Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Characteristics of Progressive Systemic Sclerosis in a Cohort of Egyptian Patients

Objective: To estimate the frequency of epidemiological, clinical and laboratory characteristics of progressive systemic sclerosis in a cohort of Egyptian patients. Methods: Fifty systemic sclerosis patients were included. These patients were subjected to detailed history taking, clinical and rheumatological examination, Measuring the dermal skin thickness by the modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS), Nail fold capillaroscpy (NFC) and the relevant radiological, laboratory and immunological investigations. Results: Our results revealed that the mean age at time of diagnosis was 32.66 ± 13.08 with the disease durations range from 1 to 40 years with a median of five years. Male to female ratio of 1: 5.2 and 20% of patients were smokers. Skin tightness was present in all patients, the mRSS ranges from 4 to 45 with a mean of 17.48 ± 10.44. ANA was detected in 98%, RF was detected 4%, antitopoisomerase I (antitopo I) was detected in 36% and ACA was detected in 8% of patients. 96% of patient had abnormal NFC. There were statistical significant negative correlations between mRSS and both of FEV1% and FVC%. There was also a statistical significant positive correlation between mRSS and FEV1/FVC. Conclusion: This study has shown that almost our Egyptian SSC patients have ANA seropositivity, abnormal pulmonary function tests and abnormal nailfold capillaroscopy (NFC). The study revealed that anti topo I antibody seropositivity, ILD, abnormal pulmonary function tests, worsening skin score, late pattern of NFC are more common in Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis (DCSSC) than Limited Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis (LCSSC). Also ILD in SSC patients is commonly associated with antitopo I antibody seropositivity, abnormal pulmonary function tests, worsening skin score and late pattern of NFC. Therefore ANA, antitopo I, high resolution CT chest, pulmonary function test, mRSS and NFC should be considered for early diagnosis and follow up of SSC patients.
Proteomic Profiling of In-Vitro Bone-Conditioned Skbr3 Breast CancerCells

A major complication of advanced breast cancer is the frequent formation of bone metastases. To our knowledge, however, the information on the phenotypic properties of cancer cells able to survive and colonize the bone tissue is still fragmentary. We report here a proteomic study of breast cancer cells (SKBR3) collected after a colonization of bone fragments in a special model of co-culture, used to simulate the phenotype of breast cancer metastasizing cells. The scanning electron microscopy of the seeded cancer cells into the bone fragments, showed their peculiar traits of multilayered growth and spiny surface, typical of a very aggressive phenotype. The comparative proteomic profiling of the bone-conditioned cells (SKBR3-B1) versus the parental cell line (SKBR3-WT), performed by applying two-dimensional electrophoresis (2D-IPG) and mass spectrometry (Maldi / TOF) revealed the existence of an interesting differential proteomic profiling. Within this pattern, an increase of several members of the S100 protein family, not described before in relation to bone metastasis from breast cancer, was observed in the SKBR3-B1. Other up-regulated proteins belong to protein classes involved mainly in cytoskeleton dynamics, chaperone / folding, negative regulation of apoptosis and cell metabolism. These results suggest that, rather than individual proteins, a coordinated network of strategic proteins is able to determine or drive the invasive and metastatic phenotype of breast cancer cells, namely: proteins primarily strategic for the cell penetration and homing into the bone, and proteins coming into play to satisfy the modified metabolic needs of the cells. We believe that the present study represents an innovative approach of co-culture with fresh human bone fragments, and that it may contribute greatly to improve the knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying the propensity of breast cancer cells to colonize, survive and proliferate into the bone microenvironment.
Thromboembolism prophylaxis in orthopaedics: an update

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a serious complication during and after hospitalization, yet is a preventable cause of in-hospital death. Without VTE prophylaxis, the overall VTE incidence in medical and general surgery hospitalized patients is in the range of 10% to 40%, while it ranges up to 40% to 60% in major orthopaedic surgery. With routine VTE prophylaxis, fatal pulmonary embolism is uncommon in orthopaedic patients and the rates of symptomatic VTE within three months are in the range of 1.3% to 10%. VTE prophylaxis methods are divided into mechanical and pharmacological. The former include mobilization, graduated compression stockings, intermittent pneumatic compression device and venous foot pumps; the latter include aspirin, unfractionated heparin, low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), adjusted dose vitamin K antagonists, synthetic pentasaccharid factor Xa inhibitor (fondaparinux) and newer oral anticoagulants. LMWH seems to be more efficient overall compared with the other available agents. We remain sceptical about the use of aspirin as a sole method of prophylaxis in total hip and knee replacement and hip fracture surgery, while controversy still exists regarding the use of VTE prophylaxis in knee arthroscopy, lower leg injuries and upper extremity surgery. Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2018;3:136-148. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.3. 170018
INFLUENCES OF THE DARRIEUS-LANDAU INSTABILITY ON PREMIXED TURBULENT FLAMES

