Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Association between Toll-Like Receptor 3 (TLR3) rs3775290, TLR7 rs179008, TLR9 rs352140 and Chronic HCV

ABSTRACT Background: Inconsistent results were reported on the association of TLRs polymorphisms with the risk of HCV infection and HCV-related diseases. Objective: to assess the relation between TLR3 rs3775290, TLR7 rs17900 and TLR9 rs352140 SNPs and chronic HCV in the Egyptian cohort and to study their relation to interferon response. Methods: TLR3 rs3775290, TLR7 rs179008 and TLR9 rs352140 gene polymorphisms were typed by RFLP for 100 patients with chronic HCV and 25 with HCC in addition to 100 healthy controls. Results: A significant higher frequency has been found for the CT genotype of TLR3 rs3775290 in chronic HCV infection (p < 0.001) and CC genotype and the combined genotype CC-AT-GA ♀ in controls (p < 0.001). Non-significant associations have been found for studied SNPs and HCC and response to interferon and also the viral load or the degree of fibrosis, however, the higher HCV viral load and the higher grade of fibrosis were associated with treatment failure (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The heterozygous CT genotype of TLR3 rs3775290 may be a susceptibility risk factor for chronic HCV infection and the homozygous CC and the combined CC-AT-GA ♀ genotypes may be protective. The HCV viral load and the grades of liver fibrosis could be considered a risk factor for interferon treatment failure. It seems that the studied SNPs have no role in HCC development or failure of treatment. However, the small sample size is a limiting factor of the present study when interpreting the negative associations and that the current used cohort does not permit such conclusion. Abbreviations: cHCV=chronic Hepatitis C virus, HCC=hepatocellular carcinoma, TLR=Toll like Receptor, RFLP=Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism, SNP=Single Nucleotide Polymorphism, IFN-α= interferon alpha
Going Beyond The Challenge!: Investigating The Aspects That Attract People to Participate in Hackathons

Hackathons are events where their participants face the challenge of working intensively and collaboratively with other people. In these events, the participants have the opportunity to develop functional prototypes and solutions to real problems in a short time period (one to three days). Those kind of events have become increasingly popular and spread to several fields of knowledge. Also, they have been adopted by many organizations over the world. However, there is little scientific data that explains why people have participated in hackathons. In this paper, we report findings from an exploratory study in two hackathons organized by a big IT company. We aim to understand why their participants have voluntarily participated in such events. We identified four sets of motivational factors: technical, social, individual and business motivations. Technical motivations are associated with skill acquisition, while social motivations are related to the interaction between people during the event. Also, individual motivations are associated with a sense of autonomy and enjoyment of work. Finally, business motivations include the opportunity of publicizing work and the possibility of establishing partnerships. Our findings contributes to a broader understanding of the motivations for participating in hackathons, as well as providing recommendations for the organization of such events.
Citrus limon Extract Loaded in Vesicular Systems for the Protection of Oral Cavity

Background: The nanoincorporation of the extract of Citrus limon (L.) Osbeck var. pompia into liposomes was aimed at improving its antioxidant and antibacterial effects. Methods: The extract of the rind of Citrus limon (L.) Osbeck var. pompia was obtained by maceration in ethanol, evaporation, and freeze-drying. The extract phytochemical fingerprint was obtained by HPLC and mass spectrometry, and it was determined that gallic acid, neohesperidin, eriocitrin, and neoeriocitrin were the most abundant components. The freeze-dried extract was loaded in liposomes, glycerosomes, and penetration-enhancer-containing vesicles prepared with propylene glycol (PG-PEVs). Results: Capability of the vesicles of improving efficacy of the extract in counteracting oxidative stress was studied in vitro in keratinocytes, along with antimicrobial activity against planktonic cultures of Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Streptococcus sanguinis. Conclusion: Results showed that the vesicles, especially glycerosomes and PG-PEVs, prevented oxidative damage and cell death, and inhibited bacterial proliferation.
Reduced folate carrier‐mediated methotrexate transport in human distal lung epithelial NCl‐H441 cells

