Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Improvement in Clinical and Left Ventricular Systolic Functions after Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy in Patients with Heart Failure in the Indian Population

Background and Aim: Heart Failure (HF) is a chronic progressive disease associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. It is a major and growing global public health problem affecting millions of people worldwide. Despite optimal pharmacological therapy, many patients may still have significant symptoms affecting their functional capacity and quality of life. This study was conducted to determine the efficacy of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) in improving clinical and systolic echocardiographic parameters of the Left Ventricle in patients with heart failure in the Indian population. Methods: This is a non-randomized prospective observational study conducted at the Department of Cardiology, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, New Delhi, from 1st September 2014-31st December 2015. A total of 70 cases eligible for CRT based on inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in the study. Echocardiographic parameters for Left ventricular systolic functions were measured pre CRT implantation, 3 months and 6 months post CRT implantation. Data were analyzed using standard statistical tests. Results: Present study showed statistically significant improved values (P ≤ 0.0001) for the clinical response measured in terms of New York Heart Association (NYHA) class and Echocardiographic response measured by Left Ventricular systolic functions (LVEF, LVESV, and LVESDs) in patients treated with CRT, measured at 3 months and 6 months post CRT implantation. Conclusion: This study supports the efficacy of CRT for the treatment of Heart Failure in the population studied in terms of improving patient’s clinical and echocardiographic Left Ventricular Systolic Functions.
Acta Plantarum, more than a forum: a new national floristic distribution database completes the numerous online IPFI facilities

Author(s): Longo, Daniela; Baglivo, Arturo; Cibei, Carlo; Dose, Gianni; Giordana, Franco; Magni, Cristiano; Salvai, Giuliano; Servodio, Sergio; Tomasi, Davide; Zepigi, Marinella; Nicolella, Gianluca | Abstract: Citizen science projects are able to collect massive amounts of data engaging thousands of motivated volunteers. Moreover web-based communities are a powerful way to promote citizen involvement. This paper describes Acta Plantarum (www.actaplantarum.org), an open source project born in 2007, aiming at the study of spontaneous Italian flora and hosting one of the most popular floristic web-based communities in Italy. Participation in the project is free and takes place, upon registration, by posting pictures and contributions in a discussion forum. This represents the heart of the website together with IPFI (Index Plantarum Florae Italicae), a complete nomenclatural database of Italian flora species created to archive all the botanical information. Over the years, thanks to the participation of amateur botanists from all Italian regions, a relevant amount of floristic records has been accumulated in Acta Plantarum. A new utility now allows the retrieval of floristic records stored in the forum through automatic and semi-automatic functions. As of 30 June 2020, Acta Plantarum had 1,793 active members and 74,188 floristic records were automatically or manually extracted, covering about 70% of the specific and subspecific taxa occurring in Italy. An appropriate validation process ensures reliability of data that can be extremely useful to the general audience, policy makers, amateur and professional botanists. Acta Plantarum results confirm the fundamental role of amateurs to develop large floristic databases and to increase floristic knowledge both at local and national level.
The Science of the “Simile”

Homeopathy is often attacked with claims of not being evidence-based or for the implausible nature of its major principles of dilution/potentization and/or the similars (“similia similibus curentur”). However, these statements have already been falsified on the experimental ground, besides being incorrect on an epistemological level. Here we provide an updated appraisal of the scientific approach to the principle of Similars and homeopathy, focusing on laboratory models. After a brief historical introduction concerning the early scientific investigations, some recent in vitro studies are reviewed, with particular reference to those from our group. The second part is devoted to explaining the homeopathic principle of Similars using conceptual models in the field of complexity science and the theory of dynamic systems.
The Chicago Health and Life Experiences of Women Couples Study: Protocol for a Study of Stress, Hazardous Drinking, and Intimate Partner Aggression Among Sexual Minority Women and Their Partners

