73 research outputs found
The Writer Authentication by Using Syllables Frequency
An approach is depended in the recent years to distinguish any author or writer from other by analyzing his writings or essays. This is done by analyzing the syllables of writings of an author. The syllable is composed of two letters; therefore the words of the writing are fragmented to syllables and extract the most frequency syllables to become trait of that author.
The research work depend on analyzed the frequency syllables in two cases, the first, when there is a space between the words, the second, when these spaces are ignored. The results is obtained from a program which scan the syllables in the text file, the performance is best in the first case since the sequence of the selected syllables is higher than the same syllables in the second case
Therapeutic effects of co-inhaled roflumilast or formoterol and fluticasone on asthma-induced ultrastructural changes in murine airways
Purpose: To investigate the therapeutic effects of "inhaled" roflumilast and formoterol separately or combined with fluticasone on the ultrastructural airway changes in ovalbumin-induced asthmatic mice.Methods: The asthmatic mice were divided randomly into seven groups (n = 8): positive control, vehicle, and five treated groups. The following treatments were given by inhalation (15 min once/day) for seven days: roflumilast (500 μg/kg), formoterol (50 μg/kg), fluticasone (1000 μg/kg), roflumilast + fluticasone (500 + 1000 μg/kg), and formoterol + fluticasone (50 + 1000 μg/kg). Ultrathin lung sections (50 - 70 nm thick) were examined by transmission electron microscopy.Results: The asthmatic mice showed marked degenerative changes in bronchiolar epithelial cells. The alveolar septal walls were thickened with cellular changes and capillary congestion. The basement membranes showed marked thickening and the airway lumens contained abundant mucinous secretions. These ovalbumin-induced ultrastructural airway changes were markedly-reversed in the roflumilast + fluticasone group, moderately-reversed in the roflumilast, fluticasone, and formoterol + fluticasone groups, but were not affected in the formoterol group.Conclusion: Co-inhalation of roflumilast + fluticasone significantly improved the ultrastructural airway changes than co-inhalation of formoterol + fluticasone in ovalbumin-asthmatic mice due to its antiinflammatory and antifibrotic effects.Keywords: Asthma, Fluticasone Propionate, Formoterol, Roflumilast, Ovalbumin, Remodeling, Bronchiolar epitheliu
A Comprehensive Review Of The Influence Of Heat Exchange Tubes On Hydrodynamic, Heat, And Mass Transfer In Bubble And Slurry Bubble Columns
Bubble and slurry bubble column reactors (BCRs/SBCRs) are used for various chemical, biochemical, and petrochemical applications. They have several operational and maintenance advantages, including excellent heat and mass transfer rates, simplicity, and low operating and maintenance cost. Typically, a catalyst is present in addition to biochemical processes where microorganisms are used to produce industrially valuable bio-products. Since most applications involve complicated gas-liquid, gas-liquid-solid, and exothermic processes, the BCR/SBCR must be equipped with heat-exchanging tubes to dissipate heat and control the reactor\u27s overall performance. In this review, past and very recent experimental and numerical investigations on such systems are critically discussed. Furthermore, gaps to be filled and critical aspects still requiring investigation are identified
Asc-Dependent and Independent Mechanisms Contribute to Restriction of Legionella Pneumophila Infection in Murine Macrophages
The apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (Asc) is an adaptor molecule that mediates inflammatory and apoptotic signals. Legionella pneumophila is an intracellular bacterium and the causative agent of Legionnaire's pneumonia. L. pneumophila is able to cause pneumonia in immuno-compromised humans but not in most inbred mice. Murine macrophages that lack the ability to activate caspase-1, such as caspase-1−/− and Nlrc4−/− allow L. pneumophila infection. This permissiveness is attributed mainly to the lack of active caspase-1 and the absence of its down stream substrates such as caspase-7. However, the role of Asc in control of L. pneumophila infection in mice is unclear. Here we show that caspase-1 is moderately activated in Asc−/− macrophages and that this limited activation is required and sufficient to restrict L. pneumophila growth. Moreover, Asc-independent activation of caspase-1 requires bacterial flagellin and is mainly detected in cellular extracts but not in culture supernatants. We also demonstrate that the depletion of Asc from permissive macrophages enhances bacterial growth by promoting L. pneumophila-mediated activation of the NF-κB pathway and decreasing caspase-3 activation. Taken together, our data demonstrate that L. pneumophila infection in murine macrophages is controlled by several mechanisms: Asc-independent activation of caspase-1 and Asc-dependent regulation of NF-κB and caspase-3 activation
