Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Anti-diabetic Activity of Chrysophyllum albidum (G. Don) Stem Bark in Alloxan-induced Type 1 Diabetic Female Wistar Rats

Anti-diabetic activity of aqueous extract of Chrysophyllum albidum stem bark (AECASB) in female Wistar rats was investigated to confirm or refute the purported use and the underlying mechanism of action of C. albidum stem bark in the management of type 1 diabetes in Nigeria traditional medicine. Seventy female rats (180.60 ± 8.50 g) were assigned into seven groups. Rats in Group 1 (non-diabetic) were orally administered 1 mL of distilled water, while animals in Groups 2-7 were made diabetic and orally administered 1 mL of distilled water, 2.5 mg/kg body weight (bwt) of glibenclamide, 25, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg bwt of AECASB, once daily for 14 days, respectively. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels of the rats were determined on days 0, 1, 4, 7, 10 and 14. Other biochemical, hematological parameters and pancreas histology of the rats were also determined/examined. The 25 mg/kg bwt of AECASB produced the most significant (p < 0.05) reversal on the alloxan treatment-induced increases in FBG, biochemical and hematological parameters and regenerated the pancreas. In conclusion, the 25 mg/kg bwt of aqueous extract of C. albidum stem was the effective in the management of diabetes and might have acted via regeneration of the pancreas, enhancement of glucose utilization and reduction of blood glucose. Keywords: Type 1 diabetes mellitus; fasting blood glucose; Chrysophyllum albidum; Sapotaceae;
Chemoresistive properties of photo-activated thin and thick ZnO films

: Room temperature operation is an extremely valuable goal in gas sensing research. Among the metal-oxides that have shown various chemoresistive properties, zinc oxide plays an important role as a wide gap semiconductor (Eg = 3.37 eV) whose chemical activity at surface can be enhanced by proper electromagnetic radiation. This property is fundamental to design gas sensing devices able to operate at room temperature. In this work, nanosized zinc oxide powder was synthesized by sol-gel technique through two different routes. After structural and morphological characterization, the materials were deposited onto miniaturized alumina substrates; one as a thick film by screen printing technique the other one as a thin film by spin coating. The response to nitrogen dioxide was deeply investigated as an important gas target in air monitoring for human safety. Once identified the optimal activation energy for the as-prepared devices, the two types of gas sensors were tested in photo-activated mode with UV-LED of 385 nm peak wavelength. In order to collect information on the role of oxygen coverage in NO2 sensing mechanism with ZnO, thin and thick films were tested in air and in nitrogen conditions. Finally, measurements with several gases were performed in air conditions to compare the performances of thin and thick films. The manufactured sensors resulted suitable for alcohols detection, and thick films yielded negligible responses in comparison with their thin films counterpart. We interpreted this evidence in terms of extinction length of light in ZnO.
PREVALENCE OF PERIPHERAL ARTERIAL DISEASE AMONG HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS

Background: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is common in patients with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis, but is frequently underdiagnosed. The risk factors for PAD are well known within the general population, but they differ somewhat in hemodialysis patients. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of PAD and its risk factors in patients on hemodialysis. Objective: To assess the prevalence of peripheral arterial disease in end stage renal disease patients on hemodialysis. Patients and Methods: This was across-sectional study carried out at Hemodialysis Unit of Al-Hussein University Hospital over a period of six month; from September 2019 to April 2020, and conducted on 80 hemodialysis patients. Demographic data and clinical information were recorded. Laboratory data including CBC, calcium, phosphate, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein, and iron profile were evaluated. The ankle-brachial index was measured in all patients. PAD was diagnosed if ankle-brachial index < 0.9. Duplex ultrasound for arterial system of both lower limb was done for patient with ankle / brachial index>0.9. Results: As regard description of demographic data, the mean age of all studied patients was 45.3 ± 8.8 years with minimum age of 24 years and maximum age of 62 years. There were 43 males (53.8%) and 37 females (46.3%). Thirty-five patients (43.7%) were diabetic, and 48 patients (60%) were hypertensive. According to laboratory profile, the mean of WBCs, Hb, platelets, serum calcium, PO4, and iPTH were 6.5 x10³/ul, 10.4 g/dl, 228.2 x10³/ul, 8.3 mg/dl, 9.4 mg/dl and 477.2 ug/ml respectively. Regarding lipid profile, the mean of total cholesterol, HDL and triglyceride were 214.7 mg/dL, 41.9 mg/dL,and 172.2 mg/dL, respectively. Regarding to iron profile, the mean of iron serum, ferritin and TIBC were 62.7 mg/dl, 603.3 ng/ml and 236.7 mg/dl, respectively. According to ABI, there were 22 patients (27.5%) ≤ 0.9, while there were 58 patients (72.5%) > 0.9. The prevalence of peripheral arterial disease among HD patients was 27.5%. Conclusions: High prevalence of peripheral arterial disease in CKD patients on hemodialysis and Ankle – brachial index was clearly more sensitive than physical examination in detecting of peripheral arterial disease in CKD patients on hemodialysis.
A MULTIMODAL ACCOUNT OF LISTENER FEEDBACK IN FACE-TO-FACE INTERACTIONS