We had previously found that reduced folate carrier (RFC; SLC19A1) is mainly involved in an influx of transport of methotrexate (MTX), a folate analogue, using alveolar epithelial A549 cells. Therefore, we examined MTX uptake in NCl‐H441 (H441) cells, another in vitro alveolar epithelial model, focusing on the localization of RFC in the present study.
Artificial sphincter “BR - SL - AS 904” in the treatment of urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy: efficacy, practicality and safety in a prospective and multicenter study

ABSTRACT Purpose: The objective of the present study is to test the efficiency and practicality of a new artificial sphincter “BR - SL - AS – 904” in the control of urinary incontinence in post - PR patients and to evaluate their complications. Patients and Methods: Fifteen patients with incontinence after one year of radical prostatectomy were included prospectively. All patients underwent artificial urethral sphincter (AUS) implant “BR - SL - AS – 904” according to established technique. Independent variables such as free urinary flow, PAD weight test, ICIQ - SF score and urinary symptoms through the IPSS score were compared in different follow-up moments. Results: Patients submitted to AUS implantation did not present trans - operative or post - operative complications related to the surgical act such as: infection, hematoma, erosion or urinary retention. Device was inert to the body during the follow-up, showing an excellent adaptation of the patients, besides the easy handling. The mean age was 68.20 years 40% of the patients had systemic arterial hypertension, 6.7% diabetes mellitus, 6.7% were hypertensive and diabetic, 13.4% were hypertensive, had diabetes and hypercholesterolemia and 26.7% patients had no comorbidities. It was evidenced that the urinary flow peak during the follow-up remained stable. Decreased averages and median PAD weight test were 135.19 to 75.72 and 106.00 to 23.50, respectively. The IPSS score decreased and the quality of life increased (12.33 to 3.40 and 2.50 to 3.20 respectively). The ICQF - SF questionnaire score also showed a decrease, ranging from 16, 71 to 7.33. Conclusion: The artificial sphincter implant “BR - SL - AS 904” was reproducible, safe and effective in the control of urinary incontinence in post - PR patients.
Diagonal likelihood ratio test for equality of mean vectors in high‐dimensional data

We propose a likelihood ratio test framework for testing normal mean vectors in high‐dimensional data under two common scenarios: the one‐sample test and the two‐sample test with equal covariance matrices. We derive the test statistics under the assumption that the covariance matrices follow a diagonal matrix structure. In comparison with the diagonal Hotelling's tests, our proposed test statistics display some interesting characteristics. In particular, they are a summation of the log‐transformed squared t‐statistics rather than a direct summation of those components. More importantly, to derive the asymptotic normality of our test statistics under the null and local alternative hypotheses, we do not need the requirement that the covariance matrices follow a diagonal matrix structure. As a consequence, our proposed test methods are very flexible and readily applicable in practice. Simulation studies and a real data analysis are also carried out to demonstrate the advantages of our likelihood ratio test methods.
Leucopis glyphinivora Tanasijtshuk (Diptera: Chamaemyiidae), a new aphidophagous biocontrol agent; development, survival and comparison with Aphidoletes aphidimyza Rondani (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae)

Abstract The silver fly Leucopis glyphinivora Tanasijtshuk (Diptera: Chamaemyiidae) is an aphidophagous predator during its larval stage. Our study describes the life cycle of L. glyphinivora and evaluates its potential as a biocontrol agent. The development, survival and longevity of L. glyphinivora were observed and compared with those of the aphid gall midge Aphidoletes aphidimyza Rondani (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae). Tests were conducted under laboratory conditions in Petri dishes with the green peach aphid Myzus persicae Sulzer (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on potato leaves. Leucopis glyphinivora has a 42% longer life cycle than A. aphidimyza. Larval development was 27% longer in L. glyphinivora than in A. aphidimyza. Egg hatch rate and pupal emergence rate were similar in both species, but larval survival was 20% lower for L. glyphinivora than for A. aphidimyza. Sex ratio was approximately 50% in both species. A longer development time for L. glyphinivora in the larval stage could be an advantage for biocontrol by providing more time to exert predation pressure against aphids. However, this may be offset by the lower survival rate found in the silver fly larvae.
Spring 5-2018 Density Estimation Using Nonparametric Bayesian Methods

