Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Liver protective effect of chloroform extract of Bauhinia purpurea leaves is attributed partly to its antioxidant action and the presence of flavonoids

Abstract Context Bauhinia purpurea L. (Fabaceae) is used in the Ayurvedic system to treat various oxidative-related ailments (e.g., wounds, ulcers etc.). Therefore, it is believed that the plant also has the potential to alleviate oxidative-related liver damage. Objective This study elucidates the hepatoprotective activity of chloroform extract of B. purpurea leaves (CEBP) in paracetamol (PCM)-induced liver injury (PILI) rats. Materials and methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 6) were pre-treated once daily (p.o.) with CEBP (50–500 mg/kg) for seven consecutive days before being administered (p.o.) a hepatotoxic agent, 3 g/kg PCM. Liver enzyme levels were determined from the collected blood, while the collected liver was used to determine the activity of endogenous antioxidant enzymes and for histopathological examination. CEBP was also subjected to radical scavenging assays and phytochemical analysis. Results CEBP significantly (p < 0.05) reversed the toxic effect of PCM by increasing the serum levels of AST and ALT, and the activity of endogenous catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) while reducing the liver weight/body weight (LW/BW) ratio. Other than low TPC value and radical scavenging activity, CEBP had a high antioxidant capacity when evaluated using the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay. UHPLC-ESI-MS analysis of CEBP showed the presence of flavonoids. Discussion and conclusions CEBP exerts its hepatoprotective activity through a non-free radical scavenging pathway that involves activation of the endogenous enzymatic antioxidant defense system. Further study is needed to identify the responsible bioactive compounds before the plant can be developed as a future alternative hepatoprotective medicament for clinical use.
Variants in FGF10 cause early onset of severe childhood interstitial lung disease: A detailed description of four affected children

Fibroblast growth factor 10 (FGF10) is a signaling molecule with a well‐established role for lung branching morphogenesis. Rare heterozygous, deleterious variants in the FGF10 gene are known causes of the lacrimo‐auriculo‐dento‐digital (LADD) syndrome and aplasia of lacrimal and salivary glands. Previous studies indicate that pathogenic variants in FGF10 can cause childhood Interstitial Lung Disease (chILD) due to severe diffuse developmental disorders of the lung, but detailed reports on clinical presentation and follow‐up of affected children are lacking.
Examining Unilateral and Bilateral Exercises through the Load-velocity Relationship

Abstract This study aimed to examine the load-velocity (L-V) relationship in the bench-press (BP) and leg-press (LP) exercises performed unilaterally, and compared this unilateral L-V relationship with the bilateral variants. Nineteen men (age=23.5±2.1 years) completed two incremental tests in BP and LP, performed bilaterally and unilaterally, across two sessions with a 48-hour rest period. We found a close relationship between medium propulsive velocity (MPV) and %1RM in unilateral BP (R 2 =0.97, SEE=0.06 m·s -1 ) and LP (R 2 =0.96, SEE=0.06 m·s -1 ). No significant differences were observed between the preferred and non-preferred sides in the L-V relationship for either exercise. Additionally, higher velocities were achieved in unilateral exercises compared to bilateral exercises, particularly with light and moderate loads (30–70%1RM) in BP (p<0.05) and with light loads (30–45%1RM) in LP (p<0.05). Close L-V relationships were observed in unilateral exercises, without differences in the L-V relationships between preferred and non-preferred sides despite the interlimb asymmetries in the absolute strength values. Interestingly, lower velocities were observed at light loads (~30–45% 1RM) for bilateral compared to unilateral exercises, which could be explained by different strength deficits for these exercises.
Molecular targeted therapy and immunotherapy in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis based on randomized controlled trials

Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to compare and rank different targeted therapies or immunotherapies for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma based on efficacy. Methods A systematic search of the PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases was conducted. All systematic treatment regimens that reported comparisons with sorafenib were included in this analysis. The primary outcome measures were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), and other outcome measures included the objective response rate (ORR) and safety analysis according to reported treatment-related adverse events. Results A total of 29 RCTs involving 13376 patients were included in the analysis, including 10 single-agent therapies and 17 combination therapies. Compared with sorafenib, sintilimab plus IBI305 (HR: 0.57, 95% CI: 0.43-0.75), camrelizumab plus rivoceranib (HR: 0.62, 95% CI: 0.49-0.78), and atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (HR: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.52-0.83) ranked in the top three in terms of OS. Conclusions PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors combined with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF)-targeting drugs have shown better therapeutic effects in the systematic treatment of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, and the combination of targeted and immune therapy modes should be further developed.
Hormone replacement therapy for postmenopausal atherosclerosis is offset by late age iron deposition

Postmenopausal atherosclerosis (AS) has been attributed to estrogen deficiency. However, the beneficial effect of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is lost in late postmenopausal women with atherogenesis. We asked whether aging-related iron accumulation affects estrogen receptor α (ERα) expression, thus explaining HRT inefficacy. A negative correlation has been observed between aging-related systemic iron deposition and ERα expression in postmenopausal AS patients. In an ovariectomized Apoe-/- mouse model, estradiol treatment had contrasting effects on ERα expression in early versus late postmenopausal mice. ERα expression was inhibited by iron treatment in cell culture and iron-overloaded mice. Combined treatment with estradiol and iron further decreased ERα expression, and the latter effect was mediated by iron-regulated E3 ligase Mdm2. In line with these observations, cellular cholesterol efflux was reduced, and endothelial homeostasis was disrupted. Consequently, AS was aggravated. Accordingly, systemic iron chelation attenuated estradiol-triggered progressive AS in late postmenopausal mice. Thus, iron and estradiol together downregulate ERα through Mdm2-mediated proteolysis, providing a potential explanation for failures of HRT in late postmenopausal subjects with aging-related iron accumulation. This study suggests that immediate HRT after menopause, along with appropriate iron chelation, might provide benefits from AS.
Low rank tensor decompositions for high dimensional data approximation, recovery and prediction

In this thesis, we examine different approaches for efficient high dimensional data acquisition and reconstruction using low rank tensor decomposition techniques. High dimensional here refers to the order of the ambient tensor space in which the data is contained. Examples of such data include tomographic videos, solutions to parametric differential equations and quantum states of many particle systems. The major problem faced in any such high dimensional setting is the exponential scaling of the tensor space dimension with respect to the order, often referred to as the curse of dimensionality. A possible remedy are low rank tensor decomposition techniques, which allow for the storage and manipulation of a rich set of tensors in a data-sparse way, often avoiding the exponential scaling with respect to the order. Following the ideas of compressive sensing, we examine methods to exploit these very efficient representations to efficiently acquire high dimensional data from measurements. Our first approach uses randomized methods to construct a low rank representation using repeated random evaluations of the data. The second approach works non-intrusively and aims to reconstruct a complete low rank representation from different types of given (incomplete) measurements. The latter approach is known as the tensor recovery problem and contains as a special case the popular tensor completion problem. Finally, we employ tensor recovery techniques in a statistical learning setting to obtain low rank approximations of the complete solutions of parametric differential equations. This parametric representation in particular allows to predict the solution for any parameter combinations, even if those were not measured.
Machine Learning and Pharmacogenomics at the Time of Precision Psychiatry

