Relation of common ABL kinase domain mutations with resistance to Tyrosine Kinase Inhibiters in patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in Middle Euphrates of Iraq

Background: Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a hematopoietic stem cell disease, associated with a reciprocal translocation between chromosomes 9 and chromosome 22, lead to the formation of the BCRABL fusion gene (Philadelphia chromosome). This fusion gene is believed to play golden role in the initial development of CML with constitutive tyrosine kinase activation. Successful use of tyrosine kinase inhibiters (TKIs) play a role in improve survival and increase prevalence of CML, but un fortunately mutations in the BCR-ABL kinase domain may cause, or contribute to increase, resistance to TKIs in CML patients. . Objective: This study was designed to assess the association of five most common BCR-ABL kinase domain mutations (T315I, M351T, E255K, M244V and E255V) with resistance state of CML patients on TKIs in Iraqi Middle Euphrates region. Patients and methods: A retrospective case-control study in which 85 patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase (45 patients as cases group and 40 patient as control group) were selected from three hemato-oncology centers in middle Euphrates in Iraq during the period from January 2016 till October 2016 out of a total of 240 CML patients (108 male and 132 female) who were registered during this period in these three centers and all patients on TKI (Imatinib and Nilotinib). Venous blood sampling done for BCRABL kinase domain mutations screening. Results: four patients from cases group (4/45) were carriers of one of five selected ABL kinase domain mutations and no one of control group. T315I mutation was detected in 3/45 (6.6 %) of resistant patients, with a significant risk association to develop resistance to TKI therapy (odd ratio and C. I.) (6.67, 0.3340 - 133.2255). E255V was detected in 1/45 (2.2 %) and also had significant risk association to develop resistance to TKIs (odd ratio, C.I.) (2.73, 0.1081 -68.9424). No one of these mutations had significance correlation with demographic or hematological features. M351T, E255K and M244V were not detected in any one of our study groups CML patients. Conclusions: T315I and E255V among five ABL kinas domain mutations were detected in our CML patients with resistance to TKIs. All of them may play a role in development variable degree of resistance to first and second generation TKIs weather primary or secondary.T315I mutation is most common mutation within BCR-ABL domain kinase gene

Health Figures: An Open Source JavaScript Library for Health Data Visualization

The way we look at data has a great impact on how we can understand it, particularly when the data is related to health and wellness. Due to the increased use of self-tracking devices and the ongoing shift towards preventive medicine, better understanding of our health data is an important part of improving the general welfare of the citizens. Electronic Health Records, self-tracking devices and mobile applications provide a rich variety of data but it often becomes difficult to understand. We implemented the hFigures library inspired on the hGraph visualization with additional improvements. The purpose of the library is to provide a visual representation of the evolution of health measurements in a complete and useful manner. We researched the usefulness and usability of the library by building an application for health data visualization in a health coaching program. We performed a user evaluation with Heuristic Evaluation, Controlled User Testing and Usability Questionnaires. In the Heuristics Evaluation the average response was 6.3 out of 7 points and the Cognitive Walkthrough done by usability experts indicated no design or mismatch errors. In the CSUQ usability test the system obtained an average score of 6.13 out of 7, and in the ASQ usability test the overall satisfaction score was 6.64 out of 7. We developed hFigures, an open source library for visualizing a complete, accurate and normalized graphical representation of health data. The idea is based on the concept of the hGraph but it provides additional key features, including a comparison of multiple health measurements over time. We conducted a usability evaluation of the library as a key component of an application for health and wellness monitoring. The results indicate that the data visualization library was helpful in assisting users in understanding health data and its evolution over time.Comment: BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making 16.1 (2016

Performance improvement of visible light communication links based on coded unipolar OFDM

Visible light communications are limited by the narrow bandwidth of their sources as the light-emitting diodes, which restricts the high data rates transmission. A potential technique such as multi-carrier modulation is considered promising for achieving a high-speed data rate and enhancing system performance. This paper proposes turbo coding with unipolar orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (U-OFDM) for indoor environments. The system under U-OFDM considerations can reduce the inter-symbol interference caused by multiple paths and mitigate burst errors by adopting an iterative turbo decoding. The system performance is evaluated regarding the bit error rate (BER) for the range of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) under receiver field-of-view (FOV) restriction. The obtained results show that the performance system of the target BER (below the threshold limit of 3.8×10−3) has a power penalty of ~9 dB for modulation order of 64 for quadrature amplitude modulation scheme, FOV of 50°, and incidence angle of half power assigned to 30°. The obtained results also showed a ~10.8 dB improvement in the SNR when comparing the present system with coded-DC-biased optical OFDM under the same considerations

