Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sperm Quality Parameters and Oxidative Stress: Exploring Correlation in Fluoride-Intoxicated Rats

Background: Assessment of male fertility needs evaluation of sperm quality parameters, namely sperm count, viability, motility and morphology. Aims: The present study aimed to analyse and correlate oxidative stress with sperm quality parameters. Settings and Design: The male Wistar albino rats, weighing between 100 and 150 g, were employed in the present study under the Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals guidelines with ethical clearance from the Institutional Ethical Committee. These rats were categorised into four groups with six rats in each as control and test animals. Materials and Methods: Young male Wistar albino rats, weighing between 100 and 150 g, were divided into four groups of six rats each. The first group of rats served as control (n = 6) and was maintained under normal laboratory condition and was provided with clean drinking water, whereas rats in the second (n = 6), third (n = 6) and fourth (n = 6) groups were orally intubated with sodium fluoride of 100 ppm, 200 ppm and 300 ppm, respectively, for 40 days. Statistical Analysis Used: After the treatment period of 40 days, animals were sacrificed and alterations in sperm quality parameters were analysed by complete randomised design SAS 9.4 and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) IBM 17 and judged significant if P < 0.05. Results: In the experiment, a negative correlation emerged between sperm motility, viability, count versus malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, whereas the level of MDA has a positive correlation with sperm abnormalities. Sperm motility, viability and count were positively correlated with activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase, whereas decreased activities of antioxidants were related to increased sperm morphological abnormalities. Conclusion: These results suggest that MDA causes a decline in sperm motility, count and viability and an increase in morphological abnormalities via oxidative damage of membrane lipids.
Preparation of feedstock containing water-soluble binder for powder injection moulding of silver

Feedstock for powder injection moulding of silver was prepared using water-soluble binder composed of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polyvinyl butyrol (PVB). Silver powders with particle size in range of 1 μm to 20 μm can be mixed with PEG/PVB binder system to form feedstocks having powder loadings of 42 vol% and 45 vol%. PEG can be removed using water leaching method while PVB can be removed by thermal debinding. Specimens retained their shapes during debinding and after debinding. Components fabricated with relatively higher powder loading resulted in higher density with lower porosity. Density of specimens containing powder loading of 42 vol% and 45 vol% and heated at 700℃ is about 43% and 46% of the theoretical value, respectively. Therefore, it can be further developed for porous materials applications.
DEMOGRAPHICS OF ISOLATED GALAXIES ALONG THE HUBBLE SEQUENCE

Isolated galaxies in low-density regions are significant in the sense that they are least affected by the hierarchical pattern of galaxy growth and interactions with perturbers, at least for the last few gigayears. To form a comprehensive picture of the star-formation history of isolated galaxies, we constructed a catalog of isolated galaxies and their comparison sample in relatively denser environments. The galaxies are drawn from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 7 in the redshift range of 0.025 < z < 0.044 ? > . We performed a visual inspection and classified their morphology following the Hubble classification scheme. For the spectroscopic study, we make use of the catalog provided by Oh et al. in . We confirm most of the earlier understanding on isolated galaxies. The most remarkable additional results are as follows. Isolated galaxies are dominantly late type with the morphology distribution (E:S0:S:Irr) = (9.9:11.3:77.6:1.2)%. The frequency of elliptical galaxies among isolated galaxies is only a third of that of the comparison sample. Most of the photometric and spectroscopic properties are surprisingly similar between the isolated and comparison samples. However, early-type isolated galaxies are less massive by 50% and younger (by Hβ) by 20% than their counterparts in the comparison sample. This can be explained as a result of different merger and star-formation histories for differing environments in the hierarchical merger paradigm. We provide an online catalog for the list and properties of our sample galaxies.
Daptomycin-Related Rhabdomyolysis Complicated by Severe Hyperkalemia and Acute Kidney Injury

