Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Novel Functions of Therapeutic Platelets as "Immune Cells"

Platelet components are commonly transfused to bleeding in patients in the absence of a suitable alternative. If one exempts granulocyte concentrates, this labile blood component is associated with the most common infectious and immune-related hazards. Though infection can be prevented, immune-related reactions are more difficult to combat because the physiopathology is not fully understood. Recent research has placed platelets in the immune continuum as cells fully licensed for innate immunity and inflammation, possibly bridging innate and adaptive immunity. This novel paradigm provides clues for understanding how platelets can mediate immunerelated side effects when transfused to a patient in need, and to address prevention strategies. The present paper discusses novel functions associated with platelets and their potential response upon encounters with a recipient’s cells during transfusion.
Suspected Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction: Modifying Examination and Intervention During Pregnancy

Background and Purpose: Sacroiliac joint dysfunction should be considered in the differential diagnosis of women who experience back and pelvic pain during pregnancy. Advancing pregnancy, however, presents challenges in examining and treating sacroiliac joint dysfunction in this population. The purpose of this case is to describe the modified examination method and interventions used to identify sacroiliac joint dysfunction in a woman who was pregnant. Case Description: The patient was a 38‐year‐old woman who was 7 months pregnant and experienced an insidious onset of pelvic and lower extremity pain. Modified exam techniques were used and led the examiner to suspect sacroiliac joint dysfunction. A decision‐making schema was used at each treatment session that included objective measures before and after treatment. Outcome: Physical impairments improved at 4 weeks. Disability improved at 4 and 8 weeks, with greater change occurring in the first 4 weeks. Improvements were also noted in functional limitations at 8 weeks. Discussion: This case describes a modified examination, diagnosis, and intervention technique that supported the suspected diagnosis of sacroiliac joint dysfunction.
Multi-terminal electronic transport in boron nitride encapsulated TiS3 nanosheets

We have studied electrical transport as a function of carrier density, temperature and bias in multi-terminal devices consisting of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) encapsulated titanium trisulfide (TiS3) sheets. Through the encapsulation with h-BN, we observe metallic behavior and high electron mobilities. Below ∼60 K an increase in the resistance, and non-linear transport with plateau-like features in the differential resistance are present, in line with the expected charge density wave (CDW) formation. Importantly, the critical temperature and the threshold field of the CDW phase can be controlled through the back-gate.
Weight Management and Hypertension Services in a Rural Public Health Clinic

Objective: To improve chronic disease health outcomes through a culturally competent, preventive care intervention for the underserved, economically disadvantaged, underinsured, and other people of a rural Alabama county. Design: One-group pre-test/post-test design. Setting: Public health department in a rural county in the Southeastern part of the United States. Methods: A free, weekly clinic was held at the county health department. The clinic was staffed by Samford University pharmacy and exercise science faculty, a public health pharmacy practice resident, senior pharmacy students, and undergraduate exercise science majors. During weekly visits patients had baseline measures assessed and they were interviewed on medication therapy, dietary practice, and exercise regimen. Weekly follow-up to previous sessions provided opportunities for health coaching and monitoring of goal-setting. Results: The intervention clinic averaged 10 patients per week. Adult participants (n=357) had a mean age of 53.6±17.3. Comparison of year 1 (201.3±51.5) and year 2 (187.1±67.6) weight was statistically significant (p=0.004). Year 1 systolic blood pressure was 141.6±18.4 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure was 79.2±10.6. Where follow-up measures were available (n=81), the year 2 systolic blood pressure was 139.2±20.4 mmHg while the year 2 diastolic blood pressure was 77.1±11.8 mmHg. Year 1 BMI was 32.1±12.7 and year 2 BMI was 31.5±14.9 (n=23). Conclusion: Preventive services provided by pharmacists and health educators had a statistically significant effect on weight loss. While not statistically significant, clinical significance is noted on other key measures as blood pressure and BMI were trending in a positive direction. Further efforts towards weight loss will likely result in statistically significant changes to blood pressure and BMI.
A Comparison of Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients in Kuwait with Other Populations: Results from the KRRD Registry