Traditional medicine and biomedical sciences are reaching a turning point because of the constantly growing impact and volume of Big Data. Machine Learning (ML) techniques and related algorithms play a central role as diagnostic, prognostic, and decision-making tools in this field. Another promising area becoming part of everyday clinical practice is personalized therapy and pharmacogenomics. Applying ML to pharmacogenomics opens new frontiers to tailored therapeutical strategies to help clinicians choose drugs with the best response and fewer side effects, operating with genetic information and combining it with the clinical profile. This systematic review aims to draw up the state-of-the-art ML applied to pharmacogenomics in psychiatry. Our research yielded fourteen papers; most were published in the last three years. The sample comprises 9,180 patients diagnosed with mood disorders, psychoses, or autism spectrum disorders. Prediction of drug response and prediction of side effects are the most frequently considered domains with the supervised ML technique, which first requires training and then testing. The random forest is the most used algorithm; it comprises several decision trees, reduces the training set's overfitting, and makes precise predictions. ML proved effective and reliable, especially when genetic and biodemographic information were integrated into the algorithm. Even though ML and pharmacogenomics are not part of everyday clinical practice yet, they will gain a unique role in the next future in improving personalized treatments in psychiatry.
Mitochondrial pannexin1 controls cardiac sensitivity to ischaemia/reperfusion injury

Abstract Aims No effective therapy is available in clinics to protect the heart from ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Endothelial cells are activated after I/R, which may drive the inflammatory response by releasing ATP through pannexin1 (Panx1) channels. Here, we investigated the role of Panx1 in cardiac I/R. Methods and results Panx1 was found in cardiac endothelial cells, neutrophils, and cardiomyocytes. After in vivo I/R, serum Troponin-I, and infarct size were less pronounced in Panx1−/− mice, but leukocyte infiltration in the infarct area was similar between Panx1−/− and wild-type mice. Serum Troponin-I and infarct size were not different between mice with neutrophil-specific deletion of Panx1 and Panx1fl/fl mice, suggesting that cardioprotection by Panx1 deletion rather involved cardiomyocytes than the inflammatory response. Physiological cardiac function in wild-type and Panx1−/− hearts was similar. The time to onset of contracture and time to maximal contracture were delayed in Panx1−/− hearts, suggesting reduced sensitivity of these hearts to ischaemic injury. Moreover, Panx1−/− hearts showed better recovery of left ventricle developed pressure, cardiac contractility, and relaxation after I/R. Ischaemic preconditioning failed to confer further protection in Panx1−/− hearts. Panx1 was found in subsarcolemmal mitochondria (SSM). SSM in WT or Panx1−/− hearts showed no differences in morphology. The function of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore and production of reactive oxygen species in SSM was not affected, but mitochondrial respiration was reduced in Panx1−/− SSM. Finally, Panx1−/− cardiomyocytes had a decreased mitochondrial membrane potential and an increased mitochondrial ATP content. Conclusion Panx1−/− mice display decreased sensitivity to cardiac I/R injury, resulting in smaller infarcts and improved recovery of left ventricular function. This cardioprotective effect of Panx1 deletion seems to involve cardiac mitochondria rather than a reduced inflammatory response. Thus, Panx1 may represent a new target for controlling cardiac reperfusion damage.
Mapping the rural problem in the Baltic countryside : transition processes in the rural areas of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania

List of Figures vii List of Tables viii List of Contributors xi Foreword xiii 1 Rural Problematics in the Baltic Countries Ilkka Alanen 1 2 The Transformation of Agricultural Systems in the Baltic Countries - A Critique of the World Bank's Concept Ilkka Alanen 5 3 Rural Communities in the Baltic States and Post-Communist Transition Rein Ruutsoo 59 4 Constructing Capitalist Firms: Former Socialist Industrial Complexes and their Struggle for Survival Jouko Nikula 109 5 Networks, Skills and Trust: The Necessary Ingredients of Rural Entrepreneurship in the Baltic Countries? Jouko Nikula 127 6 From Agriculture to Tourism: Constructing New Relations Between Rural Nature and Culture in Lithuania and Finland Leo Granberg 159 7 Trends in Development in Lithuanian Agricultural Policy Donatas Stanikunas, Irena Krisciukaitiene, Romualdas Zemeckis 179 8 Means of Subsistence and Welfare in a Small Rural Community in South Estonia Raija-Liisa Kamarainen 203 9 Rural Community Initiatives in the Latvian Countryside Talis Tisenkopfs, Sandra Sumane 219 10 The Adjustment of the Elderly to Socio-Economic Change in Rural Estonia Leeni Hansson, Marjatta Marin 249 11 The Significance of the Research Results Ilkka Alanen 269 Annex Tables and Figures 273
Morphogenesis of the pulmonary vein and left atrial appendage in human embryos and early fetuses