Background Large gaps exist in research on alcohol use and intimate partner aggression (IPA) among sexual minority women (SMW; eg, lesbian, bisexual). Dyadic research with SMW and their partners can illuminate how couple-level factors operate in conjunction with individual-level factors to shape well-being in this understudied and vulnerable population. Given the traditionally gendered lens with which women are primarily viewed as victims and men as perpetrators, understanding the dynamics of IPA in same-sex female couples can also advance research and practice related to IPA more generally. Objective Guided by a recent extension of the minority stress model that includes relational (couple-level) sexual minority stress and the I-cubed theoretical perspective on IPA, we will collect individual and dyadic data to better characterize the links between hazardous drinking and IPA among SMW and their partners. First, this study aims to examine the associations among minority stress, hazardous drinking, and IPA in SMW and their partners. Minority stressors will be assessed as both individual and couple-level constructs, thus further extending the minority stress model. Second, we aim to examine potential mediators and moderators of the associations among minority stress, hazardous drinking, and IPA. Finally, we aim to test models guided by the I-cubed theoretical perspective that includes instigating (eg, relationship conflict), impelling (eg, negative affect and trait anger), and inhibiting (eg, relationship commitment and emotion regulation) or disinhibiting (eg, hazardous drinking) influences on IPA perpetration. Methods This United States National Institutes of Health–funded project will draw from a large and diverse cohort of SMW currently enrolled in the Chicago Health and Life Experiences of Women (CHLEW) study—a 21-year longitudinal study of risk factors and consequences associated with SMW hazardous drinking. SMW currently enrolled in the CHLEW and their partners will be invited to participate in the CHLEW Couples Study. By analyzing dyadic data using actor-partner interdependence models, we will examine how each partner’s minority stress, hazardous drinking, and IPA experiences are associated with both her own and her partner’s minority stress, hazardous drinking, and IPA perpetration. Results Data collection began in February 2021 and will likely continue through 2023. Initial results should be available by mid-2024. Conclusions The CHLEW Couples Study will fill important gaps in knowledge and provide the basis for future research aimed at clarifying the causal pathways linking hazardous drinking and IPA among SMW. This will support the development of culturally appropriate targeted individual and dyadic prevention and intervention strategies. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/28080
Anti- and pro-oxidant potential of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) biofortified with iodine by KIO3, 5-iodo- and 3,5-diiodosalicylic acid in human gastrointestinal cancer cell lines

Vegetables are particularly rich sources of micronutrients and phytochemicals such as polyphenols and vitamins. These plant-derived bioactive compounds provide antitumor and antioxidant properties due to their capacity to interact with reactive oxygen species (ROS). The objective of this study was to determine the effect of iodine biofortification (potassium iodate/KIO3/, 5-iodosalicylic acid/5-ISA/, and 3,5-diiodosalicylic acid/3,5-diISA/) on the antioxidant activity of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. capitata) cv. ‘Melodion’. In this work, HPLC analysis was used to identify polyphenolic compounds while the antioxidant activity of iodine-enriched vegetables was determined by using DPPH, ABTS and FRAP methods. The content of the water-soluble vitamins was analyzed by using the LC-MS/MS technique. The impact of extracts from iodine-biofortified lettuce on production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in gastrointestinal cancer cells was also evaluated. The results from this research indicate that application of iodine compounds improves the antioxidant potential of lettuce by increasing the concentration of some vitamins, antioxidant enzymes and polyphenolic compounds in the enriched plants. Moreover, the study has shown that iodine-biofortified lettuce induces production of ROS in cancer cells, resulting in an anticancer effect by the induction of programmed cancer cell death.
Prediction of post-stroke epilepsy using machine learning method