Objective: Data on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Kuwait and The Middle East is scarce. Available data from Western countries may not be representative of the region. We describe RA patients in Kuwait and compare them with other RA populations and with Kuwaiti general population. Methods: Adult RA patients from Kuwait Registry for Rheumatic Diseases (KRRD), the first RA Original Research Article Al-Herz et al.; BJMMR, 14(9): 1-11, 2016; Article no.BJMMR. 24673 2 registry in The Middle East, were studied from February 2013 through February 2015. Demographic, clinical and serologic data were compared with other RA populations and with Kuwaiti general population. Results: 835 patients were enrolled, 62.3% female. Mean age 50.6±12 years and disease duration 6.1±6 years. RA was diagnosed at a mean age of 44.9±12 years. 17.1% had family history of autoimmune rheumatic diseases. 3.1% had rheumatoid nodules. Rheumatoid factor (RF) and anticitrullinated peptide (ACPA) were detected in 75.6% and 57.8%, respectively. Both were positive in 49% (r=0.287, p=0.001). ANA was positive in 19.1%. Both ACPA and a combination of positive RF and ACPA were more in males (p=0.017, 0.004 respectively), whereas ANA was more in females (p=0.01). One third of male patients were smokers versus 1.9% of females. Smoking was correlated to RF (p=0.009) and ACPA (p=0,002). Difference in ACPA between genders was statistically explained by the predominance of smoking in males. Comorbidities included diabetes mellitus (DM) (20.8%), hypertension (20.2%), hyperlipidemia (10.5%) and coronary artery disease (CAD) (3.1%). 4 cases of cancer were reported. Conclusion: RA population in Kuwait includes less women than other RA populations but more than Kuwaiti general population. Family history is more common. A higher positive ACPA in males was explained by smoking difference. Hypertension and hyperlipidemia were less reported than in both Kuwaiti general population and other RA populations. CAD was similar to other RA populations. DM was more reported, reflecting its high background prevalence in Kuwait.
Beam-plasma system as reduced model for ITER relevant energetic particle transport

We provide a mapping procedure to describe the radial profile evolution of energetic particles (EPs) (interacting with Alfvén Eigenmodes (AEs)), by means of an equivalent beamplasma system (BPS). This technique is applied to reproduce an ITER relevant case, outlining good agreements and relevant deviations from the pure diffusive quasi-linear (QL) evolution. Beam-plasma interaction We adopt the Hamiltonian formulation and integration methods of the BPS addressed in [1, 2] (and refs. therein). The background plasma is assumed as a 1D cold linear dielectric medium (periodic slab of length L) supporting m longitudinal Langmuir modes φ j(k j, t), with mode number k j, while the beam is taken tenuous having density nB much smaller than the plasma one np (η ≡ nB/np 1). The dynamical equations write as follows: x̄′ i = ui , u ′ i = m ∑ j=1 ( i` j φ̄ j ei` j x̄i + c.c. ) , φ̄ j =−iφ̄ j + iη 2`jN N ∑ i=1 e−i` j x̄i− γ̄d jφ̄ j . (1) Beam particle positions (velocities) are labeled by xi (vi) (N being the total particle number) and scaled as x̄i = xi(2π/L) (ui = x̄′ i = vi(2π/L)/ωp). The plasma frequency is ωp and τ = tωp (the prime indicates τ-derivative). Moreover ` j = k j(2π/L), φ j = (2π/L)2eφ j/meω p and φ̄ j = φ je , while barred frequencies and growth rates are in ωp units. In particular, we include in the dynamics an external damping rate γ̄d j for each mode. Linearly unstable modes satisfy the resonance conditions ` jur j = 1 (ur denotes a resonant velocity) and we deal with a warm beam initially distributed with a given FB0(u) in the velocity space. Linear drives γ̄D j are defined by means of the dimensionless dispersion relation (here M = ∫ duFB0) 2(ω̄0 j + iγ̄D j−1)− η ` jM ∫ +∞ −∞ du ∂uFB0(u) u` j− ω̄0 j− iγ̄D j = 0 , (2) where the dielectric is expanded near ω̄ ' 1 (according to the motion equations (1)) and we use ω̄ = ω̄0 + iγ̄D. The effective mode growth rates are, thus, γ̄ j = γ̄D j− γ̄d j. We also note that the non-linear spread ∆NL j of beam particle due to the resonant interaction with a single given mode results proportional to the growth rate [3], i.e., ∆NL j ∝ γ̄ j/` j. 46 EPS Conference on Plasma Physics P5.1014
Microacoustic evaluation of elastic parameters of highly porous silicon layers

