Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Safety and Efficacy of Prostaglandin Analogues in the Immediate Postoperative Period after Uneventful Phacoemulsification

Prostaglandin analogues (PGAs) have been associated with the development of pseudophakic macular edema (PME) in complicated cataract cases, but evidence on their effects in uncomplicated phacoemulsification remains controversial. This two-arm, prospective, randomised study included patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension under PGA monotherapy who were scheduled for cataract surgery. The first group continued PGA use (PGA-on), while the second discontinued PGAs for the first postoperative month and reinitiated use afterwards (PGA-off). Topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were routinely administered to all patients during the first postoperative month. The patients were followed up for three months and the primary outcome was PME development. Secondary outcomes were corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), central and average macular thickness (CMT and AMT), and intraocular pressure (IOP). The analysis included 22 eyes in the PGA-on group and 33 eyes in the PGA-off group. No patient developed PME. CDVA was not significantly different between the two groups (p = 0.83). CMT and AMT showed a small but statistically significant increase until the end of follow-up (p < 0.001). Mean IOP values had no significant differences between the groups at each visit (p > 0.05). At the end of follow-up, the IOP values were significantly lower than baseline in both groups (p < 0.001). In conclusion, PGA administration with concomitant topical NSAIDs appears to be a safe practice in the early postoperative period of uncomplicated phacoemulsification.
Design and Study of Fractal-Inspired Metamaterials with Equal Density Made from a Strong and Tough Thermoplastic

In this study, we created metamaterials consisting of square unit cells—inspired by fractal geometry—and described the parametric equation necessary for their creation. The area and thus the volume (density) and mass of these metamaterials are constant regardless of the number of cells. They were created with two layout types; one consists solely of compressed rod elements (ordered layout), and in the other layout, due to a geometrical offset, certain regions are exposed to bending (offset layout). In addition to creating new metamaterial structures, our aim was to study their energy absorption and failure. Finite element analysis was performed on their expected behavior and deformation when subjected to compression. Specimens were printed from polyamide with additive technology in order to compare and validate the results of the FEM simulations with real compression tests. Based on these results, increasing the number of cells results in a more stable behavior and increased load-bearing capacity. Furthermore, by increasing the number of cells from 4 to 36, the energy absorption capability doubles; however, further increase does not significantly change this capability. As for the effect of layout, the offset structures are 27% softer, on average, but exhibit a more stable deformation behavior.
The Primary Irradiation Damage of Hydrogen-Accumulated Nickel: An Atomistic Study

Nickel-based alloys have demonstrated significant promise as structural materials for Gen-IV nuclear reactors. However, the understanding of the interaction mechanism between the defects resulting from displacement cascades and solute hydrogen during irradiation remains limited. This study aims to investigate the interaction between irradiation-induced point defects and solute hydrogen on nickel under diverse conditions using molecular dynamics simulations. In particular, the effects of solute hydrogen concentrations, cascade energies, and temperatures are explored. The results show a pronounced correlation between these defects and hydrogen atoms, which form clusters with varying hydrogen concentrations. With increasing the energy of a primary knock-on atom (PKA), the number of surviving self-interstitial atoms (SIAs) also increases. Notably, at low PKA energies, solute hydrogen atoms impede the clustering and formation of SIAs, while at high energies, they promote such clustering. The impact of low simulation temperatures on defects and hydrogen clustering is relatively minor. High temperature has a more obvious effect on the formation of clusters. This atomistic investigation offers valuable insights into the interaction between hydrogen and defects in irradiated environments, thereby informing material design considerations for next-generation nuclear reactors.
Functional response and resistance to drought in seedlings of six shrub species with contrasting leaf traits from the Mediterranean Basin and California.

