Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intrinsic Differences between the Open Chromatin Regions of Oral and Epidermal Keratinocytes.

OBJECTIVE To investigate and characterise the differences between the open chromatin regions of oral and epidermal keratinocytes. METHODS Human immortalised oral epithelial cell lines (HIOECs) were used as the standard model for oral keratinocytes, and primary normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEKs) were chosen as the model for epidermal keratinocytes. Assay for transposase accessible chromatin using sequencing (ATAC-seq) and H3K27ac chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) were used to evaluate the dynamic changes in open chromatin regions and active enhancers during oral keratinocyte differentiation. In silico prediction and dual-luciferase assays were used to evaluate the enriched motifs and maintain enhancer activity in specific enriched HIOECs. Integration and comparison of HIOEC ATAC-seq with NHEK ATAC-seq were used to identify oral keratinocyte-enriched open chromatin regions along with key motifs governing differential enhancer activity. The genomic regulatory elements and GWAS overlap algorithm was used to compare the annotation rate of HIOEC-overlapped craniofacial enhancers with other craniofacial enhancers for orofacial cleft-associated variants. RESULTS During the differentiation of HIOECs, 14933 open chromatin regions became more accessible. Grainyhead-like (GRHL) and Krüppel-like factor (KLF) motifs were overrepresented in maintaining HIOEC-specific activity. Compared with NHEKs, 16161 open chromatin regions were uniquely accessible in HIOECs. Within these regions, the C/EBP motif governed HIOEC-specific enhancer regulating SOX2 and PITX2, which enhanced oral keratinocyte wound healing. When intersected with human craniofacial super-enhancers, open chromatin regions in HIOECS can better annotate the common variants associated with orofacial cleft. CONCLUSION The intrinsic differences between the open chromatin regions of human oral and epidermal keratinocytes are directly maintained by a set of transcription factors.
Successful treatment of disseminated fusariosis with posaconazole during neutropenia and subsequent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Abstract: We report the case of a 16‐year‐old girl with acute myelogenous leukemia with disseminated fusariosis, who responded to salvage posaconazole therapy. She subsequently received additional cytotoxic chemotherapy and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation with posaconazole continued as secondary prophylaxis. Despite intensive immunosuppressive therapy for graft‐versus‐host disease, no recrudescence of infection occurred.
Soroconversão atribuível à vacinação de bezerras com a CEPA B-19 de Brucella abortus

A brucelose bovina e uma antropozoonose cosmopolita, causada por B. abortus, que gera perdas economicas para a cadeia produtiva de carne e leite. Com o objetivo de determinar o coeficiente de soroconversao atribuivel a vacinacao de bezerras com a cepa B-19 de B. abortus, foram analisadas 330 amostras de soro sanguineo de 110 bezerras com tres a oito meses de idade provenientes de cinco propriedades no municipio de Araguaina/TO. Foi realizado um ensaio randomizado com dois grupos de bezerras, intervencao e controle, cada um com 55 animais. O dia zero (D-0) do experimento foi marcado a partir da primeira coleta de sangue imediatamente antes da vacinacao das bezerras do grupo intervencao. As coletas de sangue pos-vacinacao foram realizadas nos dias 7 (D-7), 14 (D-14) e 21 (D-21). O ensaio randomizado foi realizado ate o D-14, quando as bezerras do grupo controle foram vacinadas com cepa B-19. A coleta de 55 amostras de sangue no D-21 permitiu repetir, com o grupo controle, a determinacao da soroconversao no setimo dia pos-vacinacao. Todas as amostras de soro sanguineo foram submetidas ao teste do AAT. As analises estatisticas foram realizadas com o software WinPepi® (versao 11.43) e o coeficiente de soroconversao atribuivel a vacinacao foi calculado subtraindo-se da incidencia de soroconversao no grupo intervencao aquela do grupo controle. No D-7 a soroconversao no grupo intervencao foi de 94,55% (IC 95% [84,88% a 98,84%]) e no grupo controle foi nula (IC 95% [0,00% a 6,49%]). No D-14 a soroconversao no grupo controle continuou sendo nula e a do grupo intervencao foi de 98,18% (IC 95% [90,28% a 99,95%]). Assim, a soroconversao atribuivel a vacinacao pode variar entre 78,39% (84,88% - 6,49%) e 92,37% (98,86% - 6,49%), e entre 84,21% (90,28% - 6,49%) e 99,46% (99,95% - 6,49%) no D-7 e D-14, respectivamente. No D-21 a soroconversao nas 55 bezerras utilizadas no grupo controle vacinadas no D-14 foi de 100% (IC 95% [93,51% a 100%]), mas sem diferenca significativa (p<0,05) em relacao a resposta no D-7 do grupo intervencao. Visando monitorar a vacinacao, a FAO recomenda que sejam realizados testes de diagnostico utilizando o AAT em duas a tres semanas pos-vacinacao em amostragens aleatorias de bezerras vacinadas com a cepa B-19, tendo como parâmetro uma soroconversao de 80%. Os resultados deste estudo permitem recomendar ao SVO que institua auditoria da vacinacao, com coleta aleatoria de amostras de sangue a partir do setimo dia em bezerras declaradas como vacinadas com a cepa B-19, utilizando a prova do AAT como teste de diagnostico e considerando um coeficiente minimo de soroconversao de 75%, visando o monitoramento do processo de vacinacao realizado sob responsabilidade tecnica de medicos veterinarios cadastrados nos Programas Estaduais de Controle e Erradicacao da Brucelose e Tuberculose.
Mobilization Function of the pBHR 1 Plasmid , a Derivative of the Broad-Host-Range Plasmid pBBR 1