OF THE THESIS Density Estimation Using Nonparametric Bayesian Methods by Wang, Yanyi Master of Arts in Statistics, Washington University in St. Louis, 2018. Professor Todd Kuffner, Chair In modern data analysis, nonparametric Bayesian methods have become increasingly popular. These methods can solve many important statistical inference problems, such as density estimation, regression and survival analysis. In this thesis, We utilize several nonparametric Bayesian methods for density estimation. In particular, we use mixtures of Dirichlet processes (MDP) and mixtures of Polya trees (MPT) priors to perform Bayesian density estimation based on simulated data. The target density is a mixture of normal distributions, which makes the estimation problem non-trivial. The performance of these methods with frequentist nonparametric kernel density estimators is assessed according to a mean-square error criterion. For the cases we consider, the nonparametric Bayesian methods outperform their frequentist counterpart.
Energy Efficacy of Gold Nanoparticles as Contrast Agents in Dual Energy Micro-CT

Micro-Computed Tomography (micro-CT) has been widely used as a non-invasive and high-resolution imaging modality in preclinical research. However, soft tissues (e.g. tumors) cannot be well distinguished because their densities are similar. To solve this problem, Gold Nanoparticles (AuNPs) are adopted as promising contrast agents since they are high atomic weight contrast agents and can be passively accumulated at the tumor sites. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of AuNPs as contrast agents using different energy x-rays for an in vivo study. An immune-compromised athymic nude mouse bearing a subcutaneous xenograft model of human lung cancer was imaged by a dual energy micro-CT with circular cone-beam geometry. The selected energies were 45 kVp and 65 kVp. 10μg AuNPs (200 μg/ml concentration) approximately 12 nm in size were injected subcutaneously into the tumor. The mouse was imaged at 0 hour, 3 hours and 24 hours post-injection. Images were reconstructed by the popular FDK algorithm. Our results show that AuNPs provided obvious greater contrast using 45 kVpx-rays at 0 hour and AuNPs were not clearly shown in the images after 3 hours and longer. The raw datasets provided in this paper can be applied to evaluate other CT reconstruction algorithms and medical image analysis methods.
Transcript profiling and biochemical characterization of mitochondrial superoxide dismutase (mtSOD) in wheat (Triticum aestivum) under different exogenous stresses.

Amongst various antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) has been found to play most important role in the tolerance mechanism of the plants to the abiotic stresses. In this study, full length cDNA of 733 bp encoding superoxide dismutase, designated as TaSOD, was isolated and characterized from wheat (Triticum aestivum). A manganese iron-binding domain was observed in the sequence using CD search tool of NCBI. Mapping of wheat genome by southern blotting showed the presence of three copies of TaSOD gene. Quantitative transcript profiling of superoxide dismutase showed 1.3, 1.8, 1.9 fold increase in thermotolerant genotype (HDR77), 1.1, 1.3, 1.5 fold increase in thermosusceptible (PBW343) at pollination, milky dough and seed hardening stages respectively in leaves because of diurnal changes in environmental temperature. Abundance of TaSOD transcript and high SOD activity, total antioxidant capacity and cell membrane stability index were observed in HDR77 in response to the exogenous application of H2O2 (10 mmole L -1 ) compared to that of salicylic acid (5 mmole L -1 ) under differential heat shock. Isoenzymes analysis of SOD showed expression of three prominent isoenzymes in HDR77 and only two in PBW343 under the heat stress, with maximum activity at pollination and seed-hardening stages in both the cultivars. Thermotolerance capacity was analyzed using cell membrane stability and total antioxidant capacity; both the parameters were high in thermotolerant (HDR77) where abundance of SOD transcript was also observed as compared to thermosusceptible (PBW343). Superoxide dismutase regulates the expression of various heat stress associated genes through balancing the accumulation of H2O2 inside cells, which also act as signaling molecules. However, there is a greater need to further characterize SODs and over-expressed in the desirable crop-cultivars with a view to enhance the tolerance capacity against various abiotic stresses.
Effect of Additives on Micropropagation of an Endangered Medicinal Tree Oroxylum indicum L. Vent