Extreme drought events during post-fire regeneration are becoming increasingly frequent in Mediterranean-type ecosystems. Understanding how plants with different traits and origins respond to such conditions during early life stages is therefore critical for assessing the effect of climate change. Here, seedlings of three Cistus (semi-deciduous malacophylls from the Mediterranean Basin) and three Ceanothus (evergreen sclerophylls from California) species, two post-fire seeder genera with contrasting leaf traits, were subjected to complete water deprivation for three months in a common garden experiment. The leaf and plant structure, as well as plant tissue water relations were characterized before the drought, and the functional response (water availability, gas exchange, and fluorescence) were monitored during the drought. Both genera exhibited contrasting leaf structure and tissue water relations traits, with higher leaf area, specific leaf area, as well as higher osmotic potential at maximum turgor and turgor loss point in Cistus than Ceanothus. During drought, Ceanothus showed a more conservative use of water than Cistus, with a water potential less sensitive to decreasing soil moisture and a strong decline in photosynthesis and stomatal conductance in response to water deficit, but also a level of fluorescence more responsive to drought than Cistus. However, we could not find a different degree of drought resistance between the genera. This was particularly clear between Cistus ladanifer and Ceanothus pauciflorus, the two most functionally contrasting species, but at the same time the two most drought resistant. Our findings demonstrate that species with different leaf traits and functional responses to water stress may not differ in their degree of drought resistance, at least during the seedling stage. This underlines the need to take general categorizations by genus or functional traits with caution and deepen our knowledge about Mediterranean-type species ecophysiology, especially during early life stages, for anticipating their vulnerability to climate change.
Efficacy, tolerability, and endometrial safety of ospemifene compared with current therapies for the treatment of vulvovaginal atrophy: a systematic literature review and network meta-analysis

Ospemifene is an efficacious, well-tolerated, and safe therapeutic option for postmenopausal women with moderate to severe symptoms of vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA). Efficacy and safety outcomes with ospemifene are similar to other VVA therapies in North America and Europe Abstract Importance Ospemifene is a novel selective estrogen receptor modulator developed for the treatment of moderate to severe postmenopausal vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA). Objective The aim of the study is to perform a systematic literature review (SLR) and network meta-analysis (NMA) to assess the efficacy and safety of ospemifene compared with other therapies used in the treatment of VVA in North America and Europe. Evidence Review Electronic database searches were conducted in November 2021 in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Randomized or nonrandomized controlled trials targeting postmenopausal women with moderate to severe dyspareunia and/or vaginal dryness and involving ospemifene or at least one VVA local treatment were considered. Efficacy data included changes from baseline in superficial and parabasal cells, vaginal pH, and the most bothersome symptom of vaginal dryness or dyspareunia, as required for regulatory approval. Endometrial outcomes were endometrial thickness and histologic classifications, including endometrial polyp, hyperplasia, and cancer. For efficacy and safety outcomes, a Bayesian NMA was performed. Endometrial outcomes were compared in descriptive analyses. Findings A total of 44 controlled trials met the eligibility criteria (N = 12,637 participants). Network meta-analysis results showed that ospemifene was not statistically different from other active therapies in most efficacy and safety results. For all treatments, including ospemifene, the posttreatment endometrial thickness values (up to 52 wk of treatment) were under the recognized clinical threshold value of 4 mm for significant risk of endometrial pathology. Specifically, for women treated with ospemifene, endometrial thickness ranged between 2.1 and 2.3 mm at baseline and 2.5 and 3.2 mm after treatment. No cases of endometrial carcinoma or hyperplasia were observed in ospemifene trials, nor polyps with atypical hyperplasia or cancer after up to 52 weeks of treatment. Conclusions and Relevance Ospemifene is an efficacious, well-tolerated, and safe therapeutic option for postmenopausal women with moderate to severe symptoms of VVA. Efficacy and safety outcomes with ospemifene are similar to other VVA therapies in North America and Europe.
On some Smarandache determinant sequences

Murthy (1) introduced the concept of the Smarandache Cyclic Determinant Nat- ural Sequence, the Smarandache Cyclic Arithmetic Determinant Sequence, the Smarandache Bisymmetric Determinant Natural Sequence, and the Smarandache Bisymmetric Arithmetic Determinant Sequence. In this paper, we derive the n-th terms of these four sequences.
Diffuse ionized gas and chemical abundances in IC 1727

Long-slit spectroscopy results of the dwarf spiral galaxy IC 1727, which is interacting with NGC 672, are presented. The extinction, excitation, density and shocks throughout the galaxy are studied, as well as the oxygen abundances of a total of 22 H II regions. The interstellar medium of this galaxy is very perturbed, with high values of the [S II]/Hα ratio and high excitation values throughout the galaxy (inside the H II regions and in the diffuse ionized gas). Such values might be an indication of strong perturbations resulting from the interaction between IC 1727 and NGC 672. Shocks are the second source of ionization of the diffuse ionized gas, after leaking photons from H II regions. The chemical abundance of this galaxy is well below solar and closer to the values of the Large Magellanic Cloud. The abundances differ between the various H II regions of the galaxy, as observed in other spiral galaxies.
Efficacy of HPV Vaccination Regarding Vulvar and Vaginal Recurrences in Previously Treated Women: The Need for Further Evidence

Vulvar and vaginal cancers are relatively rare cancers, but their incidence is increasing worldwide. Overall, 78% of vaginal cancers and 25% of vulvar cancers are associated with Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Immunization could be an option for the management of these cases. We researched and assessed the evidence on the efficacy of HPV vaccination administered to women previously treated with surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy with respect to the recurrence of vulvovaginal disease. From 2006 to November 2022, only one study evaluated the efficacy of HPV vaccination with respect to preventing vulvovaginal recurrences in treated women and showed that a quadrivalent HPV vaccine administered after the surgical treatment of vulvar high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) can reduce vulvar recurrence of the disease. Therefore, the efficacy of HPV vaccination with respect to vulvovaginal recurrence is still an unexplored field. Further studies are needed to produce stronger evidence in order to appropriately support interventions to protect women’s health.
Unraveling the Potential of β-D-Glucans in Poales: From Characterization to Biosynthesis and Factors Affecting the Content

This review consolidates current knowledge on β-D-glucans in Poales and presents current findings and connections that expand our understanding of the characteristics, functions, and applications of this cell wall polysaccharide. By associating information from multiple disciplines, the review offers valuable insights for researchers, practitioners, and consumers interested in harnessing the benefits of β-D-glucans in various fields. The review can serve as a valuable resource for plant biology researchers, cereal breeders, and plant-based food producers, providing insights into the potential of β-D-glucans and opening new avenues for future research and innovation in the field of this bioactive and functional ingredient.
Fluid Structure Interaction of Unsteady Aerodynamics of Flapping Wing at Low Reynolds Number

Abstract Wing flexibility controls the aerodynamic-force generation of flapping-wing flyers. As the wing flaps through the air, it is subjected to both aerodynamic force acting on the surface of the wing and inertial force due to the acceleration or deceleration of the wing’s mass. The interaction between these inertial-elastic and aerodynamic forces resulted in wing deformation. To study the effects of skin flexibility and wing deformation on the aerodynamic performance of a flapping wing, fluid flow and structural analyses (two-way fluid structure interaction) are implemented in real-time application through the Multi-Physics Code Coupling Interface, using FLUENT and ABAQUS solvers. The different bending stiffness ratios are highlighted at 2,489; 159 and 1, which correspond to rigid, flexible, and highly flexible cases, respectively. In the present research, wing flexibility is investigated at low Reynolds number (Re^9,000) and reduced frequency (k=1.92). To validate the numerical model, an experimental study was conducted, and the result of the mean aerodynamic lift and drag coefficient showed good agreement. The time-averaged aerodynamic performances, such as mean lift coefficient, drag coefficient, and lift-to- drag ratio, revealed that the aerodynamic performance of flapping wings increases with the increase in flexibility.
Pharmacogenetic Sex-Specific Effects of Methotrexate Response in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Methotrexate (MTX) is a commonly used drug for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but its effectiveness can vary greatly among patients. Pharmacogenetics, the study of how genetic variations can affect drug response, has the potential to improve the personalized treatment of RA by identifying genetic markers that can predict a patient’s response to MTX. However, the field of MTX pharmacogenetics is still in its early stages and there is a lack of consistency among studies. This study aimed to identify genetic markers associated with MTX efficacy and toxicity in a large sample of RA patients, and to investigate the role of clinical covariates and sex-specific effects. Our results have identified an association of ITPA rs1127354 and ABCB1 rs1045642 with response to MTX, polymorphisms of FPGS rs1544105, GGH rs1800909, and MTHFR genes with disease remission, GGH rs1800909 and MTHFR rs1801131 polymorphisms with all adverse events, and ADA rs244076 and MTHFR rs1801131 and rs1801133, However, clinical covariates were more important factors to consider when building predictive models. These findings highlight the potential of pharmacogenetics to improve personalized treatment of RA, but also emphasize the need for further research to fully understand the complex mechanisms involved.
Geraniin Ameliorates Hypertensive Vascular Remodelling in a Diet-Induced Obese Animal Model through Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects

Geraniin, an ellagitannin, has shown a potent blood pressure-lowering effect in vivo. Therefore, this study aims to further characterize the ability of geraniin to attenuate hypertensive vascular dysfunction, a key feature of cardiovascular disease (CVD) development. Hypertension was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats through feeding a high-fat diet (HFD) for eight weeks, followed by oral administration of 25 mg/kg/day geraniin for four weeks. The parameters of vascular dysfunction such as the structure and function of blood vessels as well as the vascular oxidative stress and inflammation were evaluated. The outcomes of geraniin-treated rats were compared with those of untreated rats on either a normal diet (ND) or HFD and with HFD-fed rats treated with captopril (40 mg/kg/day). We found that geraniin supplementation effectively ameliorated HFD-induced hypertension and abnormal remodelling of the thoracic aorta by suppressing excessive vascular superoxide (O2−) radical generation and overexpression of pro-inflammatory mediators in the circulating leukocytes. Furthermore, compared to the ND-fed rats, geraniin also independently promoted the significant enlargement of the thoracic aortic lumen for blood pressure reduction. Notably, the vascular benefits of geraniin were comparable to that of captopril. Collectively, these data suggest that geraniin can mitigate hypertensive vascular remodelling caused by overnutrition, which potentially abrogates the further development of CVDs.
Tailoring SnO2 Defect States and Structure: Reviewing Bottom-Up Approaches to Control Size, Morphology, Electronic and Electrochemical Properties for Application in Batteries

Tin oxide (SnO2) is a versatile n-type semiconductor with a wide bandgap of 3.6 eV that varies as a function of its polymorph, i.e., rutile, cubic or orthorhombic. In this review, we survey the crystal and electronic structures, bandgap and defect states of SnO2. Subsequently, the significance of the defect states on the optical properties of SnO2 is overviewed. Furthermore, we examine the influence of growth methods on the morphology and phase stabilization of SnO2 for both thin-film deposition and nanoparticle synthesis. In general, thin-film growth techniques allow the stabilization of high-pressure SnO2 phases via substrate-induced strain or doping. On the other hand, sol–gel synthesis allows precipitating rutile-SnO2 nanostructures with high specific surfaces. These nanostructures display interesting electrochemical properties that are systematically examined in terms of their applicability to Li-ion battery anodes. Finally, the outlook provides the perspectives of SnO2 as a candidate material for Li-ion batteries, while addressing its sustainability.
Psychology of envy towards medical colleagues

Donald A Redelmeier , Edward E Etchells and Umberin Najeeb Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3H2, Canada Evaluative Clinical Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, Canada Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences in Ontario, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, Canada Division of General Internal Medicine, Sunnybrook Health Science Centre, Toronto ON M4Y 3M5, Canada Centre for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5T 3M6, Canada Division of General Internal Medicine, Women’s College Hospital, Toronto, ON M5S 1B2, Canada Corresponding author: Donald A Redelmeier. Email: dar@ices.on. ca
Photosynthetic Acclimation of Shade-Grown Soybean Seedlings to a High-Light Environment

Soybean in relay intercropping is initially exposed to a shade environment, followed by exposure to full sunlight after the harvesting of primary crops, e.g., maize. Therefore, soybean’s ability to acclimate to this changing light environment determines its growth and yield formation. However, the changes in soybean photosynthesis under such light alternations in relay intercropping are poorly understood. This study compared the photosynthetic acclimation of two soybean varieties with contrasting shade tolerance, i.e., Gongxuan1 (shade-tolerant) and C103 (shade-intolerant). The two soybean genotypes were grown in a greenhouse under full sunlight (HL) and 40% full sunlight (LL) conditions. Subsequently, after the fifth compound leaf expanded, half of the LL plants were transferred to a high-sunlight environment (LL-HL). Morphological traits were measured at 0 and 10 days, while chlorophyll content, gas exchange characteristics and chlorophyll fluorescence were assayed at 0, 2, 4, 7 and 10 days after transfer to an HL environment (LL-HL). Shade-intolerant C103 showed photoinhibition 10 days after transfer, and the net photosynthetic rate (Pn) did not completely recover to that under a high light level. On the day of transfer, the shade-intolerant variety, C103, exhibited a decrease in net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs) and transpiration rate (E) in the low-light (LL) and low-light-to-high-light (LL-HL) treatments. Additionally, intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) increased in low light, suggesting that non-stomatal factors were the primary limitations to photosynthesis in C103 following the transfer. In contrast, the shade-tolerant variety, Gongxuan1, displayed a greater increase in Pn 7 days after transfer, with no difference observed between the HL and LL-HL treatments. Ten days after transfer, the shade-tolerant Gongxuan1 exhibited 24.1%, 10.9% and 20.9% higher biomass, leaf area and stem diameter than the intolerant C103. These findings suggest that Gongxuan1 possesses a higher capacity to adapt to variations in light conditions, making it a potential candidate for variety selection in intercropping systems.
Advances in ATR-FTIR Spectroscopic Imaging for the Analysis of Tablet Dissolution and Drug Release

One of the major challenges in the development of effective pharmaceutical formulations for oral administration is the poor solubility of active pharmaceutical ingredients. For this reason, the dissolution process and drug release from solid oral dosage forms, such as tablets, is usually thoroughly studied in order to understand the dissolution behaviour under various conditions and optimize the formulation accordingly. Standard dissolution tests used in the pharmaceutical industry provide information on the amount of drug released over time; however, these do not allow for a detailed analysis of the underlying chemical and physical mechanisms of tablet dissolution. FTIR spectroscopic imaging, by contrast, does offer the ability to study these processes with high spatial and chemical specificity. As such, the method allows us to see the chemical and physical processes which occur inside the tablet as it dissolves. In this review, the power of ATR-FTIR spectroscopic imaging is demonstrated by presenting a number of successful applications of this chemical imaging technique to dissolution and drug release studies for a range of different pharmaceutical formulations and study conditions. Understanding these processes is essential for the development of effective oral dosage forms and optimization of pharmaceutical formulations.
The (Harry) Gold standard: angina, suggestion and the path to the ‘double blind’ test and clinical pharmacology. Part 2: the path to the ‘double blind’

As detailed in Part 1, the complexities of anginal pain and the apparent role of ‘suggestion’ as a source of pain relief among those receiving interventions served to catalyse researchers in Great Britain and the United States in the 1930s and 1940s to utilise patient blinding as a means to offset such sources of biased outcomes. As Part 2 relates, Harry Gold and his colleagues at Cornell, concerned about the ‘subconscious’ or ‘unconscious’ bias of researchers, would extend such attempts at rigour in their antianginal studies to include the blinding of researchers as well, resulting in the development – and by the 1950s, formal articulation – of the ‘double-blind’ method of clinical investigation.