Synthesis, Antiviral, and Antimicrobial Evaluation of Benzyl Protected Diversified C-nucleosides
Formyl glycals are the versatile synthetic intermediates and can serves as precursor for the synthesis of various C and N-nucleosides. Due to the presence of electron donating and electron withdrawing character on formyl sugars which makes the molecule more susceptible to nucleophilic attack. Utilizing same strategy, we propose the synthesis of diversified C-nucleosides (3-14) by reaction with N,N dinucleophiles. These nucleoside analogs were than tested against viral, bacterial and fungal strains
Overview on Blood Transfusion-Transmitted Diseases
As it is important for the Blood transfusion to be extremely safe, some measures have to be taken long safeguarded the blood supply from the major transfusion transmissible diseases (TTIs). The risk of transfusion-transmitted infection (TTI) rises with the number of donors exposed, and the effects of TTI are frequently more severe in immune compromised people. TTIs (hepatitis B virus [HBV], HIV, and hepatitis C virus [HCV]) are examples of typical transfusion-transmitted infectious agents. As a result of the gradual application of nucleic acid-amplification technology (NAT) screening for HIV, HCV, and HBV, the residual risk of infected window-period donations has been minimized. Nonetheless, infections emerge far more frequently than is commonly acknowledged, needing ongoing surveillance and individual assessment of transfusion-associated risk. Although there is a constant need to monitor present dangers owing to established TTI, the ongoing issues in blood safety are mostly related to surveillance for developing agents, as well as the creation of quick reaction systems when such agents are detected
Melatonin downregulates the increased hepatic alpha-fetoprotein expression and restores pancreatic beta cells in a streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model: a clinical, biochemical, immunohistochemical, and descriptive histopathological study
BackgroundDiabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder. Hepatopathy is one of the serious effects of DM Melatonin (MT) is a potent endogenous antioxidant that can control insulin output. However, little information is available about the potential association between melatonin and hepatic alpha-fetoprotein expression in diabetes.ObjectiveThis study was conducted to assess the influence of MT on diabetes-related hepatic injuries and to determine how β-cells of the pancreas in diabetic rats respond to MT administration.Materials and methodsForty rats were assigned to four groups at random (ten animals per group). Group I served as a normal control group. Group II was induced with DM, and a single dose of freshly prepared streptozotocin (45 mg/kg body weight) was intraperitoneally injected. In Group III, rats received 10 mg/kg/day of intraperitoneal melatonin (IP MT) intraperitoneally over a period of 4 weeks. In Group IV (DM + MT), following the induction of diabetes, rats received MT (the same as in Group III). Fasting blood sugar, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and serum insulin levels were assessed at the end of the experimental period. Serum liver function tests were performed. The pancreas and liver were examined histopathologically and immunohistochemically for insulin and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) antibodies, respectively.ResultsMT was found to significantly modulate the raised blood glucose, HbA1c, and insulin levels induced by diabetes, as well as the decreased alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Furthermore, MT attenuated diabetic degenerative changes in the pancreas and the hepatic histological structure, increased the β-cell percentage area, and decreased AFP expression in the liver tissue. It attenuated diabetes-induced hepatic injury by restoring pancreatic β-cells; its antioxidant effect also reduced hepatocyte injury.ConclusionCollectively, the present study confirmed the potential benefits of MT in downregulating the increased hepatic alpha-fetoprotein expression and in restoring pancreatic β-cells in a streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model, suggesting its promising role in the treatment of diabetes
Suicide among Arab-Americans