We describe a case of a 65-year-old man who presented with progressive generalized weakness. He was started on daptomycin for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) right fifth metatarsal osteomyelitis. Laboratory testing revealed severe hyperkalemia of 7.5 mEq/L (normal range: 3.3-5.1) and acute kidney injury (AKI) stage 1 associated with a substantial elevation in serum creatine kinase (CK). He had been on a high-intensity statin for years, and daptomycin was switched to linezolid, and statin was held as daptomycin-related rhabdomyolysis was suspected. Our case highlights the importance of seeking alternatives to daptomycin for patients on chronic statins.
Curcumin and Diclofenac Therapeutic Efficacy Enhancement Applying Transdermal Hydrogel Polymer Films, Based on Carrageenan, Alginate and Poloxamer

Films based on carrageenan, alginate and poloxamer 407 have been formulated with the main aim to apply prepared formulations in wound healing process. The formulated films were loaded with diclofenac, an anti-inflammatory drug, as well as diclofenac and curcumin, as multipurpose drug, in order to enhance encapsulation and achieve controlled release of these low-bioavailability compounds. The obtained data demonstrated improved drug bioavailability (encapsulation efficiency higher than 90%), with high, cumulative in vitro release percentages (90.10% for diclofenac, 89.85% for curcumin and 95.61% for diclofenac in mixture-incorporated films). The results obtained using theoretical models suggested that curcumin establishes stronger, primarily dispersion interactions with carrier, in comparison with diclofenac. Curcumin and diclofenac-loaded films showed great antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria strains (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus, inhibition zone 16.67 and 13.67 mm, respectively), and in vitro and in vivo studies indicated that curcumin- and diclofenac-incorporated polymer films have great potential, as a new transdermal dressing, to heal wounds, because diclofenac can target the inflammatory phase and reduce pain, whereas curcumin can enhance and promote the wound healing process.
Explaining the Ba, Y, Sr, and Eu abundance scatter in metal-poor halo stars: constraints to the r-process

Context. Thanks to the heroic observational campaigns carried out in recent years we now have large samples of metal-poor stars for which measurements of detailed abundances exist. [. ] These data hold important clues on the nature of the contribution of the first stellar generations to the enrichment of our Galaxy. Aims. We aim to explain the scatter in Sr, Ba, Y, and Eu abundance ratio diagrams unveiled by the metal-poor halo stars. Methods. We computed inhomogeneous chemical evolution models for the Galactic halo assuming different scenarios for the r-process site: the electron-capture supernovae (EC) and the magnetorotationally driven (MRD) supernovae scenario. We also considered models with and without the contribution of fast-rotating massive stars (spinstars) to an early enrichment by the s-process. A detailed comparison with the now large sample of stars with measured abundances of Sr, Ba, Y, Eu, and Fe is provided (both in terms of scatter plots and number distributions for several abundance ratios). Results. The scatter observed in these abundance ratios of the very metal-poor stars (with [Fe/H] < -2.5) can be explained by combining the s-process production in spinstars, and the r-process contribution coming from massive stars. For the r-process we have developed models for both the EC and the MRD scenario that match the observations. Conclusions. With the present observational and theoretical constraints we cannot distinguish between the EC and the MRD scenario in the Galactic halo. Independently of the r-process scenarios adopted, the production of elements by an s-process in spinstars is needed to reproduce the spread in abundances of the light neutron capture elements (Sr and Y) over heavy neutron capture elements (Ba and Eu). We provide a way to test our suggestions by means of the distribution of the Ba isotopic ratios in a [Ba/Fe] or [Sr/Ba] vs. [Fe/H] diagram.
Electron-phonon coupling in C60 using hybrid functionals

The calculations of the electron-phonon coupling in C60 molecules are analyzed in the context of hybrid functionals within the density-functional theory (DFT) approach. We find that increasing the contribution of the exchange energy calculated with a Fock operator in a functional from 0 to 30% has little impact on structural properties and phonon frequencies, but it generates a strong increase of the total electron-phonon coupling (similar to 40%). The resulting electron-phonon couplings for each vibrational mode are in better agreement with experimental data. In particular, the Hg vibrational modes contribution to the total coupling increased from 67 to 94 meV, which compares favorably with the most recent experimental value of 97 meV. With this new result, the deduced electron-phonon coupling parameter lambda was increased from a range of 0.3-0.6 to 0.4-0.9, which now overlaps with the distribution of experimental values (0.7-1.2). Thus, the disagreements found in the literature about superconductivity-related properties in fullerides may be in part explained by the great sensitivity of those DFT results to the choice of functional.
Articulation of the cross-boundary effects of China’s ecological conservation redline program: A perspective on the ecological security network and ecological radiation

