Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Hydroalcoholic Calendula Officinalis Extract on Androgen-Induced Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Model in Female Rat

Background Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common hormonal disorder in women of reproductive age, and the major cause of infertility. Today, using medicinal plants instead of chemical drugs could be an alternative treatment option for PCOS. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of Calendula officinalis hydroalcoholic extract on PCOS in rats. Method 60 female adult rats were randomly divided into six groups, including control, sham, PCOS group, and treated PCOS groups receiving hydroalcoholic extract of Calendula officinalis with different dosages of 200, 500, and 1000 mg/kg. PCOS was induced by subcutaneous injection of DHEA 6 mg/100 g bw for 35 days. For two weeks, the extract was taken orally. The serum glucose, insulin, sex hormone levels, and oxidative status were measured at the end of the experiment. The ovaries were dissected for histomorphometric and pathological analysis. Results When compared to the control and sham groups, the PCOS group showed a significant increase in glucose, insulin, testosterone, and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations, cystic and atretic follicles, and thickness of the theca and tunica albuginea layers, and a significant decrease in LH concentration, total antioxidant capacity, corpus luteum, antral follicles, and oocyte diameter. The mean concentration of FSH, on the other hand, did not change significantly. A trend of improvement was found in the treated groups with high doses of Calendula officinalis extract. Conclusion In rats with PCOS and nonovulation, Calendula officinalis hydroalcoholic extract improved oxidative stress, restored folliculogenesis, and increased ovulation.
The Mann-Kendall test: the need to consider the interaction between serial correlation and trend

Pre-whitening approaches have been widely used to remove the influence of serial correlations on the Mann-Kendall trend test (MK_prew). However, previous studies indicate that this procedure may lead to a false reduction of the significance of a trend. An alternative approach (MK_interact) has been proposed to improve the assessment of the significance of a trend in auto-correlated data. Therefore, the present study compared the performance of the MK_prew and MK_interact for detecting trends in auto-correlated series. Sets of Monte Carlo experiments were carried out to evaluate the occurrence of type I and II errors obtained from both approaches. The analyses were also based on 10-day values of the difference between precipitation and potential evapotranspiration (P-EP) obtained from the location of Campinas, State of Sao Paulo, Brazil. The results found in this study allow us to conclude that the MK_interac outperformed the MK_prew in correctly identifying the significance of trends and that, concerning agricultural interests, the decreasing trend described by the MK_interac during the beginning of the crop growing seasons may reveal an unfavorable temporal distribution of the P-EP values.
Economic competitiveness vs. green competitiveness of agriculture in the European Union countries

Research background: Many scientists have researched the economic competitiveness of agriculture. At the same time, considerably less attention is paid to the so-called green competitiveness. Considering a global trend searching for solutions to reduce the environmental impact of the agricultural sector, it seems reasonable to explore the overlap between economic competitiveness and green competitiveness. Purpose of the article: This study aims to answer the following questions: What is the level of economic and green competitiveness of agriculture in respective countries? What is the level of the comprehensive competitiveness of agriculture in EU member states? Do the economic competitiveness outcomes of respective countries coincide with their green competitiveness rankings? Methods: Taxonomic methods were applied to design synthetic indices of economic, green and comprehensive competitiveness of 27 member states of the European Union, based on multi-criteria sets of specific indicators from 2018. Findings & value added: The results of analyses imply that, in general, the level of green competitiveness of agriculture is higher than the level of its economic competitiveness in EU member states. Simultaneously, the developed rankings show that respective countries' economic and green competitiveness are not linked. In other words, economic competitiveness outcomes do not match green competitiveness outcomes for EU agriculture. This work is a genuine contribution to studies on the methods for measuring and evaluating the competitiveness of agriculture as it designs separate synthetic measures for economic and green competitiveness and confronts both types of competitiveness in EU member states. The research findings for the first time provide clear answers to questions about the mutual relationship between economic and green competitiveness in agriculture. Furthermore, an added value of this study is that it introduces and attempts to define the notion of green competitiveness.
The perceived knowledge of the menstruation cycle and adjustment of swimming sets by swimming coaches based on menstrual-related issues