The left atrium wall has several origins, including the body, appendage, septum, atrial‐ventricular canal, posterior wall, and venous component. Here, we describe the morphogenesis of left atrium based on high‐resolution imaging (phase‐contrast X‐ray computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging). Twenty‐three human embryos and 19 fetuses were selected for this study. Three‐dimensional cardiac images were reconstructed, and the pulmonary veins and left atrium, including the left atrial appendage, were evaluated morphologically and quantitatively. The positions of the pericardial reflections were used as landmarks for the border of the pericardial cavity. The common pulmonary vein was observed in three specimens at Carnegie stages 17–18. The pericardium was detected at the four pulmonary veins (left superior, left inferior, right superior, and right inferior pulmonary veins) at one specimen at Carnegie stage 18 and all larger specimens, except the four samples. Our results suggest that the position of the pericardial reflections was determined at two pulmonary veins (right and left pulmonary vein) and four pulmonary veins almost simultaneously when the dorsal mesocardial connection between the embryo and heart regressed. The magnetic resonance images and reconstructed heart cavity images confirmed that the left atrium folds were present at the junction between the body and venous component. Three‐dimensional reconstruction showed that the four pulmonary veins entered the dorsal left atrium tangentially from the lateral to the medial direction. More specifically, the right pulmonary veins entered at a greater angle than the left pulmonary veins. The distance between the superior and inferior pulmonary veins was shorter than that between the left and right pulmonary veins. Three‐dimensional reconstruction showed that the venous component increased proportionally with growth. No noticeable differences in discrimination between the right and left parts of the venous component emerged, while the junction between the venous component and body gradually became inconspicuous but was still recognizable by the end of the observed early fetal period. The left superior pulmonary vein had the smallest cross‐sectional area and most flattened shape, whereas the other three were similar in area and shape. The left atrial appendage had a large volume in the center and extended to the periphery as a lobe‐like structure. The left atrial appendage orifice increased in the area and tended to become flatter with growth. The whole left atrium volume^(1/3) increased almost proportionally with growth, parallel to the whole heart volume. This study provided a three‐dimensional and quantitative description of the developmental process of the left atrium, comprising the venous component and left atrial appendage formation, from the late embryonic to the early fetal stages.
Revisiting the personal protective equipment components of transmission-based precautions for the prevention of COVID-19 and other respiratory virus infections in healthcare

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted some potential limitations of transmission-based precautions. The distinction between transmission through large droplets vs aerosols, which have been fundamental concepts guiding infection control measures, has been questioned, leading to considerable variation in expert recommendations on transmission-based precautions for COVID-19. Furthermore, the application of elements of contact precautions, such as the use of gloves and gowns, is based on low-quality and inconclusive evidence and may have unintended consequences, such as increased incidence of healthcare-associated infections and spread of multidrug-resistant organisms. These observations indicate a need for high-quality studies to address the knowledge gaps and a need to revisit the theoretical background regarding various modes of transmission and the definitions of terms related to transmission. Further, we should examine the implications these definitions have on the following components of transmission-based precautions: (i) respiratory protection, (ii) use of gloves and gowns for the prevention of respiratory virus infections, (iii) aerosol-generating procedures and (iv) universal masking in healthcare settings as a control measure especially during seasonal epidemics. Such a review would ensure that transmission-based precautions are consistent and rationally based on available evidence, which would facilitate decision-making, guidance development and training, as well as their application in practice.
Fluctuations in alpha and beta power provide neural states favourable for contextually relevant anticipatory processes