Transcriptional network growing models using motif-based preferential attachment

Understanding relationships between architectural properties of gene-regulatory networks (GRNs) has been one of the major goals in systems biology and bioinformatics, as it can provide insights into, e.g., disease dynamics and drug development. Such GRNs are characterized by their scale-free degree distributions and existence of network motifs – i.e., small-node subgraphs that occur more abundantly in GRNs than expected from chance alone. Because these transcriptional modules represent “building blocks” of complex networks and exhibit a wide range of functional and dynamical properties, they may contribute to the remarkable robustness and dynamical stability associated with the whole of GRNs. Here, we developed network-construction models to better understand this relationship, which produce randomized GRNs by using transcriptional motifs as the fundamental growth unit in contrast to other methods that construct similar networks on a node-by-node basis. Because this model produces networks with a prescribed lower bound on the number of choice transcriptional motifs (e.g., downlinks, feed-forward loops), its fidelity to the motif distributions observed in model organisms represents an improvement over existing methods, which we validated by contrasting their resultant motif and degree distributions against existing network-growth models and data from the model organism of the bacteriumEscherichia coli. These models may therefore serve as novel testbeds for further elucidating relationships between the topology of transcriptional motifs and network-wide dynamical properties

Insight into mechanics of AFM tip-based nanomachining: bending of cantilevers and machined grooves

Atomic force microscope (AFM) tip-based nanomachining is currently the object of intense research investigations. Values of the load applied to the tip at the free end of the AFM cantilever probe used for nanomachining are always large enough to induce plastic deformation on the specimen surface contrary to the small load values used for the conventional contact mode AFM imaging. This study describes an important phenomenon specific for AFM nanomachining in the forward direction: under certain processing conditions, the deformed shape of the cantilever probe may change from a convex to a concave orientation. The phenomenon can principally change the depth and width of grooves machined, e.g. the grooves machined on a single crystal copper specimen may increase by 50% on average following such a change in the deformed shape of the cantilever. It is argued that this phenomenon can take place even when the AFM-based tool is operated in the so-called force-controlled mode. The study involves the refined theoretical analysis of cantilever probe bending, the analysis of experimental signals monitored during the backward and forward AFM tip-based machining and the inspection of the topography of produced grooves

Restrained shrinkage behaviour of rapid hardening fibre reinforced concrete repairs

The functionality and durability of concrete overlays is compromised by delamination and large cracks that result from excessive shear and tensile stresses due to restrained shrinkage. Expansive cements could mitigate shrinkage problems, but as they are usually brittle, they still develop cracks under mechanical loads. Manufactured Steel fibres (MSF) can be used to control crack widths of repairs. However, to promote the sustainability of repairs, recycled fibres extracted from un-vulcanised rubber belt off-cuts can be used. They are also more cost effective than MSF. Currently, there is no accepted design approach to limit crack widths or to accurately quantify the effect of fibres on crack widths and crack spacings of overlays. The aim of this study is to contribute to the understanding of flexural performance and restrained shrinkage and subsequent deterioration of plain and recycled fibre reinforced rapid hardening overlays, especially the fibre effect on crack widths of overlays, and to promote more sustainable, yet efficient solutions. A combination of experimental, analytical and numerical investigation is employed to study: a) the effect of recycled clean steel fibres (RCSF) on the compressive and flexural behaviour of rapid hardening mixes, b) the effect of RCSF on the crack development of overlays and shear stresses at the interface and c) the effect of non-uniform shrinkage distribution across the depth of overlays on the tensile stress development, and therefore, on the risk of cracking in overlays. It was found that the RCSF are efficient in bridging cracks, resulting in flexural hardening properties. The RCSF reduce crack widths in overlays by about 60%. The available methods for predicting crack widths are found to be inaccurate. Therefore, a modified crack width equation is proposed and validated, and a new equation for estimating crack spacing is derived. The fibres are also found to positively contribute in reducing the risk of delamination. They are shown to enhance the shear strength and proven to reduce the shear stress development after crack development and reduce the level of deterioration of shear interface by controlling crack widths. The assumption of uniform shrinkage distribution in overlays underestimates the extent of hygral tensile stresses. An empirical equation to consider this effect is proposed. This work is expected to enable better and more sustainable designs for overlay repairs and strengthening