Background Menstruation is the recurring discharge of the endometrial lining of the uterus as menstrual blood and tissue. The menstruation cycle affects most adolescent females and, although largely overlooked, affects women participating in sports. Objectives The aim of this study was to determine whether coaches were aware of their swimmers’ menstrual cycles and whether coaches considered this information when adjusting training sets. Methods Within the case study, a partial mixed-method, sequential dominant status approach was used. Data were collected in the form of questionnaires, focus group discussions, and one-on-one interviews. Coaches’ awareness of their female swimmers’ menstrual cycles was based more on observation than communication from the swimmer. Results Coaches explained that training is adjusted based on their observations, but whether this is being done correctly during the menstrual cycle requires more research. Swimmers and coaches alike seem to have minimal knowledge of menstruation, its effects on training, and how to adapt to, or overcome, those effects during training or competition. Conclusion In future, this knowledge could ensure the longevity of female swimmers in the sport. Understanding whether coaches and swimmers recognise the effect of the menstrual cycle within training and competition provides a more inclusive approach to ensure athlete longevity after puberty. This approach is grounded in creating an understanding between the swimmer and coach about the effect of menstruation during training and competition. It ensures an extended and more successful participation which may also assist in dealing with the ‘taboo’ surrounding menstruation and the female athlete.
Anisotropy and Microcrack Propagation Induced by Weathering, Regional Stresses and Topographic Stresses

This paper presents a new model for anisotropic damage in bedrock under the combined influences of biotite weathering, regional stresses, and topographic stresses. We used the homogenization theory to calculate the mechanical properties of a rock representative elementary volume made of a homogeneous matrix, biotite inclusions that expand as they weather, and ellipsoidal cracks of various orientations. With this model, we conducted a series of finite element simulations in bedrock under gently rolling topography with two contrasting spatial patterns in biotite weathering rate and a range of biotite orientations. In all simulations, damage is far more sensitive to biotite weathering than to topographic or regional stresses. The spatial gradient of damage follows that of the imposed biotite weathering rate at all times. The direction of micro‐cracks tends to align with that of the biotite minerals. Relative to the topographic and regional stresses imparted by the boundary conditions of the model, the stress field after 1,000 years of biotite weathering exhibits higher magnitudes, wider shear stress zones at the feet of hills, more tensile vertical stress below the hilltops, and more compressive horizontal stress concentrated in the valleys. These behaviors are similar in simulations of slowing eroding topography and static topography. Over longer periods of time (500 kyr), the combined effects or weathering and erosion result in horizontal tensile stress under the hills and vertical tensile stress under and in the hills. These simulations illustrate how this model can help elucidate the influence of mineral weathering on Critical Zone evolution.
Strategic alignment of enterprise architecture management – how portfolios of control mechanisms track a decade of enterprise transformation at Commerzbank

ABSTRACT Enterprise architecture management (EAM) is commonly employed by large organisations to coordinate local information system development efforts in line with organisation-wide strategic objectives while simultaneously avoiding redundancies and inconsistencies. Even though EAM tools and processes have become increasingly mature over the past decade, many organisations still struggle to generate impact from their EAM initiatives. To this end, we describe how enterprise architects at Commerzbank, a major international bank, employed a control mechanism portfolio perspective to more effectively anchor EAM within the organisation. This approach allows to purposefully combine a wide range of different formal and informal EAM control mechanisms, thereby going beyond the formal, top-down driven mechanisms predominantly discussed in EAM literature. Furthermore, such EAM control mechanism portfolios provide an effective means to purposefully realign EAM in reaction to major strategic shifts. The application of this perspective is demonstrated by tracing the evolution of EAM at Commerzbank for more than a decade (2008 to 2018) through a turbulent and challenging competitive environment, resulting in several major strategic realignments that required corresponding adjustments in EAM. We believe that such consciously designed and diversified EAM control mechanism portfolios also provide a useful means for other large organisations to more effectively conduct EAM.
Generating Synthetic Monthly Net Radiation Data Conditioned on Wind Speed