Cued sensory input occasionally fails to immediately ensue its respective trigger. Given that our environments are rich in sensory cues, we often end up processing other contextually relevant information in the meantime. The experimental design of the present study allowed us to investigate how such temporal delays and visual interferences may impact anticipatory processes. Thirty‐four participants were trained to remember an individualised set of eight paired‐up faces. These paired‐up faces were presented pseudorandomly in sequences of unpaired face images. To keep participants engaged throughout the electroencephalography study, they were instructed to classify each face image, according to its sex, as fast as possible without compromising accuracy. We observed dissimilar modulations in alpha and beta power between the 6‐s timeframe encompassing the onsets of predictive and expected images (temporal delay block) and the 6‐s timeframe encompassing the predictive, interference and expected images (visual interference block). Furthermore, an expectation‐facilitated reduction of the face‐sensitive N170 component was only observed if an anticipated face image directly followed its corresponding predictive counterpart. This effect was no longer evident when the expected face was preceded by a distracting face image. Regardless of the block type, behavioural measures confirmed that anticipated faces were classified significantly faster and with fewer erroneous responses than faces not foretold by a predictive face. Collectively, these results demonstrate that whilst the brain continuously adjusts internal hierarchical generative models to account for temporal delays in stimulus onset and visual interferences, the higher levels, and subsequent predictions, fundamental for expectation‐facilitated behaviours remain intact.
Social Media and Digital Footprints in Orthopaedic Trauma: An Analysis of 1465 Orthopaedic Trauma Association Members

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to quantify social media usage among Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA) members. METHODS: All active OTA members were searched for involvement among common social media platforms. Surgeons were then classified as “active” on any given social media site if they posted within the past 6 months. Surgeons were also identified by the region they practiced in, sex, and their practice setting (academic vs. private). Finally, a surgeon's score and number of reviews from common physician review websites were examined. RESULTS: A total of 1465 OTA members were included in the analysis. Most surgeons were male (89.1% [n = 1305]) and practiced in a private setting (54.5% [n = 799]). A total of 590 surgeons (40.3%) had at least one form of social media account. Social media sites most used were LinkedIn with 48.7% (n = 713) and ResearchGate with 29.2% (n = 428). Academic surgeons were more likely to have a ResearchGate, LinkedIn, and Twitter account while private surgeons were more likely to have a personal website (P < 0.05). Finally, there was no correlation between surgeons more active on social media and average scores on Vitals.com or Healthgrade.com (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Most orthopaedic trauma surgeons do not have professional social media accounts. Although social media may help spread scholarship, having a professional social media account does not correlate with better online physician reviews or increased online reviews among orthopaedic trauma surgeons.
Examining the Effect of Alignment of the Rotor of the Emissions Exhaust Fan on Its Operating Parameters

The paper describes research examining the trends in balancing rotary machines and the application of the sequence of steps in execution of the operational balancing of an impeller of the industrial furnace emissions fan. The balancing process is based on the correction of the weight distribution of the body with the given axis of rotation. In trial operation, vibrations (with the measurement of the oscillation phase) were measured on both emission fan rotor bearings. Since the measured vibration value was higher than recommended, it was necessary to take steps to balance the fan’s impeller. The first step of the operational balancing is to identify the initial vibration vector relative to the reference mark, arbitrarily located on the rotating wheel of the fan. In trial operation, the balancing weight mass was changed in the selected balancing level, resulting in the change of the vibration vector compared to the initial state. The size and the angular position of the balancing weight were determined from the vibration values measured. 15 months into operation after the impeller was balanced, the diagnosis of its current technical condition was performed. Total vibrations of the device were measured in the low- and high-frequency range, at four measuring points on the rotor and the drive engine. The measurement confirmed a satisfactory technical condition of the engine and the fan equipment. The effect of balancing has also been demonstrated in the case observed. Reduced bearing wear, elimination of recurrent defects, foundation damage, etc., have been observed.