In face-to-face interactions, the conversational feedback produced by the listener to signal attention and participation to the current speaker is multimodal: in the vocal channel, it consists of verbal expressions (e.g., “yes” or “exactly”) and vocalizations without lexical content, such as non-lexical backchannels (e.g., “mhm”) and laughter; in the visual channel, listener feedback includes movements of the head, such as nods or tilts. In the current research, we investigate the frequency and the distribution (i.e., the location and the transition type with respect to the other interlocutor’s turn) of lexical and non-lexical items, laughter and head movements, as well as the phonetic variation of vocal feedback, in face-to-face dialogues in German. We find that the feedback type influences the distribution and the variation of intensity values and voice quality, and, for multimodal items, it also influences the temporal alignment of the head movement with the vocal component.
Intrinsic motivation and its impact on the academic performance of university students in Ecuador La motivación intrínseca y su incidencia en el rendimiento académico de los estudiantes universitarios

Education is currently immersed in a changing world, which supports the importance of implementing different strategies that prioritize the interests and encourage intrinsic motivation of students to achieve educational goals through the use of innovative techniques and strategies such as gamification, with the purpose of acquiring knowledge in a more active, participatory, autonomous and dynamic way. In this way, the development of skills and abilities that contribute significantly to the improvement of academic performance will be enhanced. In order to go deeper into this topic, the research was proposed with the objective of developing intrinsic motivation through gamification strategies, evidencing its incidence on the academic performance of students in the second semester of the Pedagogy Career of a university in Ecuador. The study was developed under a quantitative approach, with a quasi-experimental method of correlational type, approaching a sample of 129 students, divided into two groups, a control group with 65 members and an experimental group with 64. The information was collected through the
Effect of additional Curcuma mangga pulp or filtrate on chicken meat

Chicken meat is a favoured animal ingredient, but its antimicrobial activity makes it perishable. Chicken meat can be stored frozen, but thawing takes a long time. Curcuma mangga Val. is antibacterial and has antioxidant activity that can extend the shelf life of an ingredient. The study aimed to determine the effect of adding C mangga pulp or filtrate on the damage of native chicken meat during storage. The treatments in the study controlled fresh chicken meat, chicken meat with the addition of C mangga pulp (DBT) and chicken meat with the addition of C mangga filtrate (DFT) with a storage time of 0, 3, 6, and 9 days at 4 °C. The testing parameters were water content, protein content, total plate count, Salmonella contamination, colour and pH. Free-range chicken meat with the addition of C mangga filtrate stored for three days showed a total plate number according to SNI, damaging Salmonella contamination, and lightness and pH were not significantly different from the control. The best result is the length of storage of native chicken meat with the addition of C mangga filtrate for three days.
Visual Performance in Myopic Adolescents Fitted with Pupil-Optimised Multifocal Soft Contact Lenses