The hydrodynamic instability which results from large density variations between the fresh mixture and the hot combustion products was discovered by Darrieus and Landau over seventy years ago, and has been named after its inventors. The instability, which prevents flames from being too flat, was thought to lead immediately to turbulent flames. Recent studies, initiated by weakly nonlinear analyses and extended by two-dimensional simulations suggest that this is not the case. It was established that the flame, beyond the onset of instability develops into a cusp-like structure pointing towards the burned gas region that propagates at a speed substantially large than the laminar flame speed. In this work, we present for the first time a systematic study of the bifurcation phenomena in the more realistic three-dimensional flow and extend this analysis to homogeneous isotropic turbulent flows. The computations are carried out within the context of the hydrodynamic theory where the flame is treated as a surface of density discontinuity separating burned gas from the fresh mixture, and propagates at a speed that depends on the local curvature and hydrodynamic strain rate. The asymptotic model derived from first principles exploits the multi-scale nature of the problem, specifically the difference between the flame thickness representing the diffusion length scale and the hydrodynamic length which is characteristic of the dimensions of the domain. The dependence of the local stretch rate experienced by the flame a measure of the local flame surface curvature and the strain rate, is modulated by the Markstein length, which mimics effects of reaction and diffusion occurring inside the flame. This parameter is of the order of the flame thickness and for an experimental setting can be changed by varying the fuel type or its equivalence ratio or the ambient system pressure. A low Mach-number Navier-Stokes solver modified by an appropriate source term is used to determine the flow field that results from the gas expansion and the flame is tracked using a level-set methodology with a surface parameterization method employed to accurately capture the local velocity and stretch rate. Under laminar flow conditions, the hybrid numerical scheme is shown to recover the known exact solutions predicted in the weak gas expansion limit and corroborates the bifurcation results from linear stability analysis. The new conformations that evolve beyond the instability threshold have a sharp crest pointing towards the burned gas with ridges along the troughs, and propagate nearly 40% faster than planar flames.
Analytical Pricing of European Bond Options within One-Factor Quadratic Term Structure Models

Jamshidian developed a model for pricing bond options within a Vasicek one-factor framework, with the very useful property that it allows an option on a coupon bond to be decomposed into a set of options on the individual coupons. In the Vasicek framework, the “Jamshidian trick” produces yields to maturity on the coupons that are linear functions of the underlying state variable. But it has not been clear whether this approach could extend to more complicated interest rate processes. In this article, Leblon and Moraux show how to extend the Jamshidian technique to quadratic interest rate processes and use it to derive analytic formulas for European call options on coupon bonds. Finally, they verify that the required conditions appear to hold in the real world.
The apoB/apoA-I Ratio is a Strong Predictor of Cardiovascular Risk

In the present paper the rationale for including apolipoprotein (apo)B and apoA-I into clinical practice is reviewed. ApoB and apoA-I are the two major apolipoproteins involved in lipid transport and in the processes causing atherosclerosis and its complications. ApoB is the major protein in Very Low Density (VLDL), Intermediate Density (IDL) and Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL), one protein per particle (1). ApoA-I is the major protein in High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) particles (Figure 1). The apoB number indicates the total number of atherogenic particles, the higher the number the higher is the cardiovascular (CV) risk.
MicroRNA-142-3p inhibits cell proliferation and chemoresistance in ovarian cancer via targeting sirtuin 1

MicroRNAs (miRs) serve promoting or suppressive roles in various human cancer types, including ovarian cancer; however, the role of miR-142-3p in ovarian cancer growth and chemoresistance has not previously been studied. In the present study, reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting were used to examine miR and protein expression levels. An MTT assay was used to examine cell proliferation. A luciferase reporter gene assay was used to clarify the target gene of miR-142-3p. The present study reported that miR-142-3p expression levels were significantly lower in ovarian cancer tissues and cell lines, when compared with those in adjacent tissues and the normal human ovarian epithelial cell line IOSE386, respectively. The reduced expression of miR-142-3p was significantly associated with poor cell differentiation. Ectopic expression of miR-142-3p significantly inhibited the proliferation of ovarian cancer cells and increased the sensitivity of SKOV3/DDP cells to cisplatin. Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) was identified as a target gene of miR-142-3p; SIRT1 expression was negatively regulated by miR-142-3p in ovarian cancer cells. Further investigation demonstrated that SIRT1 reversed the suppressive effects of miR-142-3p on the proliferation and chemoresistance of ovarian cancer cells. In addition, SIRT1 was significantly upregulated in ovarian cancer. A negative correlation between the expression of SIRT1 and miR-142-3p in ovarian cancer tissues was also observed. In summary, the present study indicated that miR-142-3p inhibits the proliferation and chemoresistance of ovarian cancer cells by targeting SIRT1. This suggests that miR-142-3p may be a promising therapeutic candidate for the treatment of ovarian cancer.
Application of a New Strategy of Validation Based on "β,γ-Content Tolerance Interval" for Checking the Chiral Chromatography Method for Quantification of the Chiral Impurity of Levofloxacin

A simple and accurate chiral high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed for determination of Levofloxacin and its chiral impurity (R)-enantiomer. The chiral impurity Levofloxacin separation method was optimized by Box-Behnken design and validated by an innovative analytical approach recently developed in our laboratory. This last approach as well as uncertainty estimation consists of building a graphical decision-making tool, based on the β,γ-content tolerance interval, called the uncertainty profile. The proposal approach applied to the optimized chiral separation method of Levofloxacin shows its fitness.
Evaluation of Diagnostic Radiology Department in Term of Quality Control (QC) of X-Ray Units at Khartoum State Hospitals

The mean objective in diagnostic radiology is to in provide high qualitydiagnostic image while keeping the patients and workers dose in the lower limit according toALARA principle, (Maria Lucia Nana et al 2009). To optimize the practice of diagnostic radiology, adequatequality assurance (QA) program should be in place.18 hospitals with 18 x-ray units distributed in Khartoum state were evaluated inthis study.Each x-ray unit was tested for Kvp andtimeReproducibility , accuracy of Kvp and time , mAs linearity, and coincidence between light beam and radiation beam. The dark rooms were alsoevaluated to assess the fog level.CONNY II QC Dosimeter made by PTW company were use to for this study. The analysis of the results showed that two out of eighteenunit had a problem in mAs linearity, also two out of eighteen unit had a problem in kVp accuracy and one had a problem inkVp reproducibility. three devices have defects concerning adaptation with optical fieldand radiation field. More than 50% of the darkrooms had a problem in fog level; time accuracy and time reproducibility were in the acceptable limit.The quality control of the radiologicaldevices should be performed periodically and regularly and the defects of the devices should be removed in order to beassured of the appropriate function of the devices. many of these machines need service because of lack ofimplementing the quality control program regularly, which indicates that the quality control programs should be extendedregularly.because the dark rooms is very important place specially in conventional radiology departmentlike in Sudan so it need to periodic review to monitor the fog.
Novel concepts in in fl ammatory bowel disease

Introduction: Clinical management in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is constantly changing. Although improvement in symptoms is of paramount importance, using this as the only surrogate marker of disease activity might underestimate disease burden. Sources of data: New data from randomized clinical trials are now available. Treatment paradigms are constantly changing leading to an evolution in the therapeutic approach in routine IBD practice. Areas of agreement: Patients with an aggressive disease phenotype should be identified at the onset and treated more intensely in order to achieve long-lasting mucosal remission. Areas of controversy: Patients who have mild and indolent disease need to be identified and not over treated. Growing points: The primary endpoint in IBD management should ideally be mucosal healing. Ample data are now available that correlates mucosal healing with surgical-free outcomeswithminimal intestinal damage and patient disability. However, the exact degree of mucosal healing that will lead to improved long-term remission, decreased hospital and surgical rates remains unknown. Areas timely for developing research: Clinical translational work is needed to identify novel pathways in IBD pathogenesis that sub-select patients who would benefit by specific-cytokine pathway modulation.
Did the Thai rice-pledging programme improve the economic performance and viability of rice farming?

ABSTRACT This article evaluates impacts of the rice-pledging programme on the economic performance and viability of rice farming in Thailand. It also investigates whether the effects of the programme are heterogeneous across different farm types using the propensity score matching technique to address the self-selection bias in the farm-level data set. We found that the programme enhanced the economic performance less than hoped for. Overall, the programme was estimated to improve the net direct farm income for participating farms by $175.12–$194.82 per hectare. Taking into account the heterogeneous effects of the programme across farm types, we calculated that the greatest effects may be realized by farmers within the small farms subsample, at $404.41–$439.85 per hectare, but only $139.80–$213.36 per hectare for midsize farms, and $138.82–$173.34 per hectare for large farms. With regard to the economic viability of the programme, we discovered that it had an insignificant effect on farm modernization investment initiatives. Thus, future strategies incorporated into the programme that better control increases in production costs, improve small farmers’ access to the programme and require participating farms to spend a portion of the money received on farm modernization may improve long-run benefits of the programme.
A framework of relational networks to build systems with sensors able to perform the joint approximate inference of quantities