Aims: This study aimed at generating synthetic monthly net radiation data conditioned on wind speed over Port Harcourt, Benue, Kano and Enugu in Nigeria. Duration of Study: The daily maximum and minimum Relative-Humidity, maximum and minimum air temperature, solar radiation and wind speed data was obtained from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Ibadan, Nigeria for the period of thirty-four (34) years (1977-2010). Method: The Penman-Monteith (FAO-56) step by step method was used to compute the daily net radiation. The autocorrelation function was used to establish the fact that net radiation and wind speed exhibit the Markov property. Lastly, a two – state Markov Chain model and an indicator function of energy balance and imbalance was developed and used in the course of this work. Results: The finding reveals that net radiation is surplus over the study areas. The Lag one autocorrelation coefficient confirms the fact that an actual day net radiation and wind speed state depends on the previous day’s state. The monthly steady state probabilities of surplus net radiation conditioned on low wind speed is higher compared to monthly steady state probabilities of surplus net radiation conditioned on high wind speed. The indicator function of energy balance or imbalance reveals that there is energy imbalance over study areas. Conclusion: The generated synthetic net radiation data conditioned on wind speed preserved the characteristics of actual net radiation data when compared as observed in the study. This data is essential in the study of climate change, weather monitoring, agricultural meteorology and estimation of evapotranspiration.
A Hypoxia-Related lncRNA Signature Correlates with Survival and Tumor Microenvironment in Colorectal Cancer

The hypoxic tumor microenvironment and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are pivotal in cancer progression and correlate with the survival outcome of patients. However, the role of hypoxia-related lncRNAs (HRLs) in colorectal cancer (CRC) development remains largely unknown. Herein, we developed a hypoxia-related lncRNA signature to predict patients' survival and immune infiltration. The RNA-sequencing data of 500 CRC patients were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset, and HRLs were selected using Pearson's analysis. Next, the Cox regression analysis was applied to construct a risk signature consisting of 9 HRLs. This signature could predict the overall survival (OS) of CRC patients with high accuracy in training, validation, and entire cohort. This signature was an independent risk factor and exerted predictive ability in different subgroups. Functional analysis revealed different molecular features between high- and low-risk groups. A series of drugs including cisplatin showed different sensitivities between the two groups. The expression pattern of immune checkpoints was also distinct between the two clusters in this model. Furthermore, the high-risk group had higher immune, stromal, and ESTIMATE score and a more repressive immune microenvironment than the low-risk group. Moreover, MYOSLID, one of the lncRNAs in this signature, could significantly regulate the proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of CRC.
What is the future of the bank branch in the midst of the 4.0 industrial revolution? Answers from Vietnam

Digital channels (websites, bank apps, mobile banking) are incrementally improving as a result of technology innovation and changing customer behavior. The unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic has just added to this trend by urging people to work and make all financial transaction through the Internet. In this context, the question arises of whether banks should revive their physical branches or take the opportunity to shift to mainly digital platform? This research focuses on the branch network trend of Vietnamese commercial banks during the period 2012–2019 to answer the question, what is the contribution of bank branch networks to the banks’ profits. Panel data from 22 largest Vietnamese commercial banks in terms of owners’ capital has been analyzed, using Random Effect Model (REM) regression models. The results show that Vietnamese banks are still expanding their branch networks, despite the fact that bank customers are increasingly engaging in digital bank services. The number of branches has a positive correlation with the banks’ profits, although there is a disparity between large network banks and the rest. The research suggests some implications that can help optimize the branch network in the context of digitalization in an emerging market.
The Bad Reichenhall ice-arena collapse and the necessary consequences for wide span timber structures