Objective: This study aims to assess the influence of a newly developed pupil-optimized multifocal soft contact lens (MFSCL) in comparison to single-vision contact lenses (SVCL) on visual performance among adolescent myopes. Materials and Methods: Myopic adolescents, aged 14 to 18 years, who were habitual SVCL users, were subjected to a trial involving MFSCL with a mid-addition power. Various visual parameters including distance and near visual acuity (VA), maximum reading speed (MRS), reading acuity, contrast sensitivity, and stereoacuity under photopic conditions were measured for MFSCL and compared to SVCL. Results: No statistically significant differences were observed between SVCL and MFSCL in terms of near VA, MRS, contrast sensitivity, and stereoacuity (p > 0.05 for all). However, a decrease in distance VA was noted with MFSCL (p = 0.021). Moreover, reading acuity, which denotes the smallest print size comprehensible without significant errors, was found to be smaller when using MFSCL (p < 0.001). Conclusion: In adolescent myopic patients, mid-add power in MFSCL did not significantly impact near VA and contrast sensitivity when compared to SVCL, while a decrease in distance VA was observed. Moreover, MFSCL did not affect reading speed but did enable the reading of smaller font sizes.
Networks within networks: The neuronal control of breathing

Breathing emerges through complex network interactions involving neurons distributed throughout the nervous system. The respiratory rhythm generating network is composed of micro networks functioning within larger networks to generate distinct rhythms and patterns that characterize breathing. The pre-Bötzinger complex, a rhythm generating network located within the ventrolateral medulla assumes a core function without which respiratory rhythm generation and breathing cease altogether. It contains subnetworks with distinct synaptic and intrinsic membrane properties that give rise to different types of respiratory rhythmic activities including eupneic, sigh, and gasping activities. While critical aspects of these rhythmic activities are preserved when isolated in in vitro preparations, the pre-Bötzinger complex functions in the behaving animal as part of a larger network that receives important inputs from areas such as the pons and parafacial nucleus. The respiratory network is also an integrator of modulatory and sensory inputs that imbue the network with the important ability to adapt to changes in the behavioral, metabolic, and developmental conditions of the organism. This review summarizes our current understanding of these interactions and relates the emerging concepts to insights gained in other rhythm generating networks. neuromodulators: α α 2, 5-HT (serotonin) acting on 5-HT1A, 5-HT2A, 5-HT2C, 5-HT4, and 5-HT7 receptors; and (substance P) acting on the NK1 receptor. neuromodulators are released by nuclei that include the Raphe magnus, obscurus, and pallidus and the noradrenergic regions: A1, A2, A5, and A6. For further explanations see text. Long-term plasticity characterizes the modulatory processes that lead to long-term changes in respiratory activity, which includes, long-term facilitation of the respiratory frequency and amplitude which is evoked by intermittent hypoxia text for
Machine learning algorithms predicting bladder cancer associated with diabetes and hypertension: NHANES 2009 to 2018

Bladder cancer is 1 of the 10 most common cancers in the world. However, the relationship between diabetes, hypertension and bladder cancer are still controversial, limited study used machine learning models to predict the development of bladder cancer. This study aimed to explore the association between diabetes, hypertension and bladder cancer, and build predictive models of bladder cancer. A total of 1789 patients from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were enrolled in this study. We examined the association between diabetes, hypertension and bladder cancer using multivariate logistic regression model, after adjusting for confounding factors. Four machine learning models, including extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), Artificial Neural Networks, Random Forest and Support Vector Machine were compared to predict for bladder cancer. Model performance was assessed by examining the area under the subject operating characteristic curve, accuracy, recall, specificity, precision, and F1 score. The mean age of bladder cancer group was older than that of the non-bladder cancer (74.4 years vs 65.6 years, P < .001), and men were more likely to have bladder cancer. Diabetes was associated with increased risk of bladder cancer (odds ratio = 1.24, 95%confidence interval [95%CI]: 1.17–3.02). The XGBoost model was the best algorithm for predicting bladder cancer; an accuracy and kappa value was 0.978 with 95%CI:0.976 to 0.986 and 0.01 with 95%CI:0.01 to 0.52, respectively. The sensitivity was 0.90 (95%CI:0.74–0.97) and the area under the curve was 0.78. These results suggested that diabetes is associated with risk of bladder cancer, and XGBoost model was the best algorithm to predict bladder cancer.
Under-Diagnosis of Dementia with Lewy Bodies in Individuals Racialized as Black: Hypotheses Regarding Potential Contributors

Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is one of the most common degenerative dementias after Alzheimer’s disease (AD) dementia. DLB is under-diagnosed across populations but may be particularly missed in older Black adults. The object of this review was to examine key features of DLB and potential associations with race in order to hypothesize why DLB may be under-diagnosed in Black adults in the U.S. In terms of dementia, symptoms associated with high rates of co-pathology (e.g., AD, vascular disease) in older Black adults may obscure the clinical picture that might suggest Lewy body pathology. Research also suggests that clinicians may be predisposed to give AD dementia diagnoses to Black adults, potentially missing contributions of Lewy body pathology. Hallucinations in Black adults may be misattributed to AD or primary psychiatric disease rather than Lewy body pathology. Research on the prevalence of REM sleep behavior in diverse populations is lacking, but REM sleep behavior disorder could be under-diagnosed in Black adults due to sleep patterns or reporting by caregivers who are not bed partners. Recognition of parkinsonism could be reduced in Black adults due to clinician biases, cultural effects on self-report, and potentially underlying differences in the frequency of parkinsonism. These considerations are superimposed on structural and systemic contributions to health (e.g., socioeconomic status, education, structural racism) and individual-level social exposures (e.g., social interactions, discrimination). Improving DLB recognition in Black adults will require research to investigate reasons for diagnostic disparities and education to increase identification of core symptoms in this population.
Observations and operational considerations of the 4 June 2013 chaff event in northern Alabama

On 4 June 2013, a military chaff release occurred near Huntsville, Alabama, within the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) mesoscale network. This event was unusual because the chaff remained in the atmosphere—maintaining a radar echo on nearby weather radars—for nearly 10 h after the initial release. This paper examines the radar evolution of the chaff event, supplemented by environmental observations using the UAH profiling equipment. Additionally, unique operational considerations faced by the National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Huntsville are addressed.
Dissolving dolomite in a stable UHP mineral assemblage: Evidence from Cal-Dol marbles of the Dora-Maira Massif (Italian Western Alps)

Abstract In deep and cold subduction such as that experienced by the UHP Units of the Western Alps, carbon dissolution is a relevant mechanism for carbon transfer from the slab into the mantle. The UHP impure Cal-Dol-marbles from the Dora-Maira Massif are studied to investigate the poorly known evolution of dolomite during deep subduction. Dolomite shows four stages of growth, from pre-Alpine to early-retrograde Alpine, coupled with chemical variations and distinct included mineral assemblages. To explain the evidence for growth and partial reabsorption of dolomite through HP prograde, UHP peak, and UHP early-retrograde Alpine metamorphism, a chemically simple marble (Cal, Dol, Di, Fo, and retrograde Atg, Tr, Mg-Chl) has been studied in detail. Microstructural relationships, coupled with mineral chemistry, indicate the growth of the assemblage dolomite+diopside+forsterite±aragonite during HP prograde, UHP peak, and UHP early-retrograde evolution. Mixed-volatile P-T projection modeled in the simple CaO-(FeO)-MgO-SiO2-H2O-CO2 system and T-P-XCO2 petrogenetic grids and pseudosections predict the prograde (1.7 GPa, 560 °C) growth of dolomite in equilibrium with diopside and forsterite through the breakdown of antigorite+aragonite. In a H2O-CO2-saturated system, the subsequent HP-UHP evolution is predicted in the Di+Fo+Dol+Arg stability field in equilibrium with a dominantly aqueous COH fluid [0.0003 < XCO2 < 0.0008], whose composition is internally buffered by the equilibrium assemblage. Thermodynamic modeling indicates that neither the consumption nor the growth of new dolomite generations at UHP conditions can have been induced by metamorphic reactions. The abundant primary H2O+Cal+Dol+Cl-rich Tr+Cl-rich Tlc±chloride fluid inclusions present in UHP Cpx indicate that a dominantly aqueous, saline (salinity >26.3 wt% of NaCleq) COH fluid, containing Ca, Mg, and Si as dissolved cations was present during the growth of the UHP assemblage Dol+Cpx+Ol+Arg. The complex zoning of dolomite is therefore interpreted as due to protracted episodes of dissolution and precipitation in saline aqueous fluids at HP/UHP conditions. Kinetics of dolomite dissolution in aqueous fluids is poorly known, and experimental and thermodynamic data under HP conditions are still lacking. Data on calcite indicate that dissolution at HP is enhanced by a prograde increase in both P and T, by high salinity in aqueous fluids, and/or low-pH conditions. In the studied marble, the P-T path and the occurrence of free high-saline fluids represent favorable conditions: (1) for the inferred dissolution-precipitation processes of the stable dolomite in a closed system, and (2) for possible migration of the dissolved carbonate, if the system would have been open during subduction.
Frequency of EMG abnormalities in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies under the EULAR/ACR classification criteria

