Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Clinical Features and Risk Factors of Active Tuberculosis in Patients with Behçet's Disease

To investigate the clinical features and potential risk factors of active tuberculosis (ATB) in Behçet's disease (BD), we conducted a case-control study on hospitalized BD patients in our institute from 2010 to 2019. BD patients with ATB were enrolled as the case group. The control group was selected by random number sampling from the remaining BD patients, including those with latent tuberculosis infection, previous tuberculosis, or without tuberculosis. Finally, we reviewed 386 BD patients and identified 21 (5.4%) ATB cases, including four (19.0%) microbiologically confirmed and 17 (81.0%) clinically diagnosed. We found that BD patients with ATB were more prone to have systemic symptoms (fever, night sweating, and unexplained weight loss) and/or symptoms related to the infection site. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) > 60 mm/h (OR = 13.710, 95% CI (1.101, 170.702)), increased IgG (OR = 1.226, 95% CI (1.001, 1.502)), and positive T-SPOT.TB (OR = 7.793, 95% CI (1.312, 48.464), for 24-200 SFC/106PBMC; OR = 17.705 95% CI (2.503, 125.260), for >200 SFC/106PBMC) were potential risk factors for ATB in BD patients. Our study suggested that when BD patients have systemic symptoms with significantly elevated TB-SPOT, the diagnosis of ATB should be considered.
Correlation of Water Exchange Rate with Isomeric Composition in Diastereoisomeric Gadolinium Complexes of Tetra(carboxyethyl)dota and Related Macrocyclic Ligands

The solution structure and dynamics of metal-bound water exchange have been studied in a series of diastereoisomeric gadolinium complexes of tetra(carboxyethyl) derivatives of 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclodecane. The structures of the (RRRS), (RSRS), and (RRSS) ligands and the Eu, Gd, and Tb complexes of the (RRRR) isomer have been determined by X-ray crystallography. Luminescence measurements on the Eu and Tb complexes revealed an integral hydration state (q = 1) in each case for the Eu isomers, whereas nonintegral values were measured for the (RRRR) and (RRRS) Tb isomers (e.g., [(RRRR)-Tb·1]-, q = 0.60). The ratio of the twisted and regular monocapped square antiprismatic isomers has been measured in solution by 1H NMR for the Eu and Tb complexes and followed the order, (RRRR) > (RRRS) > (RSRS) > (RRSS). Water exchange rates in the gadolinium complexe have been determined by 17O NMR and were fastest for the (RRRR) isomer [τm = 68 ns (298 K)] and correlated very well with the proportion of the twisted square an.
A Review of the Mechanism of Action of Cyclosporine A: The Role of Cyclosporine A in Dry Eye Disease and Recent Formulation Developments

Abstract Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial disease of the ocular surface and tear film that has gained awareness as a public health problem. Characteristics of DED include tear film instability, hyperosmolarity, and ocular surface inflammation, which can occur independently or may be a sequela of numerous ocular diseases, ocular surgery or contact lens wear. Much has been learned about the impact of the disease to help affected individuals who report symptoms of poor vision, pain, and tearing. Recently, new research highlights the importance of the role of ocular surface inflammation and damage in DED—leading to a vicious cycle of inflammation as well as loss of tear film homeostasis. DED immunopathophysiology is characterized by four stages: initiation, amplification, recruitment, and re-initiation. Cyclosporine is proven to be a valuable ophthalmic therapeutic for DED through its immunomodulatory actions and regulation of the adaptive immune response. Cyclosporine mechanism of action is well described in the published literature and the myriad of benefits in all four stages lend a broad-based immunomodulatory function particularly suitable for addressing DED. Furthermore, cyclosporine has unique goblet cell density improvement capabilities as well as anti-apoptotic properties. Topical formulations of cyclosporine are centered around addressing the highly lipophilic nature of the molecule. The poor aqueous solubility of cyclosporine traditionally presented technical challenges in drug delivery to the ocular surface. Newer formulations such as cationic emulsions and nanomicellar aqueous solutions address formulation, tissue concentration, and drug delivery challenges.
Cangfudaotan Decoction Alleviates Insulin Resistance and Improves Follicular Development in Rats with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome via IGF-1-PI3K/Akt-Bax/Bcl-2 Pathway

