Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Outcome of in vitro fertilization procedure at a private fertility center in Nnewi, South-East Nigeria

Background: Infertility has grown to be a major health and social challenge in our environment that a childless marriage is regarded as a failed marriage. Couples are therefore ready to do all within their power to achieve pregnancy and have a baby of their own. This is the yawning gap assisted reproductive technology is fulfilling. Objective: To determine the outcome of in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures 2 years after the commencement of the IVF program in a private hospital setting in Nnewi, Nigeria. Methods: From October 1, 2010 to September 30, 2012, 115 couples had conventional IVF procedures in batches of 10-15 couples. The outcome measures were clinical pregnancy rate, miscarriage rate, live birth rate, and sex ratio following one or two cycles of treatment. The results were analyzed using Epi info software 2013 version 7.0. Results: The mean age of the participants was 43.7 ± 3.5 years. The maximum number of embryos transferred per woman was four and minimum was one. The rates of clinical pregnancy, live births and multiple pregnancies were 30%, 18.3%, and 6.0%, respectively. Of the 31 women who conceived, 21 (67.7%) delivered live infants and 10 (32.3%) aborted in the first trimester. There was no case of ectopic pregnancy. The male:female sex ratio was 2:1. The mean endometrial thickness at embryo transfer (ET) was 8.9 ± 2.3 mm. Conclusion: The success rate of IVF-ET was good even in low resource settings and optimal endometrial thickness prior to ET may be one of the key success factors. The preponderance of male sex infants in our IVF births is acceptable to the couples who ordinarily have a preference for male infant.
3D-bioprintable endothelial cell-laden sacrificial ink for fabrication of microvessel networks

Although various research efforts have been made to produce a vascular-like network structure as scaffolds for tissue engineering, there are still several limitations. Meanwhile, no articles have been published on the direct embedding of cells within a glucose sensitive sacrificial hydrogel followed by three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting to fabricate vascular structures. In this study, the hydrogel composed of reversibly crosslinked poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate and dithiothreitol with borax and branched polyethylenimine was used as the sacrificial hydrogel to fabricate vascular-like network structure. The component proportion ratio of the sacrificial hydrogel was optimized to achieve proper self-healing, injectable, glucose-sensitive, and 3D printing properties through the balance of boronate ester bond, hydrogen bond, and steric hinderance effect. The endothelial cells (ECs) can be directly embedded into sacrificial hydrogel and then bioprinted through a 110 μm nozzle into the neural stem cell (NSC)-laden non-sacrificial hydrogel, forming the customized EC-laden vascularized microchannel (one-step). The EC-laden sacrificial hydrogel was dissolved immediately in the medium while cells kept growing. The ECs proliferated well within the vascularized microchannel structure and were able to migrate to the non-sacrificial hydrogel in one day. ECs and NSCs interacted around the vascularized microchannel to form capillary-like structure and vascular-like structure expressing CD31 in 14 d. The sacrificial hydrogel conveniently prepared from commercially available chemicals through simple mixing can be used in 3D bioprinting to create customized and complex but easily removable vascularized structure for tissue engineering applications.
Linkage between tropical terrestrial carbon cycle and precipitation: The two anomalous years of 1979 and 1996

Tropical terrestrial ecosystems are the critical driver of the land carbon cycle and climate change. Previous studies have reported strong response in the tropical land carbon cycle to precipitation anomalies in post‐La Niña years. We show that among the post‐La Niña years, 1979 and 1996 stand out strikingly different from other years. 1979 has one of the largest atmospheric CO2 growth rate (CGR) while 1996 has one of the smallest CGR, despite that their annual tropical precipitation anomalies are small. We show that these 2 years correspond to opposite seasonal precipitation anomalies over tropical vegetated lands in the wet‐to‐dry transition seasons in which negative correlation between precipitation and CGR is the strongest. 1979 has large dry anomaly during the transition season, inhibiting land carbon uptake, while 1996 has large wet anomaly during the transition season, favoring more carbon uptake by the tropical ecosystem. Results here highlight the importance of seasonality of climate anomalies and their timing of occurrences with the rhythm of the carbon–climate coupling.
Outer membrane proteins in Mycobacterium tuberculosis and its potential role in small molecule permeation