The pBHR1 plasmid is a derivative of the small (2.6-kb), mobilizable broad-host-range plasmid pBBR1, which was isolated from the gram-negative bacterium Bordetella bronchiseptica (R. Antoine and C. Locht, Mol. Microbiol. 6:1785–1799, 1992). Plasmid pBBR1 consists of two functional cassettes and presents sequence similarities with the transfer origins of several plasmids and mobilizable transposons from gram-positive bacteria. We show that the Mob protein specifically recognizes a 52-bp sequence which contains, in addition to the transfer origin, the promoter of the mob gene. We demonstrate that this gene is autoregulated. The binding of the Mob protein to the 52-bp sequence could thus allow the formation of a protein-DNA complex with a double function: relaxosome formation and mob gene regulation. We show that the Mob protein is a relaxase, and we located the nic site position in vitro. After sequence alignment, the position of the nic site of pBBR1 corresponds with those of the nick sites of the Bacteroides mobilizable transposon Tn4555 and the streptococcal plasmid pMV158. The oriT of the latter is characteristic of a family of mobilizable plasmids that are found in gram-positive bacteria and that replicate by the rolling-circle mechanism. Plasmid pBBR1 thus appears to be a new member of this group, even though it resides in gram-negative bacteria and does not replicate via a rolling-circle mechanism. In addition, we identified two amino acids of the Mob protein necessary for its activity, and we discuss their involvement in the mobilization mechanism.
The effect of bone mineral density on development of Schmorl's nodes in young patients.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to detect the relationship between the development of Schmorl's nodes (SNs) and bone mineral density (BMD) in young patients. METHODS Computerized tomography (CT) images of the thoracolumbar vertebral column were retrospectively examined by two experienced radiologists for SNs. The diagnostic criterion for SN was defined as a node size larger than one-third but not more than two-thirds of the relevant vertebral endplate. Considering the eligibility criteria, a total of 74 individuals (60 males and 14 females; mean age: 24.3 years; age range: 18-40 years) with SN at the thoracolumbar vertebrae were included in the patient group, and a total of 38 age- and gender-matched individuals (30 males and 8 females; mean age: 25 years) with no evidence of SN were included in the control group. All these individuals were younger than 40 years. In the patient group, SNs were assessed in terms of the distribution of the thoracolumbar vertebrae, the location of the upper and lower endplates, and the total number of lesions. In all individuals included in the study, BMD was measured from the axial CT sections by quantitative CT and then compared between the two groups. RESULTS The distribution of age and gender was comparable between the two groups (p=0.438). A total of 208 SNs were identified in the patient group. Of these, 92 (44%) were located at the thoracic vertebrae and 116 (56%) at the lumbar vertebrae. The mean BMD was 131.6 g/cm3 in the patient group and 140.7 g/cm3 in the control group (p=0.03). There was no significant relationship between the total number of SNs per patient and the mean BMD (p=0.156). CONCLUSION Evidence from this study revealed that low BMD may be a predisposing factor for the development of SNs in patients younger than 40 years. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level III, Diagnostic Study.
The school environment and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption among Guatemalan adolescents