In addition the collapse caused an intensive inspection of hundreds of existing wide span timber structures. The result shows an astonishing number of defects. Taking into account the statistical analysis of these inspections the paper ends with recommendations for further regular inspections and quality control of this type of structures. More information about the main detected defects and possibilities to avoid them are given in the additional paper of Phillip Dietsch, Arthur Wolfrum and Stefan Winter [3].
Bacillus Calmette–Guérin-Induced Human Mast Cell Activation Relies on IL-33 Priming

Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccine is an attenuated strain of Mycobacterium bovis that provides weak protection against tuberculosis (TB). Mast cells (MCs) are tissue-resident immune cells strategically that serve as the first line of defence against pathogenic threats. In this study, we investigated the response of human MCs (hMCs) to BCG. We found that naïve hMCs exposed to BCG did not secrete cytokines, degranulate, or support the uptake and intracellular growth of bacteria. Since we could show that in hMCs IL-33 promotes the transcription of host-pathogen interaction, cell adhesion and activation genes, we used IL-33 for cell priming. The treatment of hMCs with IL-33, but not IFN-γ, before BCG stimulation increased IL-8, MCP-1 and IL-13 secretion, and induced an enhanced expression of the mycobacteria-binding receptor CD48. These effects were comparable to those caused by the recombinant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) 19-KDa lipoprotein. Finally, stimulation of hMCs with IL-33 incremented MC-BCG interactions. Thus, we propose that IL-33 may improve the immunogenicity of BCG vaccine by sensitising hMCs.
Validation of the Glasgow Antipsychotic Side-Effect Scale (GASS) in an Italian Sample of Patients with Stable Schizophrenia and Bipolar Spectrum Disorders

Antipsychotics are a class of psychotropic drugs that improve psychotic symptoms and reduce relapse risk. However, they may cause side effects (SE) that impact patients’ quality of life and psychosocial functioning. Therefore, there is a need for practical tools to identify them and possibly intervene. The objective of the present study was to translate into Italian the Glasgow Antipsychotic Side Effect Scale (GASS), which is suggested as the questionnaire of choice to collect SE reported by patients treated with antipsychotics. We administered the GASS and the Udvalg for Kliniske Undersøgelser (UKU) SE scale—which is considered the gold standard—to 100 stable patients with schizophrenia and bipolar spectrum disorders. We measured the structural validity, internal consistency, concurrent criterion validity, construct validity, and clinical feasibility. GASS was characterized by modest structural validity and good internal consistency. The binary correlations concerning the presence of specific symptoms investigated with the GASS and the UKU were strong or relatively strong for only half of them. The GASS total scale score was inversely related to patients’ quality of life and psychosocial functioning. The GASS is useful to briefly assess the burden of antipsychotic SE (~5 min) but is not optimal in identifying them.
Nutrition, Healthcare Benefits and Phytochemical Properties of Cassava (Manihot esculenta) Leaves Sourced from Three Countries (Reunion, Guinea, and Costa Rica)

(1) Background: Manihot esculenta, cassava, is an essential food crop for human consumption in many parts of the world. Besides the wide use of its roots, cassava leaves have been used locally as green vegetables and for medicinal purposes. However, nutritional health data regarding cassava leaves is limited, therefore we investigated its composition and associated potential bioactivity interest for human health. (2) Methods: Cassava leaf bioactivity investigations focused on antioxidant properties (free radical scavenging) in association with immunomodulatory activities on inflammatory murine macrophages to measure the impact of cassava extract on the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as Interleukin-6, Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha, Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1, Prostaglandin-E2 and mediators such as nitric oxide. (3) Results: Antioxidant and immunomodulatory bioactivities were significant, with a concentration-dependent inhibition of cytokines production by inflammatory macrophages; (4) Conclusions: Taken together, our results tend to suggest that Manihot esculenta leaves might be underrated regarding the potential nutrition-health interest of this vegetal matrix for both human nutrition and prophylaxis of metabolic disease with underlying low grade inflammation status.
Conformity and time scale in two-dimensional local scour