Increased resistance to current anti-mycobacterial and a potential bias towards relatively hydrophobic chemical entities highlight an urgent need to understand how current anti-TB drugs enter the tubercle bacilli. While inner membrane proteins are well-studied, how small molecules cross the impenetrable outer membrane remains unknown. Here we employed mass spectrometry-based proteomics to show that octyl-β-glucopyranoside selectively extracts the outer membrane proteins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Differentially expressed proteins between nutrient replete and depleted conditions were enriched to identify proteins involved in nutrient uptake. We demonstrate cell surface localization of seven new proteins using immunofluorescence and show that overexpression of the proteins LpqY and ProX leads to hypersensitivity towards streptomycin, while expression of SubI, FecB2, and Rv0999 exhibited higher membrane permeability, assessed through EtBr accumulation assay. Further, proton NMR metabolomics suggests the role of four outer membrane proteins in glycerol uptake. This study identifies several outer membrane proteins that are involved in the permeation of small hydrophilic molecules and are potential targets for enhancing uptake and efficacy of anti-TB drugs.
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Purpose: Psychological research on fire has focussed primarily on its misuse in the form of arson and firesetting, which reflects a tradition in forensic psychology for focussing on risk and pathological behaviour. However, this is inconsistent with the strengths-based approach because it fails to account for positive aspects of fire and law-abiding/ healthy interactions with fire. This study is the first to explore the psychology of non-criminalised forms of fire use, predicated on the continuum of fire use (CoFU; Horsley, 2020, 2021) conceptualisation. The research question was ‘what psychological mechanisms underpin non-criminalised fire users’ experience of fire’? Methodology: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 adults who use fire in law-abiding forms. Data was analysed using abbreviated Grounded Theory. Steps were taken to ensure reliability and validity, including a Cohen’s Kappa calculation, which indicated an agreement level of . 8 between two raters. Findings: Four core themes were identified relating to the benefits of fire on psychological wellbeing, namely: 1) Immediate Gratification; 2) Hope and Empowerment; 3) Self-Concept, and; 4) Emotional Security. Originality and practical application: This is the first psychological research study exploring the positive aspects of fire use, underpinned by the CoFU. The findings can inform rehabilitative approaches to arson and also, more importantly, early intervention programmes by supporting young people in developing healthy relationships with fire.
Albuminuria‐lowering effect of adding semaglutide on top of empagliflozin in individuals with type 2 diabetes: A randomized and placebo‐controlled study

To investigate whether combined treatment with empagliflozin (a sodium‐glucose cotransporter‐2 inhibitor) and semaglutide (a glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonist) can reduce urinary albumin‐creatinine ratio (UACR) compared to treatment with empagliflozin alone in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and albuminuria.
Long-term Neurological Sequelae in Post-COVID-19 Patients: A Machine Learning Approach to Predict Outcomes

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to light a concerning aspect of long-term neurological complications in post-recovery patients. This study delved into the investigation of such neurological sequelae in a cohort of 500 post-COVID-19 patients, encompassing individuals with varying illness severity. The primary aim was to predict outcomes using a machine learning approach based on diverse clinical data and neuroimaging parameters. The results revealed that 68% of the post-COVID-19 patients reported experiencing neurological symptoms, with fatigue, headache, and anosmia being the most common manifestations. Moreover, 22% of the patients exhibited more severe neurological complications, including encephalopathy and stroke. The application of machine learning models showed promising results in predicting long-term neurological outcomes. Notably, the Random Forest model achieved an accuracy of 85%, sensitivity of 80%, and specificity of 90% in identifying patients at risk of developing neurological sequelae. These findings underscore the importance of continuous monitoring and follow-up care for post-COVID-19 patients, particularly in relation to potential neurological complications. The integration of machine learning-based outcome prediction offers a valuable tool for early intervention and personalized treatment strategies, aiming to improve patient care and clinical decision-making. In conclusion, this study sheds light on the prevalence of long-term neurological complications in post-COVID-19 patients and demonstrates the potential of machine learning in predicting outcomes, thereby contributing to enhanced patient management and better health outcomes. Further research and larger studies are warranted to validate and refine these predictive models and to gain deeper insights into the underlying mechanisms of post-COVID-19 neurological sequelae.
Quantitative Optical Coherence Elastography of the Optic Nerve Head In Vivo

