y. pestis strains, had their origin in the Tien Shan mountains.
Paraquat-generated Oxidative Stress in Rat Liver Induces Heme Oxygenase-1 and Aminolevulinic Acid Synthase

The in vivo effect of the known herbicide, paraquat, on both hepatic oxidative stress and heme metabolism was studied. A marked increase in lipid peroxidation and a decrease in reduced glutathione (GSH) content were observed 1 h after paraquat administration. The activity of liver antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase was decreased 3 h after paraquat injection. Heme oxygenase-1 induction started 9 h after treatment, peaking at 15 h. i -aminolevulinic acid synthase induction occurred once heme oxygenase had been enhanced, reaching its maximum (1.5-fold of control) at 16 h. i -aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity was 40% inhibited at 3 h showing a profile similar to that of GSH, while porphobilinogenase activity was not modified along the whole period of the assay. Administration of f -tocopherol (35 mmol/kg body weight) 2 h before paraquat treatment entirely prevented the increase in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) content, the decrease in GSH levels as well as heme oxygenase-1 and i -aminolevulinic acid synthase induction. This study shows that oxidative stress produced by paraquat leads to an increase in i -aminolevulinic acid synthase and heme oxygenase-1 activities, indicating that the herbicide affects both heme biosynthesis and degradation.
Effect of Tube Expansion on Heat Transfer and Pressure Drop Characteristics During Condensation in Micro-Fin Tubes

Despite of the large number of research dedicated to condensation heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics in pristine micro-fin tubes, experimental investigation on effects of tube expansion have not been reported in the open literature. The paper reports measured cross-sectional dimensions, condensation heat transfer and pressure drop data of R1234ze(E) in pristine (5.10 mm OD) and expanded (5.26 mm OD) micro-fin tubes with mass fluxes from 100 to 300 kg/(m2·s). Effects of mass flux, vapor quality and tube expansion on the heat transfer coefficients and friction pressure gradients were investigated in the study. When the mass flux is 100 kg/(m2·s), the heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop of R1234ze(E) decrease after tube expansion. However, when the mass fluxes are 200 and 300 kg/(m2·s), tube expansion effects on the heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop are not notable. In addition, the experimental results are analyzed based on the existing condensation heat transfer and pressure drop correlations.
Clinical Application of Abdominal Echoplanar Imaging (EPI): Optimization Using a Retrofitted EPI System

Objective Echoplanar MRI (EPI) with data acquisition times as short as 36 ms has been advocated for imaging body areas where gross physiologic motion degrades images. In this study we investigated the effect of various operator-defined parameters on image quality in EPI of the abdomen using a commercially available scanner. Materials and Methods Specifically, we assessed the effect of breathholding, slice thickness, k-space coverage (raw data size), and high resolution EPI in volunteers. The effect of these parameters on signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and image quality of liver, spleen, kidney, and pancreas was evaluated to propose guidelines for clinical EPI of the abdomen. The requirements for contiguous imaging were analyzed in a phantom experiment. Results Our study suggests that optimum clinical EPI requires a minimum slice thickness of 7 mm. Breathhold single shot techniques are preferred to avoid spatial misregistrations and to optimize the signal yield for segmented techniques. Maximum k-space coverage at a given TE should be implemented. High resolution techniques (128 ± 512) suffer from low SNR and are clinically not useful for routine EPI. Contiguous imaging requires a scan time of >6 s to eliminate effects of cross-talk. Conclusion The results suggest that clinical EPI requires careful attention to the choice of imaging parameters. The practical recommendations may help other investigators to optimize their clinical EPI studies.
All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality among Users of Basal Insulins NPH, Detemir, and Glargine

Background Insulin therapy in type 2 diabetes may increase mortality and cancer incidence, but the impact of different types of basal insulins on these endpoints is unclear. Compared to the traditional NPH insulin, the newer, longer-acting insulin analogues detemir and glargine have shown benefits in randomized controlled trials. Whether these advantages translate into lower mortality among users in real life is unknown. Objective To estimate the differences in all-cause and cause-specific mortality rates between new users of basal insulins in a population-based study in Finland. Methods 23 751 individuals aged ≥40 with type 2 diabetes, who initiated basal insulin therapy in 2006–2009 were identified from national registers, with comprehensive data for mortality, causes of death, and background variables. Propensity score matching was performed on characteristics. Follow-up time was up to 4 years (median 1.7 years). Results 2078 deaths incurred. With NPH as reference, the adjusted HRs for all-cause mortality were 0.39 (95% CI, 0.30–0.50) for detemir, and 0.55 (95% CI, 0.44–0.69) for glargine. As compared to glargine, the HR was 0.71 (95% CI, 0.54–0.93) among detemir users. Compared to NPH, the mortality risk for both cardiovascular causes as well as cancer were also significantly lower for glargine, and especially for detemir in adjusted analysis. Furthermore, the results were robust in various sensitivity analyses. Conclusion In real clinical practice, mortality was substantially higher among users of NPH insulin as compared to insulins detemir or glargine. Considering the large number of patients who require insulin therapy, this difference in risk may have major clinical and public health implications. Due to limitations of the observational study design, further investigation using an interventional study design is warranted.
Regulatory T Cells as Predictors of Clinical Course in Hospitalised COVID-19 Patients

Background The host immune response has a prominent role in the progression and outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Lymphopenia has been described as an important feature of SARS-CoV-2 infection and has been associated with severe disease manifestation. Lymphocyte dysregulation and hyper-inflammation have been shown to be associated with a more severe clinical course; however, a T cell subpopulation whose dysfunction correlate with disease progression has yet to be identify. Methods We performed an immuno-phenotypic analysis of T cell sub-populations in peripheral blood from patients affected by different severity of COVID-19 (n=60) and undergoing a different clinical evolution. Clinical severity was established based on a modified WHO score considering both ventilation support and respiratory capacity (PaO2/FiO2 ratio). The ability of circulating cells at baseline to predict the probability of clinical aggravation was explored through multivariate regression analyses. Results The immuno-phenotypic analysis performed by multi-colour flow cytometry confirmed that patients suffering from severe COVID-19 harboured significantly reduced circulating T cell subsets, especially for CD4+ T, Th1, and regulatory T cells. Peripheral T cells also correlated with parameters associated with disease severity, i.e., PaO2/FiO2 ratio and inflammation markers. CD4+ T cell subsets showed an important significant association with clinical evolution, with patients presenting markedly decreased regulatory T cells at baseline having a significantly higher risk of aggravation. Importantly, the combination of gender and regulatory T cells allowed distinguishing between improved and worsened patients with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 82%. Conclusions The present study demonstrates the association between CD4+ T cell dysregulation and COVID-19 severity and progression. Our results support the importance of analysing baseline regulatory T cell levels, since they were revealed able to predict the clinical worsening during hospitalization. Regulatory T cells assessment soon after hospital admission could thus allow a better clinical stratification and patient management.