© 2012 Bansal and Mamta Gokhale, licensee InTech. This is an open access chapter distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Effect of Additives on Micropropagation of an Endangered Medicinal Tree Oroxylum indicum L. Vent
Indications and practical application of strategies in the endovascular management of intracranial aneurysms

Abstract The occlusion of intracranial aneurysms is more successful and stable by properly planning the approach and application of endovascular techniques. The next step is a relentless analysis of the different indications of endovascular treatment, tailoring a strategy suitable for the specific case, and making more rational choices for the management of aneurysms. Indications and strategies according to the analysis of the aneurysmal complex are given, as well as pros and cons of the endovascular technique according to different anatomical locations
Title VII and the Complex Female Subject

Sitting in Nedicks the women rally before they march discussing the problematic girls they hire to make them free. An almost white counterman passes a waiting brother to serve them first and the ladies neither notice nor reject the slighter pleasures of their slavery. But I who am bound by my mirror as well as my bed see causes in color as well as sex. and sit here wondering which me will survive all these liberations.
Evaluation of the Degenerative Changes of the Distal Intervertebral Discs after Internal Fixation Surgery in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Study Design Retrospective study. Purpose Lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration is an important cause of low back pain. Overview of Literature Spinal fusion is often reported to have a good course for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). However, many studies have reported that adjacent segment degeneration is accelerated after lumbar spinal fusion. Radiography is a simple method used to evaluate the orientation of the vertebral column. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the method most often used to specifically evaluate intervertebral disc degeneration. The Pfirrmann classification is a well-known method used to evaluate degenerative lumbar disease. After spinal fusion, an increase in stress, excess mobility, increased intra-disc pressure, and posterior displacement of the axis of motion have been observed in the adjacent segments. Methods we retrospectively secured and analyzed the data of 15 patients (four boys and 11 girls) with AIS who underwent a spinal fusion surgery. We studied the full-length view of the spine (anterior-posterior and lateral) from the X-ray and MRI obtained from all patients before surgery. Postoperatively, another full-length spine X-ray and lumbosacral MRI were obtained from all participants. Then, pelvic tilt, sacral slope, curve correction, and fused and free segments before and after surgery were calculated based on X-ray studies. MRI images were used to estimate the degree to which intervertebral discs were degenerated using Pfirrmann grading system. Pfirrmann grade before and after surgery were compared with Wilcoxon signed rank test. While analyzing the contribution of potential risk factors for the post-spinal fusion Pfirrmann grade of disc degeneration, we used generalized linear models with robust standard error estimates to account for intraclass correlation that may have been present between discs of the same patient. Results The mean age of the participant was 14 years, and the mean curvature before and after surgery were 67.8 and 23.8, respectively (p<0.05). During the median follow-up of 5 years, the mean degree of the disc degeneration significantly increased in all patients after surgery (p<0.05) with a Pfirrmann grade of 1 and 2.8 in the L2–L3 before and after surgery, respectively. The corresponding figures at L3–L4, L4–L5, and L5–S1 levels were 1.28 and 2.43, 1.07 and 2.35, and 1 and 2.33, respectively. The lower was the number of free discs below the fusion level, the higher was the Pfirrmann grade of degeneration (p<0.001). Conversely, the higher was the number of the discs fused together, the higher was the Pfirrmann grade. Conclusions we observed that the disc degeneration aggravated after spinal fusion for scoliosis. While the degree of degeneration as measured by Pfirrmann grade was directly correlated by the number of fused segments, it was negatively correlated with the number of discs that remained free below the lowermost level of the fusion.
EVALUATION OF AMMONIATED WHEAT STRAW IN RECEIVING AND GROWING DIETS