The European League Against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology (EULAR/ACR) classification criteria for idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) have been widely used in recent times. However, no studies have focused on electromyography (EMG) findings of IIM, considering the criteria. This study aimed to elucidate the frequency of EMG abnormalities, particularly fibrillation potentials and positive sharp waves (Fib/PSW), the most objective EMG findings of IIM. Clinical and EMG records of adult patients who were clinically diagnosed with polymyositis (PM), dermatomyositis (DM), amyopathic DM (ADM), or inclusion body myositis (IBM) were retrospectively reviewed and classified according to the EULAR/ACR classification criteria. The frequency of Fib/PSW in EMG was investigated in the recruited cases. Seventy-nine patients with clinically diagnosed IIM (44 with PM, 17 with DM, 7 with ADM, and 11 with IBM) were recruited. After classification using EULAR/ACR, 75 satisfied definite or probable IIM (61 and 14, respectively), and the frequency of Fib/PSW in this group was 95%. Furthermore, the remaining 4 patients with insufficient IIM probability also showed Fib/PSW. Fib/PSW may also be seen in cases with insufficient IIM probability not satisfying the criteria. EMG may help detect muscle involvement in these cases through Fib/PSW.
Validation of a brief mental health screening tool for common mental disorders in primary healthcare.

BACKGROUND Integrating care for common mental disorders (CMDs) such as depression, anxiety and alcohol abuse into primary healthcare (PHC) should assist in reducing South Africa (SA)'s quadruple burden of disease. CMDs compromise treatment adherence, health behaviour change and self-management of illnesses. Appropriate identification of mental disorders in primary care can be facilitated by brief, easy-to-administer screening that promotes high specificity. OBJECTIVES To establish the criterion-based validity of a seven-item Brief Mental Health (BMH) screening tool for assessing positive symptoms of CMDs in primary care patients. METHODS A total of 1 214 participants were recruited from all patients aged ≥18 years visiting 10 clinics as part of routine care in the Newcastle subdistrict of Amajuba District in KwaZulu-Natal Province, SA, over a period of 2 weeks. Consenting patients provided basic biographical information prior to screening with the BMH tool. PHC nurses remained blind to this assessment. PHC nurse-initiated assessment using the Adult Primary Care (APC) guidelines was the gold standard against which the performance of the BMH tool was compared. A specificity standard of 80% was used to establish cut-points. Specificity was favoured over sensitivity to ensure that those who did not have CMD symptoms were excluded, as well as to reduce over-referrals. RESULTS Of the participants, 72% were female. The AUD-C (alcohol abuse) performed well (area under the curve (AUC) 0.91 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.88 - 0.95), cut-point ≥4, Cronbach alpha 0.87); PHQ-2 (depression) performed reasonably well (AUC 0.72 (95% CI 0.65 - 0.78), cut-point ≥3, alpha 0.71); and GAD-2 (anxiety) performance was acceptable (AUC 0.69 (95% CI 0.58 - 0.80), cut-point ≥3, alpha 0.62). Using the higher cut-off scores, patients who truly did not have CMD symptoms had negative predictive values (NPVs) of >90%. Overall, 26% of patients had CMD positive symptoms relative to 8% using the APC guidelines. CONCLUSIONS Using a higher specificity index, the positive predictive value and NPV show that at higher cut-point values the BMH not only helps identify individuals with alcohol misuse, depression and anxiety symptoms but also identifies a majority of those who do not have symptoms (true negatives), thus not overburdening nurses with false positives needing assessment. Research is needed to assess whether use of such a short and valid screening tool is generalisable to other clinic contexts as well as how mental health screening should best be introduced into routine clinic functioning and practice.