The conformity of local scour in experiments with non-cohesive bed material is studied for two-dimensional problems. A description of the flow pattern in the scour hole and development of the scouring process with time is given. The importance of the time scale in the design of structures where a temporary exposure of the bed to scouring effects occurs is stressed and some experimental data on this time scale and the conformity between various experiments are given. (Paper presented at the Symposium on model and prototype conformity, Hydraulic Research Laboratoy, Poona, India)
Impact of Sub-Clinical and Clinical Compression Socks on Postural Stability Tasks among Individuals with Ankle Instability

Compression socks are used by a very diverse group of individuals and may potentially have a greater impact on physically diminished or impaired individuals as opposed to healthy individuals. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of sub-clinical (SC) and clinical (CL) compression socks among healthy (CON), copers (COP), and individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI). Postural stability was evaluated in 20 participants (11 males and 9 females) using Balance Tracking System Balance platform (BTrackS™) during the modified clinical test of sensory integration in balance (mCTSIB) and limits of stability (LOS) tests. Postural sway parameters were analyzed using a mixed model repeated measures analysis of variance 3 (group: CON, COP, and CAI) by 3 (compression condition: BF, SC, and CL) × 4 (balance condition: EO, EC, EOF, and ECF) for mCTSIB and a 3 (group: CON, COP, and CAI) by 3 (compression condition: BF, SC, CL) × 4 (balance condition: FL, BL, BR, FR) for LOS. Results revealed significantly greater postural stability with both SC and CL compression socks when compared to barefoot conditions. However, no significant differences were observed among groups for compression socks grades. Both SC and CL compression socks may be effective in increasing postural stability.
Evaluating pharmacists’ knowledge, attitude, and practices toward amiodarone cross-reactivity with iodine: a cross-sectional pilot study

Introduction Iodine is a vital mineral of the human body that acts by maintaining the health of the thyroid gland. Research has shown that iodine-rich food allergy (i.e., seafood allergy) is not caused by iodine itself; instead, it is caused by other proteins including tropomyosin and parvalbumin in shellfish and fish, respectively. Amiodarone is a commonly used antiarrhythmic agent containing a significant amount of iodine. Objective This study’s objective was to assess pharmacists’ knowledge, attitude, and practices toward the misconception of iodine allergy and the cross-reactivity with amiodarone. Methods In February 2020, a cross-sectional study was conducted by sending out an online survey to three pharmaceutical organizations (Saudi Pharmaceutical Society, Kuwait Pharmaceutical Association, and Oman Pharmaceutical Society). Additionally, an electronic questionnaire was administered to pharmacists attending the Dubai International Pharmaceuticals and Technologies Conference and Exhibition 2020 (DUPHAT). Chi-square or Fisher’s exact test, when appropriate, were used to compare categorical variables. The statistical analyses were carried out using SPSS software. Results Data were collected from 66 respondents. However, only 61 (92.4%) were included in the final analysis following the exclusion of incomplete responses. The mean age of participants was 35 ± 8.48 years. The majority of participants did not have the Board of Pharmacy Specialties Certification (54.1%). Moreover, (41%) of participants licensed as pharmacists with more than 10 years of initial pharmacy licensure. Forty-three (70.5%) of participants had the misconception that iodine allergy should be considered before amiodarone administration, 20/32 (62.5%) of whom considered iodine allergy alone thought that premedication with corticosteroids and/or antihistamines is necessary. Concerning iodine allergy and amiodarone use, there was no significant difference in knowledge between the pharmacists who have board certification and those who did not. Conclusion Pharmacists’ misconception concerning iodine allergy and cross-reactivity with amiodarone was evident. Implementation of educational programs targeting pharmacists is necessary to correct these misconceptions.