Drought conditions in the past have created a shortage of prairie hay and other grass hays that are used as roughage sources for receiving and growing beef diets. Historically, wheat straw and other cereal crop residue has been discounted as a feedstuff due to its low nutrient content. Chemical methods, including ammonia application, can improve the feeding value of cereal crop residue while constraining costs. While there are studies that show the efficacy of utilizing ammoniated wheat straw in beef cow and maintenance diets, limited data are available characterizing the feeding value of ammoniated wheat straw in receiving and growing diets. The objective of these two studies were to evaluate cattle growth and diet digestibility for receiving and growing diets containing either wheat straw (STRW), anhydrous ammonia treated wheat straw (AMMN), or a prairie hay and alfalfa blend (CONT) at 30% inclusion. Exp. 1 utilized 288 crossbred steers (271 kg) randomized to 8 pens per treatment and fed their respective test diets for 56 d and a common diet for 14 d to equalize gastrointestinal tract fill. No effect of straw ammoniation was observed on final bodyweight (BW), average daily gain (ADG), dry matter intake (DMI), or gain to feed (G:F) (P > 0.31). The 56-d BW, ADG, and G:F for CONT were significantly different from both STRW and AMMN (P 0.57) although CONT differed significantly from both straw treatments in DM, OM, and ADF intake (P 0.43), where as CONT and STRW were different (P 0.32). Ruminal pH was not affected by anhydrous ammonia application (P = 0.32), but STRW and CONT were different (P < 0.05). Fluid passage rate was not different among the three treatments (P = 0.33). Wheat straw is a suitable replacement for ammoniated wheat straw at 30% inclusion in receiving and growing diets that contain 40% of dietary DM as wet corn gluten feed. Further research is necessary to determine the effect of varying levels of wheat straw and ammoniated wheat straw in conjunction with wet corn gluten feed and other by-product feeds in receiving and growing diets in order to capitalize on performance and efficiency gains while constraining costs.
Impact of social and human capital on business performance of migrant entrepreneurs - a comparative dutch-us study

The past decades have shown a remarkable growth in entrepreneurship among migrants. Recent studies on ethnic entrepreneurship have pointed at an increasing share of migrants in urban small- and medium-sized entrepreneurial businesses. These migrant activities are crucial to the urban economy in many countries, as they employ a significant part of the workforce. This paper aims to identify the empirical factors that are responsible for successful migrant entrepreneurship, using concepts from social and human capital theory. We first offer an overview of some basics from the literature on social capital and human capital, and next a general background sketch of ethnic entrepreneurship in the EU and US. Then we position these concepts in a multicultural framework, in which new socio-cultural conditions such as the emergence of migrant entrepreneurship play an important role. The empirical part of the paper is based on a survey questionnaire among migrant entrepreneurs in Amsterdam (the Netherlands) and Fairfax (USA). We investigate success conditions of ethnic entrepreneurship in both areas and present an overview of cultural, ethno-psychological and motivational aspects that contribute to the understanding of similarities and differences between ethnic entrepreneurs in the Netherlands and the US. This analysis is structured around several dimensions of social and human capital including personal and business characteristics, and network participation for improving business performance. The findings of the two studies are compared to explore a possible correspondence in business performance patterns. The research tool used to assess performance is Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), a technique for comparative efficiency analysis in various types of corporate organizations. Finally, concluding remarks are presented and possible extensions of the