Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Type 2 diabetes mellitus is associated with obesity, smoking and low socioeconomic status in large and representative samples of rural, urban, and suburban adult Greek populations

OBJECTIVEIn this cross-sectional epidemiologic study we examined the association between type 2 diabetes mellitus and demographic, clinical, and socioeconomic parameters in large rural, urban and suburban populations of adult Greeks.DESIGNOf the total target adult population (≥19 years, n = 14233) in nine selected geographical regions covering rural, suburban, and urban areas of Greece, 10,647 subjects were included in the study. Data were collected by physicians who interviewed subjects at their homes between 1996 and 1999.RESULTSA total of 8740 subjects participated (response rate 82.1%). Among participants there were 360 subjects with type 2 diabetes. Multivariate logistic regression analysis after adjustment for factors associated with type 2 DM in univariate analyses including occupation, education level, place of residence, and number of persons living together demonstrated that advancing age, obesity — but not overweight status — and smoking in the past were associated with higher odds of type 2 diabetes. Moreover, low socioeconomic status was associated with type 2 diabetes independently of the effects of age, obesity, and smoking.CONCLUSIONSIn large representative rural, urban, and suburban populations of adult Greeks, type 2 Diabetes was associated with advancing age, obesity, exposure to smoke, and low socioeconomic status.
Dose requirements for idarucizumab reversal of dabigatran in a lethal porcine trauma model with continuous bleeding

Summary Idarucizumab is licensed for emergency reversal of dabigatran. A single 5 g dose is usually sufficient, but higher doses may sometimes be required and optimum dosing has not been defined. It was the aim of this study to investigate the effect of idarucizumab, given once or as a split dose, after double trauma in pigs anticoagulated with dabigatran. Dabigatran etexilate (30 mg/kg bid) was given to 18 male pigs orally for 3 days. On day 4, animals were randomised 1:1:1 to receive idarucizumab 60+0, 60+60 or 120+0 mg/kg. Doses were administered 15 and 75 minutes after initial liver trauma. At 60 minutes, a second liver injury was undertaken. Animals were monitored for 5 hours after initial trauma or until death. Blood loss during the first hour was 990 ± 109 ml, 988 ± 84 ml and 964 ± 75 ml in the 60+0, 60+60 and 120+0 groups, respectively. In the 120+0 and 60+60 groups, total blood loss was 1659 ± 346 and 1426 ± 106 ml, respectively, and survival at 5 hours was 100 %. However, in the 60+0 group, total blood loss was 3561 ± 770 ml and survival was 50 %. Analysis of dabigatran plasma concentrations showed that equimolar concentrations of idarucizumab are necessary to bind all dabigatran and achieve sufficient thrombin generation. At sufficient doses, idarucizumab rapidly reduced blood loss and improved survival in this lethal porcine model of double trauma with dabigatran anticoagulation. In clinical practice, should bleeding continue after initial treatment with the approved 5 g dose of idarucizumab, a second dose may potentially be effective to control bleeding caused by redistribution of unbound dabigatran. Supplementary Material to this article is available online at www.thrombosis-online.com.
Control of Biofilm Formation: Antibiotics and Beyond

ABSTRACT Biofilm-associated bacteria are less sensitive to antibiotics than free-living (planktonic) cells. Furthermore, with variations in the concentration of antibiotics throughout a biofilm, microbial cells are often exposed to levels below inhibitory concentrations and may develop resistance. This, as well as the irresponsible use of antibiotics, leads to the selection of pathogens that are difficult to eradicate. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention use the terms “antibiotic” and “antimicrobial agent” interchangeably. However, a clear distinction between these two terms is required for the purpose of this assessment. Therefore, we define “antibiotics” as pharmaceutically formulated and medically administered substances and “antimicrobials” as a broad category of substances which are not regulated as drugs. This comprehensive minireview evaluates the effect of natural antimicrobials on pathogens in biofilms when used instead of, or in combination with, commonly prescribed antibiotics.
Survey of nutritional practices during therapeutic hypothermia for hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy

Objective To evaluate current nutritional practices during and after therapeutic hypothermia (TH) for infants with hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) in UK neonatal units. Study design Email survey of neonatal clinicians. Setting UK neonatal units providing active TH. Patients Neonates cooled for HIE. Methods Email survey including questions regarding the timing of starting enteral feeds, volumes, frequency and parenteral nutrition (PN) use and availability of guidelines. Results Forty-nine responses were received (49/69, 71%). The rate of enteral feeding during TH and rewarming was 59% (29/49). There was a significant linear trend for the increase in the proportion of units starting enteral feeds (p=0.001) during TH. As compared with post-TH period, significantly lower milk volumes were started during TH (median (range): 7.5 mL/kg/day (1.5–24) vs 17.5 mL/kg/day (7.5–30), p=0.0004). During TH, breast milk was primarily used by 52% of units predominantly as 2–3 hourly feeds, and volumes were increased as tolerated in 55% of units. Only 29% (14/49) of units used PN, with 86% (12/14) of those offering enteral feeds during PN. Guidelines for feeding during TH were available in 31% (15/49) of units. Conclusions Many neonatal clinicians offer enteral feeds predominantly using expressed breast milk, with or without PN, during TH, although with huge variability. The heterogeneity in the nutritional practice underscores the need for assessing the safety of both enteral and parenteral feeding during TH.
Microfluidic Thermoelectric Heat Exchangers for Low-Temperature Waste Heat Recovery

More than half of the energy created by humanity is lost as waste heat into the environment. Over 75 % of this dissipated energy is classified as low grade waste heat and its temperature lies below 100 ◦C. By recovering part of this waste energy, the primary energy usage could be significantly reduced and thus the ecological footprint decreased. However, most technologies fail to produce electrical power at these low temperature levels. A possible solution is offered by thermoelectricity, where power can be generated starting from thermal gradients at arbitrary low temperatures. There is a significant push to increase the output performance of thermoelectric generators (TEGs) in order to make them more competitive energy harvesters. The thermal coupling of TEGs has a major impact on the effective temperature gradient across the generator and therefore the power output achieved. This work reports on a novel approach combining efficient microfluidic thermal coupling and thin film generators in order to contribute to a significant thermoelectric output performance enhancement. The proposed thermoelectric heat exchanger (TEHEX) for low temperature waste heat recovery consist of μTEGs in between multi-layer micro heat transfer systems (μHTSs) featuring very low heat transfer resistances and small pumping powers. The implementation of efficient thermal coupling allows for the application of thin film generators for a thermally matched system and thus maximal power output. Additionally, very compact systems and therefore high power densities can be achieved. The TEHEXs are fabricated in two different size scales and characterized with respect to their net output performance. By means of a small size 8 x 8 mm device featuring high aspect ratio copper microchannels, the influence of the most relevant system parameters, i.e. the microchannel width, applied fluid flow rates and the μTEG thickness on the system net output performance is investigated. It is shown that dimensions of the μTEG and μHTS can be optimized for specific temperature ranges applied, and the maximum net power can be tracked by adjusting the heat transfer resistance during operation. With the compact system, a total of 63 mW/cm2 at a fluid inlet temperature difference of 60 K is measured. This corresponds to a net volumetric efficiency factor (VEF) of 37 W/m3K2, which is by a factor of 4.8 higher than reported elsewhere. The fabricated 9 x 9 cm large
MiR-29a suppresses cell proliferation by targeting SIRT1 in hepatocellular carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES MicroRNAs (miRNAs) were identified to be involved in various biological functions by regulating the degradation or suppressing the translation of their downstream target genes. Recent studies have identified miR-29a acts as tumor suppressor in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression. However, the underlying functions for miR-29a in HCC still to be investigated. METHODS The expression of miR-29a expression in HCC tissues and corresponding adjacent normal tissues was detected using qRT-PCR analyses. Cell proliferation ability was assessed using CCK8 assay, cell colony forming and flow cytometry analysis. Bioinformatics, the dual luciferase reporter assay, qRT-PCR and western blot analysis were used to demonstrate that SIRT1 was a target of miR-29a. RESULTS Here, we demonstrated that miR-29a was significantly downregulated in HCC tissues compared with corresponding adjacent normal tissues. Lower miR-29a expression associated with tumor size and vascular invasion of HCC. Furthermore, Lower miR-29a predicted a poor disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) time for HCC patients. Function assays showed that overexpression of miR-29a effectively suppressed cell proliferation, cell colony forming ability, and cell cycle progression. MiR-29a overexpression also inhibited the cell cycle related protein expression of CyclinD1 and CDK4, but increasing the P21 expression. Furthermore, Bioinformatics and the dual luciferase reporter assay analysis results demonstrated that miR-29a specifically targeted the 3'-UTR of SIRT1 mRNA and regulated its protein expression. Increased SIRT1 expression rescued the inhibited effects induced by miR-29a overexpression in HCC cells. CONCLUSIONS Thus, these results indicated that miR-29a may serve as a potential target of HCC treatment.
3D modelling of Ti–6Al–4V linear friction welds