Non-destructive scanning acoustic microscopy investigations of elastic properties of porous silicon films, limited to low and medium porosities, are extended in this work to higher porosities (80 %) corresponding to the appearance of room temperature electroluminescence phenomena. Acoustic materials signatures were measured at various operating frequencies, f, and film thickness, d. It was shown that as these parameters increase the oscillatory V(z) behaviour disappears progressively to become completely attenuated, for f = 565 MHz and d = 6 μm, due to wave absorption, with αx = 0.2 μm. Moreover, from high frequency microechography, it was possible to determine longitudinal velocity, VL = 1680 m/s. To evaluate Young’s modulus, E, and shear modulus, G, we used two different approaches to derive simple expressions for these constants in terms of just VL. The validity of such expressions was successfully put into evidence then applied to the highly porous silicon layers for which it was found that E = 1.29 GPa and G = 0.63 GPa.
The production and characterization of microbial cellulose–electrospun membrane hybrid nano-fabrics

This study investigates the biosynthesis of microbial cellulose–electrospun nano-fibrous membrane hybrid nano-fabric via the use of a modified bioreactor. Microbial cellulose is known for its high liquid absorbency and hygienic nature. Electrospun nano-fibrous membranes, on the other hand, exhibit excessive surface hydrophobicity in typical conditions. As such, this research intends to improve the hydrophilic property of electrospun membranes through in situ self-assembly of microbial cellulose nano-fibrils on membrane’s surface. Scanning electron microscopy showed successful growth of microbial cellulose nano-fibrils on the surface and within the structure of electrospun membranes which could possibly contribute toward improved tensile properties. Some functional properties of hybrid nano-fabric, including water absorbency, drying time, and amount of vertical wicking, were determined and compared with pure electrospun membrane samples. Results showed that water absorbency, wicking ability, and drying time increased, as a result of microbial cellulose reinforcement. The average increase in water absorption capability and water-holding time was 72.8 and 32.65%, respectively, whereas wicking ability increased up to 16.5%. In conclusion, the results demonstrate that microbial cellulose contribution has importance for hybrid nano-fabric in terms of key material characteristics that are appropriate for wound dressing and related applications.
Postoperative sedation by intranasal dexmedetomidine in patients with hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage: study protocol for a randomized parallel-cohort controlled trial

Background: Cerebral hemorrhage is often complicated by conscious disturbance and restlessness regardless of the size or location of the hemorrhage, and sedation is often necessary. Dexmedetomidine has dose-dependent sedative, anxiolytic and analgesic effects. It is suited to patients undergoing mechanical ventilation for traumatic brain injury; however, its sedative effects cannot easily be controlled in patients breathing spontaneously. We will investigate the safety and efficacy of postoperative intranasal dexmedetomidine in patients undergoing craniotomy for hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage. Methods/Design: A randomized parallel-cohort controlled trial will be performed at the South District of Anhui Provincial Hospital, China. Patients with hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage will be randomly divided into groups treated with 0.9% normal saline (placebo), or dexmedetomidine 1 or 1.5 μg/kg. Study drug, either undiluted dexmedetomidine 1 or 1.5 μg/kg (dexmedetomidine group) or equal volume of 0.9% normal saline (placebo group), will be administered immediately to each naris as drops after craniotomy for evacuation of hematoma. Primary outcomes include systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, peripheral oxygen saturation, intracranial pressure, Glasgow Coma Scale score, the level of inflammatory markers in the cerebrospinal fluid, and the levels of malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, 4-hydroxynonenal, neurotensin, 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine and corticosteroid in serum. Secondary outcomes are volume of hematoma, body weight, duration of surgery, duration of anesthesia, blood loss, urine output and length of hospital stay. Discussion: The results of this trial will provide evidence for the safe and effective postoperative use of intranasal dexmedetomidine in patients with hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage who are not mechanically ventilated. Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (http://www.chictr.org.cn/index.aspx) identifier: ChiCTR-IPR-15006668; registered on 30 June 2015. Ethical issues: The trial was approved by Clinical Research Ethics Committee of Anhui Provincial Hospital, China (permission No. 2015 ethics No. 07).
Visual Diagnosis and Care of the Patient with Special Needs

This book gives readers a better understanding of the most frequently encountered developmental and acquired disabilities seen in the eye care practitioner’s office. These disabilities include patients with autism, brain injury, Fragile X syndrome and Down syndrome, as well as those with psychiatric illness, dual diagnosis, and more. The text discusses, in great detail, the visual issues inherent in these populations and their possible treatment. A group of authors with approximately 500 years of experience in the field of eye care and special populations have been brought together to develop this comprehensive reference.
Enhancement of charge transfer in thermally-expanded and strain-stabilized TIPS-pentacene thin films