China’s Ecological Conservation Redline (ECR) program ensures the coordination and sustainability of natural and economic development while maintaining regional ecological security. Current research focuses on the ecosystem services within ECR areas but ignores cross-boundary ecological flow and the interactions between the internal and external ecological effects of ECR areas. In addition, the ecological background has spatial continuity that is not limited by boundaries, and the radiation effect areas extending beyond ECR areas have not been quantified. In this study, the Beijing ECR areas and ecological security network were integrated in order to connect the ecological process and landscape pattern to the ECR through the circulation path of ecological corridors, and cross-boundary effects between patches were examined. The field spread model was used to quantify the radiation influence range of ECR areas. Additionally, 972.46 km of ecological corridors were identified in Beijing, and abundant corridors effectively linked the ECR areas and maintained the material cycle. In the surrounding areas, ecological corridors were spread radially, with a total length of 941.85 km, promoting cross-boundary ecological flow between the ECR and surrounding source areas. This study used 25 ecological nodes to constitute the cross-boundary ecological security network system. The total radiation area based on the ECR source was 9572.16 km2. These results provide support for the radiation effect of ECR and cross-boundary ecological flows and suggest a useful model for sustainable ecological development and cross-boundary management.
A SURVEY OF ATOMIC CARBON AT HIGH REDSHIFT

We present a survey of atomic carbon (C i) emission in high-redshift (z > 2) submillimeter galaxies and quasar host galaxies. Sensitive observations of the C i (3P1 → 3P0) and C i (3P2 → 3P1) lines have been obtained at the IRAM Plateau de Bure interferometer and the IRAM 30 m telescope. A total of 16 C i lines have been targeted in 10 sources, leading to a total of 10 detected lines—this doubles the number of C i observations at high redshift to date. We include previously published C i observations (an additional five detected sources) in our analysis. Our main finding is that the C i properties of the high-redshift galaxies studied here do not differ significantly from what is found in low-redshift systems, including the Milky Way. The C i (3P2 → 3P1)/C i (3P1 → 3P0) and the C i (3P1 → 3P0)/12CO(3–2) line luminosity (L′) ratios change little in our sample, with respective ratios of 0.55 ± 0.15 and 0.32 ± 0.13. The C i lines are not an important contributor to cooling of the molecular gas (average LC i/LFIR ∼ (7.7 ± 4.6) × 10−6). We derive a mean carbon excitation temperature of 29.1 ± 6.3 K, broadly consistent with dust temperatures derived for high-redshift star-forming systems, but lower than gas temperatures typically derived for starbursts in the local universe. The carbon abundance of X[C i]/X[H2] ∼ (8.4±3.5)×10−5 is of the same order as found in the Milky Way and nearby galaxies. This implies that the high-z galaxies studied here are significantly enriched in carbon on galactic scales, even though the look-back times are considerable (the average redshift of the sample sources corresponds to an age of the universe of ∼2 Gyr).
Raman spectroscopy studies of Ce-doping effects on Ba0.5Sr0.5TiO3 thin films

Ba0.5Sr0. 5TiO3 (BST) thin films are among the best-known ferroelectric and dielectric materials. Ce-doped BST films have been fabricated by pulsed laser deposition in order to enhance their dielectric properties. X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy have been used to study variations of crystal structure, surface morphologies, and phase stability of Ce-doped BST films, respectively. A strong influence of Ce doping on the properties of the BST films has been observed. First, a small amount of Ce dopant makes easy epitaxial growth of a BST film with a smooth surface on a MgO substrate. Second, residual stress in a BST film on a MgO substrate can be reduced by Ce doping, as demonstrated by the blueshift of phonon peaks in Raman spectroscopy.
THE OFF-CENTERED SEYFERT-LIKE COMPACT EMISSION IN THE NUCLEAR REGION OF NGC 3621