Background : Stroke is one of the most important causes of epilepsy and we aimed to find if it is possible to predict patients with high risk of developing post-stroke epilepsy (PSE) at the time of discharge using machine learning methods. Methods : Patients with stroke were enrolled and followed at least one year. Machine learning methods including support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF) and logistic regression (LR) were used to learn the data. Results : A total of 2730 patients with cerebral infarction and 844 patients with cerebral hemorrhage were enrolled and the risk of PSE was 2.8% after cerebral infarction and 7.8% after cerebral hemorrhage in one year. Machine learning methods showed good performance in predicting PSE. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for SVM and RF in predicting PSE after cerebral infarction was close to 1 and it was 0.92 for LR. When predicting PSE after cerebral hemorrhage, the performance of SVM was best with AUC being close to 1, followed by RF ( AUC = 0.99) and LR (AUC = 0.85) . Conclusion : Machine learning methods could be used to predict patients with high risk of developing PSE, which will help to stratify patients with high risk and start treatment earlier. Nevertheless, more work is needed before the application of thus intelligent predictive model in clinical practice.
Ophthalmological evaluation and integrated intervention in a family with congenital aniridia in Alagoas, Brazil

Abstract Objective: We aimed to describe the clinical and phenotypic manifestations as well as the visual prognosis of a family with CA in Northeastern Brazil. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving 31 individuals (56 eyes) from the same family presenting CA phenotypes. The study population resided in the municipality of Agua Branca, in the backlands of the state of Alagoas, Northeastern Brazil. The clinical and phenotypic variables were analyzed. For the analysis, descriptive statistics (absolute and relative frequency and measures of central tendency and dispersion) and inferential statistics (Shapiro–Wilk and Student's t tests) were used, with 95% confidence intervals and significance set at 5%. Results: Of the 31 individuals, 18 (58.1%) were male, with a mean age of 27.45 ± 17.49 years, with no difference between sexes. Of the 56 eyes evaluated, 26 and 30 were right and left eyes, respectively; 61.3% (n = 19) individuals had complete bilateral aniridia and 25.8% (n = 8) reported a total loss of light perception in both the eyes. The most prevalent ocular abnormalities were nystagmus (n = 27; 87.09%), cataract (n = 20; 64.5%), strabismus (n = 14; 45.2%), corneal changes such as opacities and/or vascularization (n = 13; 41.93%), and ectopia lentis (n = 6; 19.4%). Further, 13 individuals underwent retinal optical coherence tomography, six man and seven women aged 9–48 (mean, 30.15 ± 15.9) years. All patients presented absence of foveal depression as well as reduced macular thickness and visual acuity. Nine subjects underwent phacoemulsification. Conclusion: The study showed wide phenotypic variation among the studied individuals, with poor visual prognosis. The study highlights the need to establish comprehensive care mechanisms for families with the disease.
Effect of p21-activated kinase 1 inhibition on proliferation, migration and invasion of glioma

Background: Abnormally expressed the p21-activated kinases (PAKs) are implicated in the development and treatment of glioma. Previous study has reported that PAK1 is expressed in glioma. However, the role and mechanism of PAK1 in glioma progression remain unclear.Methods: Western blotting was employed to detect the expression of PAK1 in human glioma tissues. CCK-8, EdU and colony formation assay were applied to evaluate the effect of PAK1 inhibition on cell proliferation of glioma. The flow cytometry was utilized to examine the cell cycle distribution and apoptotic rate of glioma. Wound healing and transwell assay were exploited to investigate the effect of PAK1 inhibition on cell migration and invasion of glioma. The orthotopic xenograft glioma model was established to probe the effect of PAK1 silencing on tumor formation of U87 cell. Results: It was showed that PAK1 was significantly upregulated in glioma tissues. Besides, high level of PAK1 was found to be associated with poor prognosis in glioma patients in TCGA database. PAK1 inhibition restrained cell proliferation, arrested cells at G1 phase, and induced cell apoptosis of glioma. PAK1 inhibition suppressed glioma cell migration and invasion. Moreover, knockdown of PAK1 dramatically decreased the protein expressions including MDM2, p38, p-p38, CyclinD1, CDK4, Bcl-2, MMP2, MMP9, Cofilin, while increased the protein levels of p53, Bax, p21 and Cleaved Caspase-3. Finally, orthotopic xenograft glioma model confirmed that silencing of PAK1 repressed the tumor formation of U87 cell transplantation.Conclusion: Our study described that PAK1 inhibition impedes proliferation, migration and invasion of glioma cells and thus probably as a novel target for glioma therapy.
Awareness of IPR (Intellectual Property Rights) among the Research Scholars of Kurukshetra University Kurukshetra