Two of the most critical experimentally accessible properties of small-molecule organic semiconductor materials are the charge carrier mobility, which probes charge transport, and the optical absorption spectrum which probes the energy levels of excited states. The impact of molecular packing on the optical and charge transport properties are often treated separately. However, these effects are actually linked at a fundamental level, and it is of interest to understand the interrelationship between them, as well as how they respond to strain and thermal expansion. In this dissertation, we highlight the fundamental relationship between these two phenomena in 6,13-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)pentacene (TIPS-pentacene). We present an extensive study of the optical and electronic properties of TIPSpentacene films utilizing in situ X-ray diffraction, optical spectroscopy and ab initio density functional theory. The influence of molecular packing on the properties are reported for thin films deposited in the temperature range from 25◦C to 140◦C, and for films that are strain-stabilized at their as-deposited lattice spacings after cooling to room temperature. Anisotropic thermal expansion causes relative displacement of neighboring molecules while maintaining a nearly constant stacking distance. This leads to a large blueshift in the absorption spectrum as the temperature increases. The blueshift largely reverses a redshift at room temperature compared to the solution absorption spectrum. A reduction in the ratio of the first two vibronic peaks relative to the solution spectrum is also observed. This combination of electronic and vibronic effects is a signature of charge transfer excitonic coupling with a positive coupling constant JCT , which depends sensitively on the alignment of the nodes of the frontier molecular orbitals with those on neighboring molecules. These effects are also correlated with the sign and magnitude of electron and hole charge transfer integrals te and th that provide additional evidence for charge transfer mediated coupling at room temperature, as well as insight into the origin of an experimentally observed enhancement of the field-effect transistor mobility in strain-stabilized thin films. The results suggest approaches to improve carrier mobility in strained thin films and for optical monitoring of electronic changes. The effect of average intermolecular distance on emission properties of TIPSpentacene solutions and polystryene/TIPS-pentacene blend films were studied by varying the TIPS-pentacene concentration and the mass ratio of the host polymer to TIPS-pentacene. In the blend films, it is found that the excited TIPS-pentacene molecules give strong emission when the mean intermolecular spacing is larger than 6 nm but prefer to decay via a non-radiative way when mean intermolecular separation is reduced to 3 nm.
Clinical and pathological studies on metastasis to the cervical lymph node of oral cancer

口腔領域悪性腫瘍の治療 に関す る研究1,2)は近年 盛ん になって きてお り,そ の予後について も最近著 しい改善 が認め られて きている3)し か しなお,上 顎洞癌 のよ う に原発巣の進展に より,不 幸な転帰を とるものも少な く ない. ま ±,舌 癌 の ように原発巣は治癒 していて も,後 に頸部 リンパ節転移を きた し,予 後不 良となる症例 も多 く認め られ ていることか ら,依 然 として頸部 リンパ節転 移は,口 腔領域悪性腫瘍の完全 治癒 を妨げてい る重大な 因子であ り,ま た,そ の予後を大 きく左右す る因子 と考 え られ る. 口腔領域悪性腫瘍 の 頸部 リンパ 節転移 に 関す る 研 究4~7)はこれ まで 多 くな されているが,そ の大半は臨床 的な リンパ節 の触知,腫 脹,あ るいは周囲組織 との癒 着 の有 無な どによる転移の診断であ り,確 実な組織学的検 索に基 づいた研究は少ない ように思われ る. そ こで著者 は原発 巣切除 と,頸 部廓 清を行 った 口腔領域悪性腫瘍症 例において,原 発巣 と頸部 リンパ節転移 との関連性 を, 種 々の因子 について臨床病理学的 に検討 し,口 腔領域悪 性腫瘍 の転移 に関す る要因を考察 し,悪 性腫瘍 の治療 を 行 ううえでの一助 となる ようはか った.
The fabrication of activated carbon and metal-carbide 2D framework-based asymmetric electrodes for the capacitive deionization of Cr(vi) ions toward industrial wastewater remediation