Abstract Objective The current study sought to examine Guatemalan adolescents’ consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB), identify which individual-level characteristics are associated with SSB consumption and describe school characteristics that may influence students’ SSB consumption. Design Within this observational pilot study, a questionnaire was used to assess students’ consumption of three varieties of SSB (soft drinks, energy drinks, sweetened coffees/teas), as well as a variety of sociodemographic and behavioural characteristics. We collected built environment data to examine aspects of the school food environment. We developed Poisson regression models for each SSB variety and used descriptive analyses to characterize the sample. Setting Guatemala City, Guatemala. Subjects Guatemalan adolescents (n 1042) from four (two public, two private) secondary schools. Results Built environment data revealed that students from the two public schools lacked access to water fountains/coolers. The SSB industry had a presence in the schools through advertisements, sponsored food kiosks and products available for sale. Common correlates of SSB consumption included school type, sedentary behaviour, frequency of purchasing lunch in the cafeteria, and frequency of purchasing snacks from vending machines in school and off school property. Conclusions Guatemalan adolescents frequently consume SSB, which may be encouraged by aspects of the school environment. Schools represent a viable setting for equitable population health interventions designed to reduce SSB consumption, including increasing access to clean drinking-water, reducing access to SSB, restricting SSB marketing and greater enforcement of existing food policies.
Insulin Secretion and Insulin Resistance in Pregnancy and GDM: Implications for Diagnosis and Management

Glucose tolerance deteriorates in human pregnancy, but ∼97–98% of all pregnant women retain a normal glucose tolerance, and only 2–3% develop gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Both nondiabetic pregnant women and women with GDM exhibit much higher insulin responses to oral or intravenous administration of glucose or amino acids than found in the nonpregnant state, and the insulin responses to a protein-rich meal are also significantly enhanced in pregnancy. Both quantitative and qualitative differences in insulin secretion exist between pregnant women with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) and women with GDM. Insulin responses to oral glucose and protein-rich meals are thus lower in pregnant women with GDM than in women with NGT, despite significantly higher mean plasma glucose concentrations in the women with GDM. Furthermore, peak plasma insulin concentrations occur later in women with GDM than in pregnant control subjects. Finally, a reduced first-phase insulin response to intravenous glucose can be observed in some women with GDM. Impairment of glucose tolerance in pregnancy is not related to a disproportional secretion of proinsulin nor is increased insulin degradation involved. These observations point to pregnancy as a state of peripheral insulin resistance. Because insulin-receptor binding is only slightly changed in pregnancy and not significantly different in pregnant women with NGT and women with GDM, it follows that the insulin resistance is located at the postreceptor level. Insulin-clamp and “minimal model” studies have shown that the whole-body insulin sensitivity is similarly reduced by about two-thirds of nonpregnant values in pregnant women with NGT and women with GDM. The insulin sensitivity is restored postpartum in the pregnant women with NGT and most of the women with GDM, but about one-third of the women with GDM retain a reduced insulin sensitivity. The insulin resistance in pregnancy is predominantly located in the muscle tissue, where a reduced activity of certain key enzymes in glucose and lipid metabolism has been demonstrated. The insulin resistance is compensated by a considerable increase in insulin secretion, and hence most pregnant women are able to retain NGT. However, some women do not have the capacity to increase their insulin secretion to such an extent that the increased peripheral resistance can be overcome; these are the women who develop GDM.
Snake robot obstacle-aided locomotion on inclined and vertical planes: Modeling, control strategies and simulation

Snake robots have the potential of similar traversability capabilities as biological snakes by utilizing terrain irregularities for efficient propulsion, i.e. obstacle-aided locomotion (OAL). In order to realistically model and understand this issue we present a mathematical model for wheel-less snake robot OAL on inclined planes. The model is based on the framework of convex analysis and non-smooth dynamics, which facilitates true stick-slip descriptions as well as efficient numerical integration of the normal contact forces involved with robot-obstacle and robot-ground contact. In addition to the model, we present a shape curve-based approach to OAL where new push-points for robot-obstacle contact are identified online and a corresponding robot shape curve is calculated. Simulation results show that shape-curves are suitable for OAL both on inclined and vertical planes.
INJURY EXPERIENCE IN TANZANIA - NEED FOR INTERVENTION.

OBJECTIVE To determine distribution of injuries and factors associated with mortality in six hospitals of Tanzania mainland. DESIGN A Cross-Sectional hospital based study. SETTING Data were collected from casualty departments of Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute, Morogoro, Mtwara, Kigoma, Musoma regional hospitals and Korogwe district hospital. SUBJECTS Patients who sustained injuries and attended in six involved hospitals between November 2011 and December 2012. RESULTS Of the 9316 injury patients seen, 71.7% were males. Majority (55%) were between 18 - 45 years age group. Traffic crashes were the leading cause of injuries and accounted for 47.5% of all injuries. Fractures accounted for 49.2%, and injuries were severe in 1.2% as determinedby the Kampala trauma score II (KTS II). Majorities 66.7% were admitted and 2.4% died at the casualty. Factors associated with mortality were; being unemployed (P = 0.000), using ambulances to the hospital (P = 0.000), receiving medical attention within 2 to 10 hours after injury (P = 0.001), road traffic crashes (P = 0.000), 18-45 years age group (P = 0.003), low KTS II score (P = 0.000) and sustaining head injury (P = 0.000). CONCLUSION Injuries in Tanzania are an important public health problem, predominantly in adult males, mostly due to traffic crashes. It is therefore important to reinforce preventive measures and pre-hospital emergency service is urgently needed.
Human Identification Based on Sclera Vein Recognition Using Histogram of Oriented Gradient

Sclera vein recognition is an evolving technology for the pattern recognition system that recognize a person for authentication . sclera vein recognition presents a challenging problem in the field of image analysis and computer vision, and as such has received a great deal of attention over the last few years because of its many applications in various domains. This paper has several contributions. First, we proposed the new approach for human ID: sclera recognition. Second, we developed a new method for sclera segmentation which works for both color and grayscale images. Third, we designed a Gabor filter for sclera pattern enhancement method to emphasize and binarize the sclera vessel patterns. Finally, we proposed a histogram oriented gradient feature extraction, registration, and matching method. To implement the proposed system by using the support vector machine(SVM) in neural network.
The Influence of Fibronectin Administration on the Incidence of Sepsis and Septic Mortality in Severely Injured Patients

Eighty-five trauma patients between the ages of 18 and 55, with American College of Surgeon's (ACOS) trauma scores greater than or equal to 7 were entered into a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study to assess the efficacy of prophylactic fibronectin (Fn) administration on clinical course, sepsis development, and septic mortality. Patients were randomized on admission to receive purified human virus-inactivated Fn or placebo control (human serum albumin, HSA). Fn or HSA was administered on a daily basis if and when the patient was Fn deficient (less than 75% normal). When a Fn deficiency was not evident, the patient received saline. Seventy one patients developed Fn deficiencies during their initial clinical course: 36 received Fn, 35 received HSA. Fourteen patients did not develop a Fn deficiency after trauma and thus received only saline. Analysis of admission data demonstrated no significant differences between the three groups with respect to extent of injury (injury severity score, ACOS trauma score) or physiologic assessments of organ function (serum creatinine, bilirubin, lactic acid). On day 1 after trauma, Fn levels were shown to correlate with other plasma proteins and cellular components (range of r values, 0.24 to 0.75; all p less than 0.05), but not with organ function parameters. Eighteen of 85 patients became septic as judged by clinical criteria. Ten of these patients had received Fn (10 of 36), five had received HSA (5 of 35), and three had received only saline (3 of 14) before the development of sepsis (differences not significant). When septic, nine of 17 patients developed Fn deficiencies. Six patients received Fn while septic, three received albumin, and eight received saline. Seven patients died: 5 of 6 Fn patients, 1 saline, and 1 HSA recipient. Our data suggest that exogenous Fn repletion in states of deficiency does not alter clinical course, the development of sepsis, or septic mortality.
A 90-nm Ka-band Dual-Injection-Locked CMOS Frequency Divider