We analyze an optical data cube of the nuclear region of NGC 3621, taken with the integral field unit of the Gemini Multi-object Spectrograph. We found that the previously detected central line emission in this galaxy actually comes from a blob, located at a projected distance of 2. ″14 ± 0. ″08 (70.1 ± 2.6 pc) from the stellar nucleus. Only diffuse emission was detected in the rest of the field of view, with a deficit of emission at the position of the stellar nucleus. Diagnostic diagram analysis reveals that the off-centered emitting blob has a Seyfert 2 spectrum. We propose that the line-emitting blob may be a “fossil” emission-line region or a light “echo” from an active galactic nucleus (AGN), which was significantly brighter in the past. Our estimates indicate that the bolometric luminosity of the AGN must have decreased by a factor of ∼13–500 during the past ∼230 yr. A second scenario to explain the morphology of the line-emitting areas in the nuclear region of NGC 3621 involves no decrease of the AGN bolometric luminosity and establishes that the AGN is highly obscured toward the observer but not toward the line-emitting blob. The third scenario proposed here assumes that the off-centered line-emitting blob is a recoiling supermassive black hole, after the coalescence of two black holes. Finally, an additional hypothesis is that the central X-ray source is not an AGN, but an X-ray binary. This idea is consistent with all the scenarios we proposed.
Pediatric-Adult Care Transition: Perceptions of Adolescent and Young Adult Patients with Sickle Cell Disease and Their Healthcare Providers

Introduction The pediatric-adult care transition, which takes place during adolescence, is a high-risk period for medical care adherence in chronic diseases, this encompasses treatment adherence, attending medical consultations and following healthcare advice. Studying perceptions is needed to get a more comprehensive picture of this care transition and to propose interventions to address the gaps. The authors analyzed perceptions from patients and caregivers in adolescents with sickle cell disease. Although this is the first step to improving the actual care management, to our knowledge, no study has explored perceptions from healthcare providers and compared it to patients’ perceptions. The purpose of this study was to provide an insight on the experience of adolescent and adult patients, pediatric and adult healthcare providers in the context of pediatric to adult care transition, and analyze those concerns in order to better understand medical care adherence and improve patient care. Material and Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with adolescent and adult patients, as well as healthcare professionals (HCPs) in pediatric and adult departments. These interviews were audiotaped and transcribed before manual inductive content analysis. Results A total of 15 adolescent patients, 10 adult patients, 9 pediatric HCPs and 13 adult HCPs - including 12 nurses - were interviewed. Patients and healthcare providers all agreed that the pediatric-adult care transition was poorly experienced. This was mainly due to various changes in habits, physicians, and care organization. Anticipating this transition and acquiring new skills both for patients and HCPs are essential steps for improving medical care adherence during this challenging pediatric-adult care transition. Conclusion Propositions emerged from patients and healthcare providers to improve care and subsequently to improve medical care adherence in patients with sickle cell disease during and after the pediatric to adult care transition.
Greater Adherence to Cardioprotective Diet Can Reduce Inflammatory Bowel Disease Risk: A Longitudinal Cohort Study

Background: The cardioprotective diet was reported to be associated with several chronic cardiometabolic diseases through an anti-inflammation effect. However, the association between the cardioprotective diet and the risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) was unclear and deserved to be further explored. Methods: We calculated the cardioprotective diet score based on the consumptions of seven common food groups using the validated food frequency questionnaire data in the UK Biobank. Incident IBD was ascertained from primary care data, inpatient data, and the death registry. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations between the cardioprotective diet score and the risk of IBD. Results: During a mean follow-up of 12.1 years, we documented 2717 incident IBD cases, including 851 cases of Crohn’s disease and 1866 cases of ulcerative colitis. Compared to participants with a cardioprotective diet score of 0–1, we observed a decreased risk of IBD among participants with cardioprotective diet scores of 3 (HR 0.85, 95% CI 0.73–0.99), 4 (HR 0.84, 95% CI 0.72–0.98), and 5–7 (HR 0.77, 95% CI 0.66–0.89) (p-trend < 0.001). Conclusions: A greater adherence to the cardioprotective diet was associated with a lower risk of IBD. Our finding highlighted the importance of focusing on the cardioprotective diet to prevent IBD.
MODELING THE RESOLVED DISK AROUND THE CLASS 0 PROTOSTAR L1527