Linear friction welding (LFW) is a solid-state joining process that significantly reduces manufacturing costs when fabricating Ti–6Al–4V aircraft components. This article describes the development of a novel 3D LFW process model for joining Ti–6Al–4V. Displacement histories were taken from experiments and used as modelling inputs; herein is the novelty of the approach, which resulted in decreased computational time and memory storage requirements. In general, the models captured the experimental weld phenomena and showed that the thermo-mechanically affected zone and interface temperature are reduced when the workpieces are oscillated along the shorter of the two interface contact dimensions. Moreover, the models showed that unbonded regions occur at the corners of the weld interface, which are eliminated by increasing the burn-off.
Weight Watching and the Effect of Landscape on Honeybee Colony Productivity: Investigating the Value of Colony Weight Monitoring for the Beekeeping Industry

Over the last few decades, a gradual departure away from traditional agricultural practices has resulted in alterations to the composition of the countryside and landscapes across Europe. In the face of such changes, monitoring the development and productivity of honey bee colonies from different sites can give valuable insight on the influence of landscape on their productivity and might point towards future directions for modernized beekeeping practices. Using data on honeybee colony weights provided by electronic scales spread across Denmark, we investigated the effect of the immediate landscape on colony productivity. In order to extract meaningful information, data manipulation was necessary prior to analysis as a result of different management regimes or scales malfunction. Once this was carried out, we were able to show that colonies situated in landscapes composed of more than 50% urban areas were significantly more productive than colonies situated in those with more than 50% agricultural areas or those in mixed areas. As well as exploring some of the potential reasons for the observed differences, we discuss the value of weight monitoring of colonies on a large scale.
Microstructure and corrosion properties of the laser treated SUPERSTON alloy

Purpose: Results of laser treatment at cryogenic conditions and its influence on microstructure, microhardness and properties of the SUPERSTON alloy are presented in this article. Design/methodology/approach: New method of the laser remelting specimens diped in liquid nitrogen made by the CO2 laser with 6000W laser beam power and scanning velocity 1.0 m/min was employed. Observation microstructure was carried out by scanning electron microscope. Hardness of cross-section of the surface layer has been measured by the Vickers microhardness under load 0.49 N. Corrosion investigation in 3% NaCl by the Atlas 9131 equipment conected with computer PC was done. Findings: Laser remelting lets obtain fine microstructure in surface layer and increase of microhardness and corrosion properties, compared with base material. Research limitations/implications: The future investigations connected with aplication conditions should be extend of cavitation tests in the magnetostriction stand. Practical implications: Obtained results point at possibility of the increase hardness, corrosion and cavitation resistance of the parts worked in marine conditions. Originality/value: The proposed laser treatment at cryogenic conditions could be used for surface consolidation of the copper alloys applied for ship propellers.
Constraints on constant-input oscillations of a bandpass sigma-delta modulator structure

This paper presents sets of conditions on the parameters of bandpass sigma-delta modulators for which the oscillations of the state variables remain bounded within a specific square of the state space. The conditions are associated with areas in the parameter space and the system dynamics is illustrated for parameter sets showing examples of typical oscillations, both those which are and those which are not constrained to the specified square.
Semantic Query Processing: Estimating Relational Purity