In this paper, a Ka-band Dual-Injection-Locked Frequency Divider (DILFD) using IBM 90-nm CMOS technology is proposed. The dual-injection-locked technique is used to extend the locking range of the frequency dividers based on resonator tank. The injection power is enhanced by fully utilizing the injection of the voltage and current signal. The post layout simulation results show that the locking range of the divide-by-two frequency divider is 7.1 GHz and the input signal frequency is from 30.1 GHz to 37.2 GHz. The whole core circuit draws a DC current of 5.64 mA from a single 1.2-V supply. The chip occupies a layout area of 622µm×585µm.
Functional Interference due to Pain Following Palliative Radiotherapy for Bone Metastases Among Patients in Their Last Three Months of Life

Background To compare the self-reported ratings of functional interference caused by pain between patients who did and did not respond to palliative radiotherapy for bone metastases during their last three months of life. Methods A prospectively gathered Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) database compiled from patients receiving palliative radiotherapy for painful bone metastases was reviewed. Demographic and clinical data, pain response rates and self-reported ratings of functional interference caused by pain were analyzed for those patients who died within three months of beginning radiotherapy. Results From 400 patients in the database, 83 died within 3 months of beginning radiotherapy. There were 54 male and 29 female patients. Their median age was 69 years and their median KPS was 70. The three most common primary cancers were lung (40%), gastrointestinal (16%) and breast (14%). For patients with available follow-up information the 1-month overall pain response rate was 78% and the 2-month rate was 83%, which include both complete and partial responses as defined by the International Bone Metastases Consensus. At 1 month, patients responding to treatment reported significantly less interference by pain on their general activity, walking ability, normal work, sleeping, and enjoyment of life than did patients not responding to treatment. Conclusions Patients that responded to treatment reported less functional interference due to pain than did patients who did not respond. Despite being very near the end of life, patients responding to palliative radiotherapy for painful bone metastases may benefit from more than pain relief alone.
Chronic nutrient enrichment increases prevalence and severity of coral disease and bleaching

Nutrient loading is one of the strongest drivers of marine habitat degradation. Yet, the link between nutrients and disease epizootics in marine organisms is often tenuous and supported only by correlative data. Here, we present experimental evidence that chronic nutrient exposure leads to increases in both disease prevalence and severity and coral bleaching in scleractinian corals, the major habitat‐forming organisms in tropical reefs. Over 3 years, from June 2009 to June 2012, we continuously exposed areas of a coral reef to elevated levels of nitrogen and phosphorus. At the termination of the enrichment, we surveyed over 1200 scleractinian corals for signs of disease or bleaching. Siderastrea siderea corals within enrichment plots had a twofold increase in both the prevalence and severity of disease compared with corals in unenriched control plots. In addition, elevated nutrient loading increased coral bleaching; Agaricia spp. of corals exposed to nutrients suffered a 3.5‐fold increase in bleaching frequency relative to control corals, providing empirical support for a hypothesized link between nutrient loading and bleaching‐induced coral declines. However, 1 year later, after nutrient enrichment had been terminated for 10 months, there were no differences in coral disease or coral bleaching prevalence between the previously enriched and control treatments. Given that our experimental enrichments were well within the ranges of ambient nutrient concentrations found on many degraded reefs worldwide, these data provide strong empirical support to the idea that coastal nutrient loading is one of the major factors contributing to the increasing levels of both coral disease and coral bleaching. Yet, these data also suggest that simple improvements to water quality may be an effective way to mitigate some coral disease epizootics and the corresponding loss of coral cover in the future.