With the advent of modern science and technology it is been considered to benefit those who are in actual credit takers of some sorts of tech-scientific innovations, To benefit and encourage such innovative people and firms, Intellectual Property Rights came in to existence. The term intellectual property gained his strength from a long time and much elaborated since then. The term is applied to all innovation irrespective of educational qualifications and implies to all subjects. It is not only important for the lawyers, judges, and law students but also for engineers, scientists, artists, technicians, farmers, and as well as researchers to know IP rights and register their findings. At global level, in 2018, Finland, New Zealand, Switzerland and Sweden, stands in top five in world ranking respectively. Therefore, it is necessary to check out to the mindset of Indian intellectuals, whether they aware about IPR. If they would aware about IPR than only can proceed for IPRs in future for their research findings. As the universities are hub of intellectuals therefore, current study is an insight of students as intellectuals of Kurukshetra University. It is to find out whether they are aware about IPR. To answer the question, awareness survey has been conducted by taking questionnaire.
Frequency of Colorectal lesions among Sudanese Patient attending for endoscopy-multi center study

Background Colorectal cancer is one of the most significant causes of cancer death. With records of high incidence and late detection of the disease in Sudan, and it was found to affect younger age groups.Methods This study aimed to explore the incidence of colorectal lesions in the main endoscopic centers in Khartoum state- Sudan. It was a cross-sectional prospective study; data were collected from patients attending the main endoscopic centers in Sudan- Khartoum state during February 2013 to June 2014 including Khartoum teaching hospital, Neelain medical diagnostic center and Ibn sina hospital.Results One hundred and six participants were diagnosed endoscopically with colorectal lesions, 44 (41.5%) showed inflammatory mucosa, 40 (37.7 %) showed tumor and 22 (20.7%) had polyps.In the whole group of patients the mean age was 45.7 years, 34.2% of tumor patients were less than 50 years old, 46.8% of the lesions were in the rectum, the highest frequency of tumor patients group were from western tribes, and the lesions were located commonly in the rectum. Conclusion We concluded that the rectum is the most common site of cancer within the Sudanese population than other parts of the colon with apparently high incidence within young ages.
Carotid Plaque Imaging: Strategies beyond Stenosis

Atherosclerosis at the carotid bifurcation in the neck is common and the result of turbulent hemodynamics in the bulb. Carotid bulb plaques cause disabling strokes. Carotid vessel wall imaging characterizes the atherosclerotic plaque, documents disease progression, and assesses lesion severity by plaque morphology in addition to the degree of stenosis. This in turn optimizes treatment selection for the individual patient. The aim of vessel wall imaging in patients of stroke is to distinguish stable plaques that may be conserved with best medical management from unstable or vulnerable plaques that require more aggressive medical treatment, carotid stenting, or carotid endarterectomy. Growing evidence suggests that depending on luminal stenosis measurements alone for management decisions will result in underestimating a number of plaques whose size may be small, but where the plaque morphology is unstable, there is a high likelihood of the patient developing a thromboembolic stroke in the near future. In today's context of aggressive management of even transient ischemic attacks and minor strokes, vessel wall imaging should be particularly performed in cryptogenic strokes without significant luminal narrowing on angiography to identify a subset of patients with nonstenotic but unstable atherosclerotic plaques that may be covert etiologies of stroke. If patients receiving the best medical management have recurrent strokes on the same side as a carotid plaque with “vulnerable” plaque features, they may deserve surgical or endovascular intervention even if they do not meet the conventional stenosis thresholds. Improved techniques for stroke imaging and consequent management have a remarkable effect in decreasing individual and public health burdens.
Spatial Distribution and Associated Factors of Neonatal Mortality in Ethiopia: using Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey 2016