BACKGROUND: Arab-American (AA) populations in the US are exposed to discrimination and acculturative stress-two factors that have been associated with higher suicide risk. However, prior work suggests that socially oriented norms and behaviors, which characterize recent immigrant ethnic groups, may be protective against suicide risk. Here we explored suicide rates and their determinants among AAs in Michigan, the state with the largest proportion of AAs in the US. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: ICD-9/10 underlying cause of death codes were used to identify suicide deaths from among all deaths in Michigan between 1990 and 2007. Data from the 2000 U.S. Census were collected for population denominators. Age-adjusted suicide rates among AAs and non-ethnic whites were calculated by gender using the direct method of standardization. We also stratified by residence inside or outside of Wayne County (WC), the county with the largest AA population in the state. Suicide rates were 25.10 per 100,000 per year among men and 6.40 per 100,000 per year among women in Michigan from 1990 to 2007. AA men had a 51% lower suicide rate and AA women had a 33% lower rate than non-ethnic white men and women, respectively. The suicide rate among AA men in WC was 29% lower than in all other counties, while the rate among AA women in WC was 20% lower than in all other counties. Among non-ethnic whites, the suicide rate in WC was higher compared to all other counties among both men (12%) and women (16%). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Suicide rates were higher among non-ethnic white men and women compared to AA men and women in both contexts. Arab ethnicity may protect against suicide in both sexes, but more so among men. Additionally, ethnic density may protect against suicide among Arab-Americans
Universal Patterns in Color-Emotion Associations Are Further Shaped by Linguistic and Geographic Proximity
Many of us "see red," "feel blue," or "turn green with envy." Are such color-emotion associations fundamental to our shared cognitive architecture, or are they cultural creations learned through our languages and traditions? To answer these questions, we tested emotional associations of colors in 4,598 participants from 30 nations speaking 22 native languages. Participants associated 20 emotion concepts with 12 color terms. Pattern-similarity analyses revealed universal color-emotion associations (average similarity coefficientr= .88). However, local differences were also apparent. A machine-learning algorithm revealed that nation predicted color-emotion associations above and beyond those observed universally. Similarity was greater when nations were linguistically or geographically close. This study highlights robust universal color-emotion associations, further modulated by linguistic and geographic factors. These results pose further theoretical and empirical questions about the affective properties of color and may inform practice in applied domains, such as well-being and design.Peer reviewe
Ethnic Inequalities in Mortality: The Case of Arab-Americans
BACKGROUND: Although nearly 112 million residents of the United States belong to a non-white ethnic group, the literature about differences in health indicators across ethnic groups is limited almost exclusively to Hispanics. Features of the social experience of many ethnic groups including immigration, discrimination, and acculturation may plausibly influence mortality risk. We explored life expectancy and age-adjusted mortality risk of Arab-Americans (AAs), relative to non-Arab and non-Hispanic Whites in Michigan, the state with the largest per capita population of AAs in the US. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Data were collected about all deaths to AAs and non-Arab and non-Hispanic Whites in Michigan between 1990 and 2007, and year 2000 census data were collected for population denominators. We calculated life expectancy, age-adjusted all-cause, cause-specific, and age-specific mortality rates stratified by ethnicity and gender among AAs and non-Arab and non-Hispanic Whites. Among AAs, life expectancies among men and women were 2.0 and 1.4 years lower than among non-Arab and non-Hispanic White men and women, respectively. AA men had higher mortality than non-Arab and non-Hispanic White men due to infectious diseases, chronic diseases, and homicide. AA women had higher mortality than non-Arab and non-Hispanic White women due to chronic diseases. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Despite better education and higher income, AAs have higher age-adjusted mortality risk than non-Arab and non-Hispanic Whites, particularly due to chronic diseases. Features specific to AA culture may explain some of these findings
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