A new asymmetric pseudocapacitive deionization (CDI) cell was assembled with date seed-derived activated carbon (DSAC) as an anode and MAX (Ti3AlC2) as a cathode for the deionization of the Cr(VI) ions from industrial effluents. A simple pyrolysis method was used for the synthesis of mesoporous DSAC from the date-seed feedstock. The commercially available Ti3AlC2 possessed stacked multilayered arrangements of metal-carbide 2D frameworks with a specific capacitance of 347 F g−1 in a 1 M Na2SO4 solution at a scan rate of 10 mV s−1 with excellent stability and low internal resistance. The designed asymmetric DSAC//MAX-based CDI system exhibited high Cr(VI) adsorption capacity of 38.6 mg g−1 with high removal efficiency and significant regeneration behavior at 1.2 V in a 120 mg L−1 Cr(VI) solution at neutral pH. In this asymmetric CDI system, DSAC generated hydrogen ions via electrolysis of water, which contributed to the reduction of the Cr(VI) ions. Furthermore, the toxic Cr(VI) ions were electrochemically converted into Cr(III) on the surface of the stacked layers of Ti3AlC2. The present work shows the potential of using an asymmetric DSAC//MAX-based CDI system for the abstraction of hazardous pollutants from industrial effluents.
The Regucalcin Gene is a Key in the Therapy of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Volume 6(3) 1000e132 J Cancer Sci Ther ISSN: 1948-5956 JCST, an open access journal Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common primary liver cancer, is one of the most prevalent malignant diseases worldwide, and the third most common causes of cancer-related death [1-3]. Globally, there are approximately 750,000 new cases of HCC reported per year. The incidence of HCC is increasingly in the United States and other developed countries. Moreover, features of HCC are an aggressive cancer with a dismal outcome largely due to metastasis and postsurgical recurrence. In most cases, HCC originates on a background of cirrhosis, a chronic and diffuse hepatic disease that result from continuous liver injury and regeneration [3]. Cirrhosis is present in approximately 80%90% of HCC patients and constitutes the largest single risk factor. In cirrhotic liver, changes in fat metabolism associated with the activation of adipocyte-like pathways are thought to be involved in neoplastic transformation [3]. Increased hepatocyte turnover, inflammation, and oxidative DNA damage is implicated in the pathogenesis of the liver disease including obesity, Type 2 diabetes, insulin resistant, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. The prevalent risk factors for HCC are also the cause of liver cirrhosis, and include viral infections (hepatitis B and C) and alcohol consumption; further risk factors include tobacco smoking, exposure to aflatoxin B1 and vinyl chloride, diabetes, and genetic disorders, such as hemochromatosis and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency [4-8].
Hemodynamic and Hormonal Stress Responses to Endotracheal Tube and ProSeal Laryngeal Mask Airway™ for Laparoscopic Gastric Banding

BACKGROUND The stress responses from tracheal intubation are potentially dangerous in patients with higher cardiovascular risk, such as obese patients. The primary outcome objective of this study was to test whether, in comparison with the endotracheal tube (ETT), the Proseal™ Laryngeal Mask Airway (PLMA™) (Laryngeal Mask Airway Company, Jersey, United Kingdom) reduces blood pressure and norepinephrine responses and the amounts of muscle relaxants needed in obese patients. METHODS We assessed hemodynamic and hormonal stress responses, ventilation, and postoperative recovery in 75 morbidly obese patients randomized to receive standardized anesthesia with either an ETT or the PLMA™ for laparoscopic gastric banding. RESULTS In repeated-measures ANOVA, mean arterial blood pressure and plasma norepinephrine were significantly higher in the ETT group than in the PLMA™ group. In individual pairwise comparisons, blood pressure rose higher in ETT than PLMA™ patients after insertion and removal of airway devices, and after recovery. In ETT compared with PLMA™ patients, plasma norepinephrine was higher after induction of carboperitoneum (mean ± SD, 534 ± 198 and 368 ± 147 and pg/ml, P = 0.001), after airway device removal (578 ± 285 and 329 ± 128 pg/ml, P < 0.0001), and after recovery in postanesthesia care unit (380 ± 167 and 262 ± 95 and pg/ml, P = 0.003). Compared with use of the ETT, the PLMA™ reduced cisatracurium requirement, oxygen desaturation, and time to discharge from both the postanesthesia care unit and the hospital. CONCLUSIONS PLMA™ reduces stress responses and postoperative complaints after laparoscopic gastric banding.
Prolonged Succinylcholine Apnea -- A rare case report

Prolonged apnea after single dose of succinylcholine is not a very rare entity. This may be attributed to psuedocholinesterase (PChE) enzyme deficiency (incidence 6%) or to the presence of atypical PChE (incidence 1/3200 for homozygous form, 1/480 for heterozygous form). In case of PChE deficiency, succinylcholine induced prolonged neuromuscular blockade did not last for more than 23 minutes and approximately 80% reduction in levels or activity is needed for this. However in case of presence of atypical Abstract: