Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Altitude and Erythropoietin: Comparative Evaluation of Their Impact on Key Parameters of the Athlete Biological Passport: A Review

The hematological module of the Athlete's Biological Passport (ABP) identifies doping methods and/or substances used to increase the blood's capacity to transport or deliver oxygen to the tissues. Recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPOs) are doping substances known to boost the production of red blood cells and might have an effect on the blood biomarkers of the ABP. However, hypoxic exposure influences these biomarkers similarly to rhEPOs. This analogous impact complicates the ABP profiles' interpretation by antidoping experts. The present study aimed to collect and identify, through a literature search, the physiological effects on ABP blood biomarkers induced by these external factors. A total of 43 studies were selected for this review. A positive correlation (R2 = 0.605, r = 0.778, p < 0.001) was identified between the hypoxic dose and the increase in hemoglobin concentration (HGB) percentage. In addition, the change in the reticulocyte percentage (RET%) has been identified as one of the most sensitive parameters to rhEPO use. The mean effects of rhEPO on blood parameters were greater than those induced by hypoxic exposure (1.7 times higher for HGB and RET% and 4 times higher for hemoglobin mass). However, rhEPO micro-doses have shown effects that are hardly distinguishable from those identified after hypoxic exposure. The results of the literature search allowed to identify temporal and quantitative evolution of blood parameters in connection with different hypoxic exposure doses, as well as different rhEPOs doses. This might be considered to provide justified and well-documented interpretations of physiological changes in blood parameters of the Athlete Biological Passport.
Quantitative Protein Analysis of ZPB2, ZPB1 and ZPC in the Germinal Disc and a Non-Germinal Disc Region of the Inner Perivitelline Layer in Two Genetic Lines of Turkey Hens That Differ in Fertility

Simple Summary At ovulation, the avian egg is only surrounded by one coat of protein containing zona pellucida (ZP) proteins. These proteins serve as key components for binding sperm and initiating fertilization. In birds, most of the sperm bind around the germinal disc region of the ovulated egg, and the number of sperm that bind to this region is associated with improved fertility. Previous research has reported differences in mRNA expression of these ZP proteins between the germinal disc and non-germinal disc regions and between two lines of turkey hens (E-line, high fertility and F-line, low fertility). Until now, differences in the ZP protein abundance in this layer have not been directly measured. In the current study, the protein abundance of the ZP proteins was evaluated, using quantitative Western analyses, between genetic lines (E-line and F-line) and location on the egg (germinal disc and non-germinal disc). Several differences in protein abundance, and discrepancies with mRNA expression, are reported. These findings are the first to examine quantitative differences in the protein composition of this important protein layer and provide insight into potential protein markers that may be used in the poultry industry for improving fertility in breeding stock. Abstract The avian inner perivitelline layer (IPVL), containing the zona pellucida (ZP) family of proteins, surrounds the ovulated ovum. In mammalian species, ZP proteins serve as key component(s) in binding sperm and initiating the acrosome reaction. Sperm binding at the germinal disc (GD) region of the IPVL initiates fertilization in avian species, and the amount of sperm binding at the GD reflects female fertility. The current research determined whether reported differences in mRNA expression in two genetic lines of turkey hens (E, high fertility and F, low fertility) translated to the protein level. ZPB2 in the IPVL is greater in the GD region compared with the nongerminal disc (NGD) region, as indicated by both mRNA and protein expression. However, protein expressions of ZPB1 and ZPC in the IPVL of E- and F-line turkey hens was in contrast to previously reported mRNA expression. The results indicate that the mRNA expression of ZP proteins at their site of synthesis in E- and F-line hens often does not directly correlate with the IPVL abundance of these proteins. The greater protein concentration of ZPB2 in the GD region compared with the NGD regions suggests that this protein may be critical for sperm binding at the GD region.
Association Between Sleep Traits and Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Mendelian Randomization Study

Currently, the causal association between sleep disorders and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been poorly understood. In this two-sample Mendelian randomization (TSMR) study, we tried to explore whether sleep disorders are causally associated with RA. Seven sleep-related traits were chosen from the published Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS): short sleep duration, frequent insomnia, any insomnia, sleep duration, getting up, morningness (early-to-bed/up habit), and snoring, 27, 53, 57, 57, 70, 274, and 42 individual single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (P < 5 × 10−8) were obtained as instrumental variables (IVs) for these sleep-related traits. Outcome variables were obtained from a public GWAS study that included 14,361 cases and 43,923 European Ancestry controls. The causal relationship between sleep disturbances and RA risk were evaluated by a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis using inverse variance weighted (IVW), MR-Egger regression, weighted median, and weight mode methods. MR-Egger Regression and Mendelian randomization pleiotropy residual sum and outlier (MR-PRESSO) were used to test for horizontal pleomorphism and outliers. There was no evidence of a link between RA and frequent insomnia (IVW, odds ratio (OR): 0.99; 95% interval (CI): 0.84–1.16; P = 0.858), any insomnia (IVW, OR: 1.09; 95% CI: 0.85–1.42; P = 0.489), sleep duration (IVW, OR: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.38–1.10, P = 0.269), getting up (IVW, OR: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.13–2.46, P = 0.442), morningness (IVW, OR: 2.59; 95% CI: 0.73–9.16; P = 0.142), or snoring (IVW, OR: 0.95; 95% CI: 0.68–1.33; P = 0.757). Short sleep duration (6h) had a causal effect on RA, as supported by IVW and weighted median (OR: 1.47, 95% CI: 1.12–1.94, P = 0.006; OR: 1.43, 95%CI:1.01–2.05, P = 0.047). Sensitivity analysis showed that the results were stable. Our findings imply that short sleep duration is causally linked to an increased risk of RA. Therefore, sleep length should be considered in disease models, and physicians should advise people to avoid short sleep duration practices to lower the risk of RA.
Vitamin B12 deficiency in northern India tertiary care: Prevalence, risk factors and clinical characteristics

Background: Vitamin B12 deficiency leads to a diversity of symptoms and affects many systems. It is often overlooked or sometimes even misdiagnosed in clinical practice. Aims and Objectives: The purposes of this study were to report the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency, the spectrum of clinical features and to draw attention to the possibility of rare hidden characteristics. Materials and Methods: This study was a multicenter, retrospective, and prospective conducted at a tertiary care teaching hospital and multispecialty hospital. All cases of vitamin B12 deficiency of either sex or age attending the Medicine Department were enrolled in this study from Aug 2015 to Dec 2020. Parenteral vitamin B12 was given, and cases were evaluated for the response on follow-up for more than three months. Results: Of 220 cases, 52.27% were males. Maximum cases were reported from the age group 50 to 65 years (27.27%) and belonged to urban areas (59.1%). The majority were strict vegetarian (86.36%). Among comorbidities, diabetes (20.91%) followed by malabsorption (10.45%) were most common. The cutaneous manifestations were revealed at 38.18%. The most frequent neurological manifestation was paraesthesia (98.18%). Head heaviness/ache was the most frequent (95%) psychiatric manifestation. Anemia was revealed in 87.73% of cases with 88.64% macrocytosis. Axonal sensorimotor (52.63%) neuropathy was a prevalent finding of NCV study. Conclusions: A high index of clinical suspicion is needed in cases with vague manifestations, especially in the pure vegetarian population. Early recognition can prevent further damage as most of its related disorders are generally reversible with treatment.
Selective Inhibition of Murine Cytomegalovirus Viral Gene Expression by the Antiviral Peptide TAT-I24

The effect of the antiviral peptide TAT-I24 on viral gene expression in cells infected with murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) was investigated. The expression of immediate-early, early and late genes was highly induced upon infection with MCMV. In the presence of the peptide, the expression of all tested genes was sustainably reduced to a similar extent, independent of whether they were immediate-early, early or late genes. In contrast, the expression of host genes, such as NF-κB inhibitor alpha (Nfkbia), interferon-induced protein with tetratricopeptide repeats 1 (Ifit1), chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 10 (Cxcl10), chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 7 (Ccl7) and chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 5 (Ccl5), which are induced early upon virus infection, was only transiently suppressed in peptide-treated cells. The expression of other host genes which are affected by MCMV infection and play a role in endoplasmic reticulum stress or DNA-damage repair was not inhibited by the peptide. A combination of TAT-I24 with the nucleoside analogue cidofovir showed enhancement of the antiviral effect, demonstrating that viral replication can be more efficiently inhibited with a combination of drugs acting at different stages of the viral life-cycle.
Lessons learned from adapting a quantitative to an emergent mixed methods research design in Pakistan during COVID-19

ABSTRACT This article delineates the process through which a quantitative study in the context of Pakistan was adapted into emergent mixed methods research due to COVID-19-related complexities. The in-process data collection was halted abruptly as schools were closed and lockdowns were imposed across Pakistan in the early 2020s due to COVID-19. In response, the quantitative research design was adapted to adjust the research design by adding further research questions and introducing qualitative interviews. COVID-19 increased the complexity in the research context. We argue that mixed methods offer adaptive approaches in disruptive situations which help to deal with the complexities. The paper further suggests that disruption during research occurs in various forms and adaptive procedures should be described as part of the research rather than ignoring them. This article provides a practical example for researchers on using adaptive approaches to mixed methods in a developing country context where the possibilities of disruptions are more rampant.
Road Intersection Coordination Scheme for Mixed Traffic (Human Driven and Driver-Less Vehicles): A Systematic Review

Autonomous vehicles (AVs) are emerging with enormous potentials to solve many challenging road traffic problems. The AV emergence leads to a paradigm shift in the road traffic system, making the penetration of autonomous vehicles fast and its coexistence with human-driven cars inevitable. The migration from the traditional driving to the intelligent driving system with AV’s gradual deployment needs supporting technology to address mixed traffic systems problems, mixed driving behaviour in a car-following model, variation in-vehicle type control means, the impact of a proportion of AV in traffic mixed traffic, and many more. The migration to fully AV will solve many traffic problems: desire to reclaim travel and commuting time, driving comfort, and accident reduction. Motivated by the above facts, this paper presents an extensive review of road intersection mixed traffic management techniques with a classification matrix of different traffic management strategies and technologies that could effectively describe a mix of human and autonomous vehicles. It explores the existing traffic control strategies and analyses their compatibility in a mixed traffic environment. Then review their drawback and build on it for the proposed robust mix of traffic management schemes. Though many traffic control strategies have been in existence, the analysis presented in this paper gives new insights to the readers on the applications of the cell reservation strategy in a mixed traffic environment. Though many traffic control strategies have been in existence, the Gipp’s car-following model has shown to be very effective for optimal traffic flow performance.
The development of learning video media on sequence and series materials

This research aims to produce a video media product for learning the material of sequences and series for class XI students that is valid, practical, and has potential effects. The method used in this research is the research and development method with the ADDIE development procedure, which consists of five stages, namely: 1) Analysis, 2) Design, 3) Development, 4) Implementation, and 5) Evaluation. The instruments used to obtain research data are in the form of expert validation questionnaires, student response questionnaires, and test sheets. The results of the assessment from the experts obtained a percentage score of 84.81% so that the learning video was declared "Valid". The results of the student response questionnaire obtained a percentage score of 92.70% with the "Very Practical" category. Student test results after using the learning video obtained a percentage of learning completeness of 81.25% with the criteria "Very High" so that the learning video is declared to have a potential effect and is suitable for use in the learning process.
Case Report: Neonatal Urinary Ascites Without Hydronephrosis: A Rare Case of Anterior Urethral Valve and Diverticulum in Preterm Newborn

The deformation of congenital obstruction of the anterior urethra is rare in male infants. The anterior urethral valve (AUV) and diverticulum are not common causes of distal urethral obstruction, which may be significant but difficult to diagnose in time. We describe a premature infant who was diagnosed with AUV as part of a diverticulum in the anterior urethra and was presented as massive urinary ascites without hydroureters and hydronephrosis. After indwelling abdominal tube and urinary catheterization, the infant’s massive ascites were resolved, while urethral obstruction had successful treatment by Holmium laser. We suggest that the presence of urinary ascites in fetuses and neonates should be considered as a warning against urinary malformations.
Identifying the Benefits and Challenges of Digital Technology and Online Learning

Online learning, an internet-based learning, is also termed as e-learning which takes place in virtual environment. It has been possible due to the digital technology. It has become more influential in the recent years. We have not only been benefitted from this learning, but we have also undergone with its potent challenges. The principal objective of this research article is to identify the benefits and challenges of digital technology and online learning. This article is based on the qualitative research in which secondary data were basically taken from different journal articles. It is a review article prepared by going through the journal articles based on the digital technology and online learning. This article winds up with the conflicting remarks regarding the use of digital technology employed in online learning. Overcoming the challenges and difficulties of digitalization will undoubtedly result in learning efficiently.
The Properties of Interlocking Directorates in the Philippines: An Exploratory Analysis

Governance has become an increasingly important factor in the investment decisions of firms and investors. Thus, it is important to determine the quality and composition of corporate boards, which are vital overseers who act in the best interests of shareholders to improve and strengthen them. While interlocking directorates are not a recent occurrence in the Philippines, updated literature on the structure of the country’s board interlock network is sparse. Thus, this study provides a baseline snapshot by analyzing all 251 publicly-listed companies on the Philippine Stock Exchange at the director and board levels. More so, the study utilizes social network analysis tools to describe the properties of interlocking directorates and visually maps out the social network that underpins these relationships. It reveals that the board network is extensive, with almost 90% of firms connected, thanks to a handful of key directors who have high degrees of connectivity.
Clustering longitudinal data using R: A Monte Carlo Study

The analysis of change within subjects over time is an ever more important research topic. Besides modelling the individual trajectories, a related aim is to identify clusters of subjects within these trajectories. Various methods for analyzing these longitudinal trajectories have been proposed. In this paper we investigate the performance of three different methods under various conditions in a Monte Carlo study. The first method is based on the non-parametric k-means algorithm. The second is a latent class mixture model, and the third a method based on the analysis of change indices. All methods are available in R. Results show that the k-means method performs consistently well in recovering the known clustering structure. The mixture model method performs reasonably well, but the change indices method has problems with smaller data sets.
Evaluation of the Feasibility of Endothelial Colony-Forming Cells to Develop Tissue-Engineered Vascular Grafts Based on the Gene Expression Profile Analysis

The aim of the study was to assess the suitability of endothelial colony-forming cells in the development of tissue engineering constructs based on the study of the gene expression profile compared to mature endothelial cells. Materials and Methods In the experiment, we used the endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFC) obtained from the peripheral blood of patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention. The cells were isolated on a Histopaque 1077 density gradient (Sigma-Aldrich, USA), and then cultured in EGM-2MV culture medium (Lonza, Switzerland). A commercial culture of primary human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAEC) was used as a control. The cells were unfrozen and cultured according to the manufacturer’s recommendations in MesoEndo Cell Growth Medium (Cell Applications, USA). The experiment was carried out in specialized μ-Luer plates in the perfusion system (IBIDI, Germany), which provided a continuous unidirectional flow of the culture medium with a shear stress of 5 dyn/cm2. Control plates were cultured under standard conditions for a similar period of time. Total RNA was isolated from cell samples. The expression of the genes NOTCH4, NRP2, PLAT, PLAU, NOTCH1, FLT1, COL4A2, CD34, SERPINE1, HEY2, MKI67, KLF4, LYVE1, FLT4 was assessed using a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The expression of the genes was calculated by the ΔCt method and expressed on a logarithmic (log10) scale as a fold change relating to the control samples. Results In mature endothelial cells HCAEC when exposed to a laminar flow, only the transcription factor KLF4 and venous differentiation NRP2 marker values increased significantly. ECFC showed statistically significant growth in KLF4, NRP2, CD34, and LYVE1, as well as PLAU expression decrease. In addition, we observed the overexpression of FLT4, LYVE1, NOTCH4, and NRP2 in ECFC in relation to HCAEC and HEY2 hypoexpression. CD34 overexpression characteristic of progenitor cells was also found. An increase in COL4A2 expression associated with type IV collagen synthesis was a characteristic feature of ECFC. Conclusion The gene expression profile of endothelial colony-forming cells is quite close to that of primary endothelial cells of the human coronary artery, and thus, the cells obtained from patients’ peripheral blood can be used to develop personalized tissue-engineered constructs.
A Numerical Study into the Effect of Machining on the Interaction between Surface Roughness and Surface Breaking Defects on the Durability of WAAM Ti-6Al-4V Parts

The airworthiness certification of military aircraft requires a durability analysis be performed using linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM). Furthermore, such analyses need to use a valid small crack growth equation. This paper focuses on the effect of rough surfaces and the effect of machining the surface on the durability of AM parts using LEFM and a valid small crack growth equation for the material. To this end, this paper analyses the effect of surface roughness on wire and arc additively manufactured (WAAM) Ti-6Al-4V titanium parts and the effect of machining on the durability of a part. The analysis reveals that the life of the component is a relatively strong function of the degree of surface roughness, and that the durability of a specimen is a strong function of the local radius of the curvature of the trough. It also appears that surfaces with tall narrow roughness will not overly benefit from partial machining of the surface.
The effect of motor and functional independence of disabled children on musculoskeletal disorders in pediatric caregivers: A cross-sectional study

Background/Aim: There are conflicting results regarding the effect of motor and functional independence levels of disabled children on the burden of care. In addition, this burden, as well as musculoskeletal problems of pediatric caregivers, has not been examined in detail. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of motor and functional levels of the disabled child. Methods: The study was planned as a single-blind, multicenter, cross-sectional study. Children between ages 1-12 with physical disabilities from various problems, and 65 caregivers over the age of 18 who cared for them for at least 6 months, were included. Caregivers were divided into two groups, as per the BAKAS Caregiver Impact Scale score as high care burden (n = 33) or low care burden (n = 32). The motor level of the disabled child was determined by the Gross Motor Function Classification System, and the functional level of the Pediatric Functional Independence Measurement. The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire was used to evaluate musculoskeletal problems in caregivers. Results: There was no significant difference between the Gross Motor Function Classification System levels of children in groups (P > 0.05). The Pediatric Functional Independence Measurement scores of children in the high care burden group were significantly lower than those in the low care burden group (P < 0.05). According to a comparison of pain in parts of the body for 12 months, using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, the percentage of pain in the neck, shoulder, back, elbow, hand, hip, and foot regions of caregivers was significantly higher in the group with a high care burden (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between percent of low back and knee pain in the last 12 months (P > 0.05). A weak positive correlation was found between the BAKAS Caregiver Impact scores and the Pediatric Functional Independence Measurement of children with disabilities (r = 0.26; P = 0.03). Conclusion: The lower functional level of the disabled child may cause an increase in caregiver burden of both the caregivers and musculoskeletal disorders.