The use of semantic information found in structured knowledge bases has become an integral part of the processing pipeline of modern intelligent in- formation systems. However, such semantic information is frequently insuffi-cient to capture the rich semantics demanded by the applications, and thus cor-pus-based methods employing natural language processing techniques are often used conjointly to provide additional information. However, the semantic expres-siveness and interaction of these data sources with respect to query processing result quality is often not clear. Therefore, in this paper, we introduce the notion of relational purity which represents how well the explicitly modelled relation-ships between two entities in a structured knowledge base capture the implicit (and usually more diverse) semantics found in corpus-based word embeddings. The purity score gives valuable insights into the completeness of a knowledge base, but also into the expected quality of complex semantic queries relying on reasoning over relationships, as for example analogy queries.
Creep to failure and cyclic creep of foam core sandwich composites in seawater

Foam core sandwich composites were subjected to creep to failure and cyclic (loading/unloading) creep in seawater in order to mimic an actual ship hull service lifetime scenario. In spite of minute water absorption observed in the creep to failure tests, about 15% higher deflection and over 50% reduction in the overall lifetime were observed in specimens subjected to seawater as compared with tests performed in air; which is explained in terms of various possible paths to interface cell wall collapse. In the cyclic creep testing performed in seawater, the specimens were loaded for 24 h while the unloading (relaxation) times were varied from 24 to 6 h. Significantly reduced life and extensive damage were observed under cyclic creep as compared with creep to failure specimens. Curiously, lifetime and number of cycles to failure were found to decrease as a function of increasing relaxation periods. Modes of failure were predominantly indentation and core compression.
Random distribution of biomaterials as a handling method on microarray applied to PCR, biosensors and high through-put screening

Describes a random distribution method to bring biomaterials into an array of sites on a chip. A mixture of biomolecules or a mixed suspension of particles immobilized with biomaterials was simply poured on an array and the components were randomly distributed. A microchamber array for PCR was developed by semiconductor microfabrication techniques. Amplification of pGFP was confirmed using a technique based on energy transfer of fluorescent dyes. Addition of BSA in PCR mixture enhances PCR efficiency. Furthermore, employing a special membrane made it possible to pick up the PCR products, Random distribution method is also applied to the construction of biosensor arrays. The authors first employed a two-step immobilization in which materials are not immobilized directly but indirectly via small support materials. In this case random distribution is called random fluidic self-assembly. This arranges the microparticles reducing the complication in the second step on the chip.
Analysis of fentanyl analogs and novel synthetic opioids in blood, serum/plasma, and urine in forensic casework.

In recent years an increasing number of novel opioids have appeared on the illicit drug market and have been linked to the growing opioid crisis in the United States. It is suspected that synthetic-opioid-related deaths are underestimated since many laboratories either use a screening method that is not specific and sensitive enough for these compounds or testing is not performed for fentanyl and its related analogs in general. We describe a method for the analysis of 19 of the most current novel opioid drugs quantitatively in whole blood and serum, and 17 analytes qualitatively in urine using solid phase extraction with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The limit of detection was determined to be at a minimum 0.25 ng/mL for beta-hydroxythiofentanyl, 0.05 ng/mL for butyryl/isobutyrylfentanyl, AH-7921, 2-furanylfentanyl, 4-ANPP, and U-47700; 0.025 ng/mL for MT-45, para-methoxybutyrylfentanyl, 4-methylphenethyl acetyl fentanyl, U-50488, acrylfentanyl, valerylfentanyl, and carfentanil; and 0.0125 ng/mL for para-fluorofentanyl, ortho-fluorofentanyl, para-fluorobutyrylfentanyl/FIBF, and alpha-methylfentanyl. The lower limit of quantitation was determined to be 0.1 ng/mL for all analytes except AH-7921, U-47700, U-50488 which were 0.05 ng/mL and beta-hydroxythiofentanyl which was 0.5 ng/mL. The method was validated successfully according to a Scientific Working Group in Forensic Toxicology (SWGTOX) compliant approach. This method was applied to the analysis of 2758 samples between October 2016 and September 2017. It was determined that 4-ANPP, furanylfentanyl, and carfentanil were the 3 most prevalent fentanyl related compounds detected: 56.1% of cases were positive for 4-ANPP, 44.5% were positive for furanylfentanyl, and 25.2% cases were positive for carfentanil.
Ear-Pit (Congenital Aural and Pre-Auricular Fistula)