Objective: Optical coherence elastography (OCE) was used to demonstrate the relationship between the elasticity of the optic nerve head (ONH) and different intraocular pressure (IOP) levels in an in-vivo rabbit model for the first time. Method: Both ex-vivo and in-vivo rabbit ONH were imaged using OCE system. A mechanical shaker initiated the propagation of elastic waves, and the elasticity of the ONH was determined by tracking the wave propagation speed. The elasticity of the ONH under varying IOP levels was reconstructed based on the wave speed. Notably, the ONH exhibited increased stiffness with elevated IOP. Results: In the in-vivo rabbit models, the Young's modulus of ONH increased from 14 kPa to 81 kPa with the IOP increased from 15 mmHg to 35 mmHg. This revealed a positive correlation between the Young's modulus of the ONH and intraocular pressure. Conclusion: The OCE system proved effective in measuring the mechanical properties of ONH at different IOP levels, with validation in an in-vivo rabbit model. Significance: Considering ONH plays a critical role in vision and eye diseases, the capability to image and quantify in vivo ONH biomechanical properties has great potential to advance vision science research and improve the clinical management of glaucoma patients.
PlexinD1 deficiency in CD11c+ dendritic cells exacerbates airway hyperresponsiveness and enhances IgE and mucus production in allergic asthma

Dendritic cells (DC) play a crucial role in regulating allergic asthma. We have demonstrated that the absence of semaphorin3E (Sema3E) exacerbates asthma features in acute and chronic asthma models. However, the role of plexinD1 in these events, especially in DC is unknown. Therefore, we investigated the role of plexinD1 in CD11c+ DC in the HDM model of asthma. CD11c+ DC-specific plexinD1 knockout mice and wild-type mice were subjected to HDM acute allergen protocol. Airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) parameters were measured using the FlexiVent ventilator. Lung tissue and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were processed by flow cytometry. Cytokines and antibodies were measured using mesoscale and ELISA. Collagen deposition and mucus production were visualized by histological staining, and associated genes were investigated using Real-time PCR. We showed that DC-specific plexinD1 knockout mice exhibited exacerbated airway hyperresponsiveness, including increased airway resistance and tissue elastance. These mice displayed enhanced levels of mucus production and collagen gene expression compared to wild-type mice. These events were accompanied by enhanced recruitment of conventional DCs, specifically CD11b+ cDC2, into the lungs and higher levels of total and HDM-specific serum IgE in CD11cPLXND1 KO compared to wild-type counterparts. Mechanistically, a significantly higher level of IgE in the co-culture of B-DCs isolated from CD11cPLXND1 KO mice compared to DCs isolated from wild-type mice. Overall, our data reveals that the Sema3E-plexinD1 signalling pathway in CD11c+ DC is critical in modulating asthma features. Graphical Abstract
ABO blood group-related mechanism of infection of SARS-CoV-2: an overview of systematic reviews

Abstract Among the host genetic factors playing a role in the susceptibility to infectious diseases, the ABO blood group system is of utmost importance. Following the first reports in early 2020, the association between ABO blood groups and SARS-CoV-2 infection or COVID-19 severity has been thoroughly investigated. The aim of this narrative review is to provide an overview of systematic reviews regarding the link between ABO blood groups and such risks. The possible molecular mechanisms underlying these associations will also be discussed. ABO blood group has a robust association with susceptibility to infection but not with disease severity, and studies on long COVID anre still missing.Prov.
Asymptotic bounds on the optimal radius when covering a set with minimum radius identical balls ∗

The problem of covering a two-dimensional bounded set with a ﬁxed number of minimum-radius identical balls is studied in the present work. An asymptotic expansion and bounds on the optimal radius as the number of balls goes to inﬁnity are obtained for a certain class of nonsmooth domains. The proof is based on the approximation of the set to be covered by hexagonal honeycombs, and on the thinnest covering property of the regular hexagonal lattice arrangement in the whole plane. The dependence of the optimal radius on the number of balls is also investigated numerically using a shape optimization approach, and theoretical and numerical convergence rates are compared. An initial point construction strategy is introduced which, in the context of a multi-start method, ﬁnds good quality solutions to the problem under consideration. Extensive numerical experiments with a variety of polygonal regions and regular polygons illustrate the introduced approach.
A fuzzy appraisal model for a � ective agents adapted to cultural environments using the Pleasure and Arousal dimensions

Humansuserathervagueandimprecisewordstoexpressemotions. Therefore,fuzzylogicallows computationala � ectivemodelstouseemotionsinthesamewaythathumanbeingsexpressthem. However, people from di � erent cultures and languages assign di � erent meanings to the same emotion word. Unfortunately, there are still no a � ective computing models that really take these two factors into consideration. In this paper, we propose a fuzzy model of appraisal for multi-agent systems that is adapted to Spanish-speakers. Our methodology has two steps. First, the agent evaluates an event using a set of fuzzy appraisal rules that returns a fuzzy emotion. Then, a defuzziﬁcation process returns the Pleasure and Arousal dimensions of the emotion that will be internally represented as a vector in a two-dimensional space. This vector is used to update the agent’s mood according to the agent’s personality. The agent can express this internal emotional state using a fuzziﬁcation process that translates the agent’s mood into a fuzzy emotion. This fuzziﬁcation process uses the results of an experiment to generate a fuzzy emotion that is adapted totheculturalenvironmentinwhichtheagentislocated. Thismethodologycanbeeasilyadapted to other languages.
World's Science, Technology & Medicine Open Access book publisher

The combination of clays with polymers having different characteristics opens a way to new composite materials showing novel properties. Electrorheological (ER) fluids show phase transition from a liquid to a solid-like state between the electrodes of a rheometer due to the interactions of polarized particles. Composite systems comprising biodegrada‐ ble chitosan (CS) and natural bentonite (BNT) are important in ER applications. In this study, BNT/CS composites were synthesized by the in situ method. The structure and morphology of the synthesized composites were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. Thermal stability was observed to increase with the presence of BNT clay. Conductivity of the composites was found the suitable range for ER measurements. Ac‐ cording to ER results, BNT/CS composites were found to be sensitive to external electric field strength, exhibiting a typical shear thinning non-Newtonian viscoelastic behavior.
Binge-eating disorder in the Arabic world and the Netherlands, assessment, etiology, efficacy, effectiveness and economic evaluation of psychological interventions

Purpose: The aim of this study was to develop an Arabic version of the EDE-Q and to assess its psychometric properties and utility as a screener in the Saudi population. An additional aim was to establish EDE-Q norms for Saudis. Method: EDE-Q data were collected in a convenience sample of the Saudi community ( N =2690), of which a subset was also subjected to the EDE interview ( N =98). Various models for the factor structure were evaluated on their fit by CFA. With ROC analysis, the AUC was calculated to test how well the EDE-Q discriminated between Saudis at high and low risk for eating disorders. Results: The original four factor model of the EDE-Q was not supported. Best fit was found for a three factor model, including the weight/shape concern scale, dietary restraint scale and eating concern scale. The ROC analysis showed that the EDE-Q could accurately discriminate between individuals at high and low risk for an eating disorder according to the EDE interview. Optimal cut off of 2.93 on the global score yielded a sensitivity of 82% and specificity of 80%. EDE-Q scores were fairly associated with BMI. Discussion: Psychometric characteristics of the Saudi version of the EDE-Q were satisfactory and results support the discriminant and convergent validity. Severity level of eating disorder pathology can be determined by the EDE-Q global score. Global scores were high compared to what is found in Western community samples, leading to high prevalence estimates for Saudis at high risk for eating disorders. Level of Evidence: Not applicable, empirical psychometric study
COMPARISON OF DENTURE TOOTH POSITION DISCREPANCY AMONG DIFFERENT 3D PRINTING FABRICATION METHODS

Statement of problem. 3D-printed denture workflows have been introduced and are continuing to emerge in modern dentistry, however there are few studies evaluating the effect on denture tooth position when using 3D-printing fabrication techniques. Purpose. The purpose of this in vitro study was to investigate the tooth positional discrepancy of dentures made by 3D-printing technology. Material and methods. A stone cast of an edentulous maxilla was selected and scanned by a laboratory scanner to generate a total of 30 maxillary dentures (n=10 per group); 3D-printed denture bonded with card teeth (CT), monolithic 3D-printed denture (MP), and 3D-printed denture bonded with 3D-printed teeth (PT). The assembled specimen scan files of each denture were aligned by using a software program for 3D analysis. Measurements were made at 64 locations, allowing evaluation of denture tooth discrepancy in an occlusal, buccal, lingual, and mesial-distal direction. In addition, posterior and anterior regions were compared in terms of tooth discrepancy. The median and interquartile range values were used to assess accuracy and reproducibility. Levene and Kruskal-Wallis statistical tests were used to evaluate differences among the three groups. Results
Adhesion properties of some protective layers exposed to outside weather conditions for five years

In this study, the long-term (5-year) performances of 2 varnish systems, semitransparent alkyd-based brown stain (SABBS) and alkyd-based clear varnish (ABCV), were evaluated on preservative-treated Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) sapwood. Prior to varnish application, specimens were impregnated with 2 different types of wood preservative. The experimental variables were varnish type, layer thickness, and wood preservative. ASTM D 1641 was followed for exposing wood specimens to outdoor conditions. The effects of long-term exposure on adhesion properties of applied varnish systems were tested according to ASTM D 4541. Long-term outdoor exposure resulted in 4.2% and 33.9% reductions in the adhesion properties of SABBS and ABCV varnish systems, respectively. The layer thickness and preservative type did not show any statistical reductions in adhesion properties.
Formulation and Development of Flurbiprofen Colon-Specific Eudragit Coated Matrix Tablets: Use of a Novel Crude Banana Peel Powder as a Time-Dependent Polymer

The rationale for the current investigation is to study the crude banana peel (CBP) powder efficiency as a novel natural time-dependent polymer along with a pH-sensitive polymer to develop flurbiprofen colon-specific tablets. The direct compression method is utilized to prepare the flurbiprofen-CBP matrix tablets using 9 mm punches on the rotary tableting machine and subsequently coated with Eudragit® S 100 by a dip coating method. The tablets were evaluated for various tableting properties and in vitro drug release studies. From the results of dissolution studies, the F6 formulation showed negligible drug release (5.76% in 5 h) in the upper gastrointestinal tract and progressive release in the colon (99.08% in 24 h). Mean dissolution time, T10%, and T80% were found to be 13.33 h, 5.8 h, and 20.7 h, respectively, which explains the efficiency of the present combination of polymers for colon-specific drug release. From the dissolution studies results of stability studies, the similarity index was calculated and found to be 74.75. In conclusion, utilizing CBP as a natural, time-dependent polymer in conjunction with Eudragit® S 100 to develop the flurbiprofen tablets seems like a promising approach for delivering drugs specifically to the colon.