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine and metabolic disorder prevalent in females of reproductive age; insulin resistance (IR) is the major pathogenic driver. Pharmacology is a basic option for PCOS therapy; traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), as a significant part of complementary and alternative medicine, has a long history in the clinical management of PCOS. Cangfudaotan decoction (CFD) has been used clinically for gynaecological diseases especially PCOS. In this study, first, chemical components in CFD were clarified using UPLC-Q/TOF-MS analysis. Then, an animal model of PCOS was established, granular cells were also isolated from the rats with PCOS, and CFD was administrated at different dosages in PCOS rats and granular cells, to investigate the therapeutic effect and mechanisms of CFD for PCOS treatment. The result showed that CFD treatment is effective in PCOS rats and granulosa cells. CFD was able to improve IR, restore the serum hormone levels, inhibit the inflammatory cytokines in PCOS rat, and alleviate ovary morphological injury and apoptosis in PCOS rats. In granulosa cells of PCOS, the result showed that the cell viability was improved, and cell apoptosis was inhibited after CFD administration. Further experiments suggested that CDF improves IR, follicular development, cell apoptosis, and inflammatory microenvironment, and this was associated to the regulation of IGF-1-PI3K/Akt-Bax/Bcl-2 pathway-mediated gene expression. Given that CFD sufficiently suppresses insulin resistance and improves follicular development in this study, exploring these mechanisms might help to optimize the therapeutic treatment of CFD in PCOS patients.
The structure of sodium silicate glass

Atomistic scale computer simulations can provide a more detailed understanding of the structure of glasses. Our results on sodium silicate glasses show that sodium ions are associated with nonbridging oxygens and that the sodium ions and nonbridging oxygens tend to aggregate to form silica rich regions and alkali rich regions. Interatomic distances of our simulated glasses are in good agreement with experimental results. O–Si–O bond angles are centered around 109° with narrow distributions. Si–O–Si bond angles are broadly distributed from 120° to 180° with an average of about 153°.
The erodibility of two soils from Kenya.

Summary A portable rainfall simulator was used to measure the runoff rates and soil losses from a freshly ploughed luvisol at Katumani, and a nitosol at Kabete, on a 6° slope at varying rainfall intensities. The soil losses from storms of 50 and 100 mm/h intensities, in which a total of SO mm rain was applied to plots in the wet moisture state, varied from 0.8 to 1.4 metric tons/ha at Kabete and 8.5 to 13.9 metric tons/ha at Katumani. The percentage runoff from these storms was 15 to 17 per cent at Kabete and 67 to 71 per cent at Katumani. The much greater runoff rates from the Katumani soils were shown to be due to surface capping caused by degradation of the surface structure. It has been proposed that soil credibility K factors of 0.4 and 0.04 could be used for the Katumani and Kabete soils respectively in the Universal Soil Loss Equation
The Relationship Between Serum VCAM-1 and Alzheimer’s Disease in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Background Previous studies have reported that diabetes mellitus (DM) is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) plays an important role in the pathological process of atherosclerosis. The aim was to elucidate the relationship between serum VCAM-1 and early AD in DM patients. Methods Serum samples for VCAM-1 were tested in 208 DM patients. All included DM patients were followed up for a median of 36 months prospectively. The prognostic value of serum VCAM-1 for predicting AD events was analyzed by using Cox proportional hazard. Results Serum VCAM-1 was independently associated with AD history after adjusting for related confounding factors in patients with DM at baseline by using the logistic regression analysis (OR=1.861; 95% CI, 1.435–2.539; Ptrend=0.020). The Cox proportional hazard model suggested that VCAM-1 was a prognostic factor for AD events in the DM patients (HR=2.728; 95% CI, 1.785–5.439; Ptrend<0.001). Stratified analysis showed that the significant association between AD event and serum VCAM-1 in DM patients was not affective by CVD history. Conclusion Our results showed that higher VCAM-1 levels were significantly related to a higher risk of AD events in DM patients. The serum biomarker might be beneficial to predict AD early. Serum VCAM-1 might be a good biochemical parameter for predicting AD in DM.
High Hidden Burden of Diabetes Mellitus among Adults Aged 18 Years and Above in Urban Northwest Ethiopia

Background Ethiopia is one of the sub-Saharan African countries with a rapidly increasing burden of diabetes mellitus (DM). There is limited updated information about the community-based burden of the disease and its associated factors in Ethiopia which is very crucial to plan effective prevention and control measures against the disease. This study is aimed at determining the burden of DM and its associated factors in urban northwest Ethiopia. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April to May 2019 among residents aged ≥ 18 years in Gondar town and urban kebeles (lowest administrative units of the country) of Health and Demographic Surveillance System site (HDSS) in Dabat district. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 773 participants. World Health Organization (WHO) stepwise approach for noncommunicable disease surveillance was used to collect the data. Fasting blood glucose (FBS) ≥ 126 mg/dl was used to diagnose DM. Descriptive statistics were done to describe the variables of the study. Prevalence with its 95% confidence interval (CI) was estimated. Binary logistic regression model was fitted, variables with p value < 0.05 were considered to have a significant association with the outcome, and odds ratio (OR) was used to measure the strength of association. Result Of the total participants, 6.34% (95% CI; 4.82, 8.29) were found to be diabetic. Of these, 40 (81.6%) were newly diagnosed. Besides, the prevalence of prediabetes was 9.31% (95% CI: 7.45, 11.58). Increased age (AOR = 1.06, 95% CI; 1.04, 1.09) and eating vegetables one to three days per week (AOR =0.29, 95% CI; 0.13, 0.65) were significantly associated with diabetes. Conclusion The overall prevalence of DM is a bit higher than the national estimate, while the proportion of undiagnosed DM which can easily progress to disabling and life-threatening complications was alarmingly high. Age and frequency of eating vegetables per week were associated with diabetes. In light of this finding, future prevention and control measures against the diseases should consider the identified factors. There should also be improved access to screening services.
Traditional plants as source of functional foods: a review Plantas tradicionales como fuente de alimentos funcionales: una revisión

The aim of this work was to assess the following plants as functional foods that can be found in Mexico: white sapote (Casimiroa edulis), jicama (Pachyrhizus spp.), amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus), sweet fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), oregano (Lippia graveolens), pitahaya (Hylocereus sp.), agave (Agave americana), pelitre (Heliopsis longipes), and purslane (Portulaca oleracea L). The main characteristics, components and active substances, forms of use in traditional medicine, nutritional properties, evaluation of biological assays, and the potential possibilities of research with the plants and/or extracts were reviewed.
Evaluation of carbon and nitrogen mineralization rates in meadow soils from dairy farms under transit to biological cropping systems

Mineralized soil N from meadow soils will become an important source of N to following crops in low-input biological cropping systems. The C and N mineralization rates of soils from 34 sites situated on dairy farms recently converted to biological cropping systems were evaluated in a 56-wk incubation at 25° C. Data on C and N mineralization were fitted to first-order kinetic models. Carbon and N generally presented similar patterns of mineralization. Total mineralized N (Nm) ranged between 88 and 235 mg N kg-1 soil, which represented 6.6 to 22% of total N. Carbon mineralization (Cm) rate was between 11 and 17 times greater than N mineralization (1523–2638 mg C kg-1 soil ) and C mineralized represented 9 to 19% of soil organic C. The rate constant was between 0.05 and 0.123 wk-1 for C (kC) and ranged from 0.032 to 0.088 wk-1 for N (kN). The half-life for C (TC0) and for N (TN0) varied, respectively, between 5.6 and 13.3 wk and between 15 and 28 wk. Results show that about 80% of total mineralized C and N w.
Time to Relapse and Its Predictors among Children with Nephrotic Syndrome in Comprehensive Specialized Hospitals, Tigray, Ethiopia, 2019

Background Relapse in children with nephrotic syndrome leads to a variety of complications due to prolonged treatment and potential dependency on steroids. However, there is no study conducted to determine the incidence and predictive factors of relapse for nephrotic syndrome in Ethiopia, especially in children. Thus, this study aimed to assess the incidence of relapse and its predictors among children with nephrotic syndrome in Ethiopia. Methods A retrospective study was conducted by reviewing all charts of children with an initial diagnosis of the nephrotic syndrome in tertiary hospitals from 2011 to 2018. Charts of children with a diagnosis of steroid-resistant cases were excluded. The extraction tool was used for data collection, Epi-data manager V-4.4. 2 for data entry, and Stata V-14 for cleaning and analysis. Kaplan-Meier curve, log-rank test, life table, and crude hazard ratios were used to describe the data and adjusted hazard ratios with 95% CI and P value for analysis. Median relapse time, incidence rate of relapse, and cumulative relapse probabilities at a certain time interval were computed. Bivariable and multivariate analyses were performed using the Cox proportional hazard regression to identify the factors associated with relapse. Any variable at P < 0.25 in the bivariable analysis was transferred to multivariate analysis. Then, the adjusted hazard ratio with 95% CI and P ≤ 0.05 was used to report the association and to test the statistical significance, respectively. Finally, texts, tables, and graphs were used to present the results. Results and Conclusion. Majority, 64.5% (40/66), of relapses were recorded in the first 12 months of follow-up. The incidence rate of relapse was 42.6 per 1000 child-month-observations with an overall 1454 child-month-observations and the median relapse time of 16 months. Having undernutrition [AHR = 3.44; 95% CI 1.78-6.65], elevated triglyceride [AHR = 3.37; 95% CI 1.04-10.90], decreased serum albumin level [AHR = 3.51; 95% CI 1.81-6.80], and rural residence [AHR = 4.00; 95% CI 1.49-10.76] increased the hazard of relapse. Conclusion and Recommendation. Relapse was higher in the first year of the follow-up period. Undernutrition, hypoalbuminemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and being from rural areas were independent predictors of relapse. A focused evaluation of those predictors during the initial diagnosis of the disease is compulsory.
Spectroscopy Methods and Applications of the Tor Vergata Laser-Plasma Facility Driven by GW-Level Laser System

A review focused on plasma induced on solid target by GW-level pulsed laser source is presented. A description of the Tor Vergata laser-plasma source (TVLPS), at the Tor Vergata University in Rome, is given. Such a facility uses a 1 GW, tabletop, multistage Nd:YAG/Glass laser system, delivering infrared (IR) pulses with nanosecond width and 1064 nm wavelength (TEM00 mode). Its applications are discussed providing: wide analysis of IR → soft X-ray conversion efficiency (1.3–1.55 keV); measures and modeling of line emission in soft X-ray spectra, such as those from zinc plasma near Ne-like Zn XXI and from barium plasma near Ni-like Ba XXIX. Particular attention is devoted to high-n dielectronic Rydberg satellites for finding a useful diagnostic tool for plasma conditions. Dependence of plasma spectra on laser parameters is shown. Finally, microradiography applications are presented for thin biological samples. Images permit to visualize specific structures and detect bioaccumulation sites due to contamination from pollutants.
Ligated boryl radicals. Part 2. Electron spin resonance studies of trialkylamin–boryl radicals