We present high-resolution sub/millimeter interferometric imaging of the Class 0 protostar L1527 IRS (IRAS 04368+2557) at λ = 870 μm and 3.4 mm from the Submillimeter Array and Combined Array for Research in Millimeter Astronomy. We detect the signature of an edge-on disk surrounding the protostar with an observed diameter of 180 AU in the sub/millimeter images. The mass of the disk is estimated to be 0.007 M☉, assuming optically thin, isothermal dust emission. The millimeter spectral index is observed to be quite shallow at all the spatial scales probed: α ∼ 2, implying a dust opacity spectral index β ∼ 0. We model the emission from the disk and surrounding envelope using Monte Carlo radiative transfer codes, simultaneously fitting the sub/millimeter visibility amplitudes, sub/millimeter images, resolved L′ image, spectral energy distribution, and mid-infrared spectrum. The best-fitting model has a disk radius of R = 125 AU, is highly flared (H∝R1.3), has a radial density profile ρ∝R−2.5, and has a mass of 0.0075 M☉. The scale height at 100 AU is 48 AU, about a factor of two greater than vertical hydrostatic equilibrium. The resolved millimeter observations indicate that disks may grow rapidly throughout the Class 0 phase. The mass and radius of the young disk around L1527 are comparable to disks around pre-main-sequence stars; however, the disk is considerably more vertically extended, possibly due to a combination of lower protostellar mass, infall onto the disk upper layers, and little settling of ∼1 μm-sized dust grains.
Discovering interactions between applications with log analysis

Application logs record the behavior of a system during its runtime and their analysis can provide useful information. In this article, we propose a method of automated log analysis to discover interactions taking place between applications in an enterprise. We believe that such an automated approach can greatly support enterprise architects in building an up-to-date view of a governed system in a modern, fast-paced development environment. Our contribution is the following: we propose a new method for log template generation called SLT (Simple Log Template), we propose a method of extracting knowledge about application interactions from logs, and we validate the proposed methods on a real system running at Nordea Bank. Additionally, we collect statistical information about application logs from the real-life system, based on which we formulate some observations that support our method.
Efficiency of Moria One-Use Plus Sub-Bowman’s Keratomileusis Head in Achieving Predicted Corneal Flap Thickness in Sub Bowmans Keratomileusis

Purpose: To evaluate the difference between predicted and resultant corneal flap thickness in Sub-Bowmans Keratomileusis using Moria One-Use Plus sub-Bowman’s keratomileusis head. Study Design: Interventional case series. Place and Duration of Study: Liaquat National Hospital, Karachi, from April 2019 to September 2019. Methods: Total 55 patients of either gender with age 20 to 45 years undergoing Sub-bowmans Keratomileusis (SBK) were included. Frequencies and percentages were computed for qualitative variables. Quantitative variables were presented as mean ± standard deviation. Student t-test, pair t test and ANOVA were used to compare the mean of resultant and predicted corneal flap thickness. Effect modifiers were controlled through stratification. Post stratification student t-test was again used to compare the mean of resultant and predicted corneal flap thickness. P-value ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. Results: The mean age was 26.83 ± 4.38. There was an insignificant differences in preoperative, intraoperative and corneal flap thickness of both eye with respect to gender (P > 0.05). There was insignificant mean difference in preoperative and intraoperative corneal thickness (P > 0.05) of both eye with respect to age group but significant mean difference in resultant flap corneal thickness seen with both age group (P < 0.05). Significant difference was found in the flap thickness between the right and left eyes. The difference in the predicted and resultant flap thickness was statistically significant for right eye and insignificant for the left eye. Conclusion: With Moria microkeratome, accuracy of the flap can be predicted in SBK. It is a safe and effective method to achieve the desired results.