Background: Neonatal mortality is continuing on top of the agenda of public health and international development agencies. In Ethiopia, it is still high accounts 60% infant mortality and 43% of under-five mortality. However, the distribution of the problem across the regions of Ethiopia is not well addressed. Therefore, this analysis aimed to assess spatial distribution of neonatal mortality and identify associated factors in Ethiopia using the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey (EDHS). Exploring spatial distribution and identifying associated factors is important to select priority areas and design effective intervention program to reduce neonatal mortality. Methods: The analysis included 7,193 live births, selected by stratified two-stage cluster sampling techniques. Spatial analysis was done to explore spatial distribution of neonatal death using Geographic information system and Sat scan. Multilevel logistic regression was fitted to identify individual and community level factors associate with neonatal mortality. Results: The hot-spot areas for neonatal mortality were Amhara, West Tigray, northeast, southwest and central part of Oromia. Mother’s with age >35 years (AOR=2.25, 95CI%: 1.47, 3.45), family size of 3-5 (AOR=0.14, 95CI%: 0.06, 0.36) and 6 and above (AOR=0.08, 95%CI: 0.02, 0.20), male neonates (AOR=3.45, 95%CI: 2.27, 5.22), smaller birth size (AOR=1.61, 95%CI: 1.02, 2.54), birth interval less than 2 years (AOR=3.58, 95%CI: 1.66, 7.70) and 2 years and more (AOR=2.54, 95%CI: 1.26-5.11), early initiation of breast feeding (AOR=0.20, 95%CI: 0.09-0.42), had no ANC visit (AOR=1.68, 95%CI: 1.08, 2.60), did not receive PNC services (AOR=3.58, 95%CI: 1.13 -11.33) and C/S delivery (AOR=19.55, 95%CI: 8.07, 47.34) were statistically significant variables for neonatal mortality. Conclusions: High risk areas for neonatal mortality were identified in northern, central and southwest part of the Ethiopia. Individual level variables were important factors associated with neonatal mortality. Focusing on maternal health care services, increase birth interval and initiation of breast feeding early will be needed to reduce neonatal mortality.
Designing a spirituality-based Islamic education framework for young muslim generations: a case study from two Indonesian universities

ABSTRACT This paper reports on a qualitative study into developing a spirituality-based Islamic education framework for university students. In Indonesia, developing a spirituality-based Islamic education framework in the schooling sector has been extensively carried out. However, such a notion seems sparse in the Indonesian higher education levels. This has prompted the university to start focusing on developing students’ spirituality and their roles. This framework’s development was derived from interviews with Islamic education lecturers about learning patterns at the universities. It also includes observations of core and supporting learning activities. Data were garnered through a qualitative approach to enable substantial descriptive data collection to the foundation for the framework’s design. The findings are reported based on the designed framework. Recommendations for holistic religious education for the young generation at the Indonesian university level are discussed.
Impak Penggunaan Aplikasi Terhadap Proses Pengajaran dan Pembelajaran Pelajar Politeknik Dalam Kursus Electrical Technology

Pengenalan aplikasi berasaskan IOT kini telah menembusi sistem pendidikan terutamanya pengajian tinggi. Sistemberkonsepkan aplikasi yang dikenali sebagai mobile learning ini berpusatkan telefon pintar sebagai perantinya. Maka satu aplikasi yang dinamakan “Etech” dibangunkan khusus untuk kursus Electrical Technology bagi membantu proses pengajaran dan pembelajaran (P&P) yang lebih berkesan. Namun, untuk melihat keberkesanan aplikasi tersebut dan impaknya terhadap pelajar - pelajar politeknik, maka sebuah kajian dirangka. Kajian yang berbentuk deskriptif ini dimulakan dengan survei secara atas talian. Hasil setiap item survei dianalisa melalui nilai skor min untuk melihat tahap kesediaan serta impaknya kepada responden. Beberapa buah politeknik dijadikan sampel untuk melihat hasil adaptasi penggunaan aplikasi ini. Keputusanya, kesemua item yang dianalisa mencapai tahap yang memberansangkan iaitu berada pada kedudukan tahap yang tinggi. Hal ini menunjukkan impak yang sangat positif dalam penerapan sistem aplikasi dalam proses P&P terutamanya dalam kursus Electrical Tecnology.