higher figure, and apparently the frequency may rise to 5 per cent, in a small community which includes several affected families. Pathologically there is nothing and surgically there is little of interest in the anomaly, but its illustration of certain genetic principles is illuminating, the understanding which it affords of the development of the pinna is valuable, and the contribution which it may make to chronic inflammations of the face is occasionally important. The affection was first described 'by Heusinger in 1864, and Virchow in the same year and Urbantschitsch subsequently speculated upon its possible origin from the first branchial cleft or the cleft between mandibular and maxillary processes. The first English description (apart from a translation of Urbantschitsch's paper) was that of
Outcome of advanced lung cancer with central airway obstruction versus without central airway obstruction

Patients with central airway obstruction (CAO) from advanced lung cancer present with significant morbidity and are assumed to have lower survival. Hence, they are offered only palliative support. We asked if patients who have advanced lung cancer with CAO (recanalised and treated) will behave similarly to those with advanced lung cancer without CAO. This study was a retrospective review of the medical records of the patients managed for advanced lung cancer during 2010 and 2015 at our institution. 85 patients were studied. Median survival and 1-, 2- and 5-year survival were 5.8 months, 30.3%, 11.7% and 2.3% versus 9.3 months, 35.7%, 9.6% and 4.7%, respectively, in the CAO and no CAO groups (p=0.30). More patients presented with respiratory failure (15 (35%) versus none; p=0.0001) and required assisted mechanical ventilation (10 (23.3%) versus none; p=0.001) in the CAO group compared with the no CAO group. Fewer patients received chemotherapy in the CAO group (11 (25.5%)) compared with the no CAO group (23 (54.7%); p=0.008). There was no difference in survival among patients with advanced lung cancer whether they presented with CAO or without CAO. Survival was similar to those without CAO in patients with recanalised CAO despite greater morbidity and lesser use of chemotherapy, strongly advocating bronchoscopic recanalisation of CAO. These findings dispel the nihilism associated with such cases. Survival is similar among patients with advanced lung cancer whether they present with CAO or without CAO http://ow.ly/djRE30iDH6V
Transformation to Conservation Agriculture Shows Reduced Soil CO2 Emissions and Improved Soil Aggregate Stability in the First Season in Rain-Fed Areas in India

Conservation Agriculture (CA) is capable of improving soil health and ecosystem functions. 17 Soil carbon sequestration is one of the ecosystem processes that is of importance in sustainable land 18 management involving reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and adaptation to climate change. In 19 this study, we wanted to determine, during the first year of the process of establishing a CA cropping 20 system in rain-fed areas in Madhya Pradesh state of India, which soil health indicators show measurable 21 signs of improvement. Four field trials were selected, each comprising two neighboring plots. One plot 22 (15×15 m) was managed conventionally under farmer practice and was tilled before sowing seeds, and 23 in the adjacent plot Conservation Agriculture practices were applied. No mineral fertilizers or pesticides 24 were applied in both treatments. Soil health indicators of soil aggregate stability, soil-atmosphere CO2 25 fluxes, water infiltration, soil moisture, potentially mineralizable nitrogen, soil organic content and bulk 26 density were measured. Results demonstrate that soil CO2 emissions in CA soils decreased and soil 27 aggregates stability improved in the first year. Generally, in CA soils, there were measurable 28 improvements in all soil health indicators but only some of them were statistically significant. 29
Treatment choice, satisfaction and quality of life in patients with Graves’ disease

Thyrotoxicosis, most often caused by Graves’ disease (GD), when treated inadequately may result in premature mortality. There is little consensus as to which of the 3 treatment options available ‐ antithyroid drugs (ATD), radioactive iodine (RAI) and surgery, is better.