Information provision and retrieval in the farming industry in Western Australia

Agricultural information dissemination to farmers has been studied extensively. However, farmers preferred methods of delivery has not been investigated thoroughly within a Western Australia (WA) context. Availability of different information delivery channels have led to the overwhelming and overlapping of information available to farmers. As a consequence, the type of information required by WA farmers should be considered as knowing information needs could allow farmers to access relevant, concise and timely agricultural information. To answer the research questions, a survey was designed, using Likert-scale, close ended and open ended questions techniques, enabling qualitative and quantitative data analysis. The study‘s findings are relevant to agricultural information providers, government and public agencies, and other researchers who work in the agricultural and farming industries in Western Australia, and Australia

Detection of Aflatoxin B1 among Early and Middle Childhood Iraqi Patients

        أجريت الدراسة للكشف عن الأفلاتوكسين  AFB1في مصل وبول 42 مريض في مرحلة الطفولة المبكرة والمتوسطة (26 من الذكور و 16 من الإناث) يعانون مرض وظائف الكلى، وأمراض وظائف الكبد ، فضلا عن ضمور في النمو وأعراض أخرى اعتمادا على معلومات تم الحصول عليها من كل مريض. و 8 اطفال اصحاء ظاهريا كمجموعة سيطرة. تم استخدام تقنية HPLC للكشف عن AFB1 في جميع العينات. أظهرت النتائج أنه من بين 42 مريضا في مرحلة الطفولة ، 19 (45.2 %) منها اعطت نتيجة ايجابية في وجود AFB1 في المصل من بين جميع الفئات العمرية للمرضى بمعدل 0.88 نانوغرام / مل ومدى (0.12-3.04) نانوغرام / مل ، بالمقارنة مع مجموعه السيطرة التي لم تكتشف أي مستوى من الافلاتوكسين. بينما لم يتم اكتشف عن الافلاتوكسين في أي من عينات البول في كلا الجنسين. تم تسجيل النتائج الإيجابية للافلاتوكسين AFB1  في عينات المصل للذكور أكثر من الإناث وصلت إلى 12 (46.1%) و7 (43.7 %) على التوالي مع متوسط / مدى وصل إلى (1.08 /0.12 -2.91  و 0.82 /0.12 -1.30 ) نانوغرام / مل على التوالي، مقارنة مع مجموعة السيطرة ((8 والتي لم تكتشف عن وجود  أي قيمة للافلاتوكسين.      The study was conducted for the detection of Aflatoxin B1(AFB1) in the serum and urine of 42 early and middle childhood patients (26 male and  16 female ) with renal function disease, liver function disease, in additional to atrophy in the growth and other symptoms depending on the information within consent obtained from each patient, in addition to 8 children, apparently healthy, as  the control. The technique of HPLC was used for the detection of AFB1 from all samples. The results showed that out of 42 patient children, 19 (45.2%) gave positive detection of AFB1 in the serum among all age groups patients with a mean of 0.88 ng/ml and a range of (0.12-3.04) ng/ml. This was compared with the control that did not detect any level. On the other hand, AFB1 was not detected in any of urine samples in both of the sexes. Positive results of serum AFB1 were recorded in males more than females sample which reached 12(46.1%) and 7(43.7%) respectively with a mean/ range reached to (1.08 /0.12-2.91 and 0.82/0.12-1.30)ng/ml respectively, compared with 8 control samples that did not detect any value of aflatoxins

The effect of previous and current COVID-19 infections on amniotic fluid index

Background: COVID-19 infection had a multisystem effect. Although it does not cross the placenta, it can cause conformational changes that affect placental function, with the possibility of a change in amniotic fluid index and the development of oligohydramnios. The aim of the study is to estimate the effect of COVID-19 previous and current infections on the amniotic fluid index. Methods: A prospective case-control study was conducted in a major maternity hospital from the 1st of April 2021 to the 1st of October 2021. 125-term pregnant ladies early in labor and had been diagnosed with COVID-19, either current or previous infection (according to serology testing IgG and IgM) were considered the case group, and 125-term pregnant ladies in labor but without COVID-19 infection as a control group. A transabdominal ultrasound was done to measure the amniotic fluid index for comparison between groups. Results: Cases of previous infection had a reduced level of amniotic fluid index (mean 9.98±4.93), which is statistically significantly lower than both the current infection and control, and the amniotic fluid index of the current infection was not different statistically from the control. Finally, it is 4.48 times more common to develop oligohydramnios if the patient had previous COVID 19 infection (odd ratio 4.48, 95% CI 10.87-1.85). Conclusion: The previous COVID-19 infection is significantly associated with decreased AFI