Probabilistic approaches such as Bayesian inference have been extensively used to design systems able to operate in environments under uncertainty. Implementing these approaches on real-world systems constrained in their latencies or in their power-budget is a challenge because of the general computational intensity required by such methods. In this work, we propose a very simple yet efficient framework to perform approximate inference in a network of quantities between which relations are specified a-priori. We present how we can take advantage of computational features of our framework to implement it in dedicated hardware devices such as GPGPUs or Cellular Processor Arrays (CPAs) for which we demonstrate a simple vision system instantiating the principles of our approach.
Impact on Economic Growth of Investing in Maternal-Newborn Health

The aim of this paper is to provide a systematic review of the evidence of the impact on economic growth of investments in maternal--newborn health (MNH). The methodology used for the review includes a systematic search for published literature in relevant electronic databases. In the paper, we review five studies: four empirical and one theoretical. One of the empirical papers measures health by infant mortality. The study finds that a 1/1000-point reduction in the infant mortality rate leads to an increase in the level of State Domestic Product by Indian Rs 2.70 and an increase in the average growth rate per year of 0.145%. Similar results are reported for other health measures in other studies. Our main conclusion, however, is that the area lacks research and that considerably more is needed before any advice can be provided to policy-makers about the contribution to growth of investments in MNH. Specifically, first and foremost, studies are needed that explicitly analyse the impact of MNH on level and growth of output. Second, we suggest the use of more comprehensive MNH measures that consider the health of both mothers and newborns and aspects of ill-health other than death, such as measures of quality of life, functional limitations, mental health and sickness absenteeism. Third, estimates of the effects of MNH on growth need to be controlled for other health dimensions, i.e. aspects that may confound the impact of MNH. Fourth, studies are needed of the effects on determinants of growth in order to understand better the links between MNH and growth. Fifth, studies based on smaller geographical areas within countries and longer time series are needed, in order to obtain more precise estimates and also better estimates of the long-term growth paths. Finally, we suggest compilation of other data sets on microeconomic data, for example, to study effects at firm level of MNH on labour productivity through inability to work, disability, sick days, etc.
The Influence of Budgetary Participation by R&D Managers on Product Innovation Performances: The Effect of Trust, Job Satisfaction and Information Asymmetry

To high technology manufacturing companies, product innovation is key source of competency and profitability enhancement. This study employs Participative goal-setting theory to construct the structural relationship among budgetary participation, asymmetric information, trust, job satisfaction and product innovation performance. Results from a questionnaire survey of 231 R&D managers with budget responsibilities in 135 high technology manufacturing companies listed in the Taiwan Stock Exchange Market, and path analysis is used to test our hypotheses. The empirical evidence of this research revealed the following: Increasing budgetary participation not only raises job satisfaction and sets asymmetric information but also seems to enhance product innovation performance. Trust also plays the mediating role between budgetary participat ion and product innovation performance. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.
Pentosan Polysulfate Sodium Restores the Phenotype of Dedifferentiated Monolayer Canine Articular Chondrocytes Cultured in Alginate Beads

Autologous chondrocyte transplantation is a promising option for the repair of isolated osteoarthritic cartilage lesions that requires isolation and expansion of chondrocytes from a small cartilage biopsy prior to implantation. However, when cultured in vitro, chondrocytes lose their stable phenotype and dedifferentiate to fibroblastic-like cells. The study investigated the potential of pentosan polysulfate (PPS) sodium to restore the phenotype of dedifferentiated monolayer articular chondrocytes. Canine articular chondrocytes isolated from four cartilage samples were culture expanded to establish primary culture. First passage chondrocytes were cultured as alginate beads for 18 days under normoxia in PPS concentrations of 0, 1, 5, 15 and 40 μg/mL in 20% DMEM. Effect of PPS on type I, II and X collagen, aggrecan and Runx2 gene expression were evaluated by real-time PCR. Runx2, HIF-1α and HIF-2α protein expression were evaluated by Western blot and proteoglycan deposition was determined by Alcian blue stain. Dedifferentiated chondrocytes fully retained their phenotype as evidenced by increased synthesis of cartilage-specific genes, type II collagen and aggrecan mRNA with complete suppression of type I and X collagen at PPS concentrations of 15 and 40 μg/mL. Compared to the control, type II collagen and aggrecan mRNA were significantly upregulated (P<0.05) at 5, 15 and 40 μg/mL and 5 and 15 μg/mL PPS, respectively. PPS significantly enhanced proteoglycan with peak deposition at 5 μg/mL compared to control. HIF-1α and HIF-2α proteins were detectable at protein level for the first time under normoxia condition in alginate culture. The study demonstrates for the first time the restoration of dedifferentiated canine articular chondrocytes phenotype by combining alginate encapsulation with culture in PPS without the addition of known chondrocytic growth factors. The study confirms PPS as novel chondroinductive factor with potential to offer a solution to the major challenges that exist in cartilage tissue engineering.