Transient amine–boryl radicals R3N → ḂH2(1) have been generated in solution by hydrogen-atom abstraction from a variety of amine–borane complexes R3N → BH3, and studied by e.s. r. spectroscopy. The e.s. r. spectrum of (1; R = Me), and not of [Me3N → BH3]–˙ as previously proposed, is also detected after γ-irradiation of polycrystalline Me3N → BH3 at 77 K. The hyperfine splitting constants for (1) indicate a pyramidal arrangement of ligands about the boron centre, in contrast to the effectively planar geometry at the radical centre in isoelectronic primary alkyl radicals. In solution, (1; R = Et) rapidly abstracts halogen from alkyl bromides and less readily from alkyl chlorides; at 246 K ButBr is only 1.2 times more reactive than PrnBr. The radical (1; R = Et) adds to MeCN to give an iminyl radical and displaces a methyl radical from MeNC; it fails to add to ethylene, but adds readily to the more electron-deficient double bond in trimethyl(vinyl) silane. Amine–boryls undergo β-scission much more readily than their isoelectronic alkyl radical counterparts; this difference is attributable to the greater exothermicity of the former cleavage. The aziridine– and azetidine–boryl radicals undergo rapid ring opening; C–N cleavage in the cis-isomer of the 2-methylaziridine–boryl radical gives mainly the secondary alkyl radical, while the trans-isomer gives mainly the less stable primary alkyl radical. Substituted but-3-enylamine–boryl radicals, analogues of the hex-5-enyl radical, undergo regioselective 1,5-exo-cyclisation to give analogues of cyclopentylmethyl. Relative rates of β-scission and cyclisation of amine-boryl radicals have been determined in competition with their abstraction of bromine from ethyl bromide.
Nanosecond Repetitively Pulsed Discharges in Atmospheric Pressure Air

Nanosecond Repetitively Pulsed (NRP) discharges in atmospheric pressure air have many potential applications. Spark NRP discharges have applications in plasma assisted combustion. These discharges tend to stabilize lean flames which produce less NOx. Furthermore, an increase of several hundreds of Kelvins in less than 20 ns has been observed following NRP spark discharges, which could be used to create nanomaterials. NRP glow discharges, while creating an important number of actives species such as atomic oxygen, do not heat the ambient gas, which allows them to be used in temperature-sensitive applications such as bio-decontamination. In the first part of this thesis, we validate experimentally the mechanism that was proposed to explain the ultrafast heating observed. Time-resolved measurements of the absolute densities of two excited states of nitrogen and of the gas temperature have been performed with calibrated Optical Emission Spectroscopy. The second part of the thesis deals with the NRP glow regime. We have shown that its existence depends on several parameters, gas temperature and pressure, voltage across the electrodes, inter-electrode distance, pulse duration, radius of curvature of the electrodes. This regime had not been observed for temperatures lower than 750 K so far. Thanks to a detailed parametrical experimental study and the analysis of the obtained results, we have succeeded in identifying the NRP glow regime at ambient temperature and we observe a new type of “multi-channel” glow regime.
Effect of phosphorus and plant growth regulators on growth and yield of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.)

A field experiment was conducted at Mandsaur (Madhya Pradesh) to find out the effect ofphosphorus and plant growth regulators on growth and yield of fenugreek (Trigonellafoenum-graecum). The results indicated that significantly higher growth and yield (17.62 qha-1) were observed with application of 60 kg phosphorus ha-1. Foliar spray of naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) 20 ppm at 25 days after sowing (DAS) and 55 DAS resulted in significantlyhigher growth and seed yield (17.41 q ha-1). The highest benefit : cost ratio (4.20:1) wasobserved for the treatment, 60 kg phosphorus ha-1 + NAA 20 ppm.
SILVER ION HPLC FOR THE ANALYSIS OF POSITIONALLY ISOMERIC FATTY ACIDS

ABSTRACT The utilization of silver ion HPLC is evaluated for the resolution of positionally isomeric monoenoic and polyenoic fatty acids. The impact of the fatty acid derivative on the resolution is discussed and the advantage of using specified aromatic derivatives is demonstrated. Emphasized, are the achievements in the separation of octadecenoates in partially hydrogenated oils and of octadecadienoates with conjugated double bonds in tissues and pharmaceutical products.
Dielectric Relaxation in Monohydroxy Alcohols and Its Connection to the Glass Transition Process

The nature of dielectric relaxation is studied in a number of supercooled monohydroxy alcohols in the frequency range (106−10-3 Hz) at temperatures above 77 K. Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) measurements are also carried out on all the alcohols above 100 K. The temperature dependence of the relaxation rates and the spectral characteristic of the main relaxation process are critically examined both above and near the glass transition temperature Tg. The measurements clearly indicate that the relaxation rates in the high-viscosity regime are non-Arrhenius down to Tg in all the samples and also in most of the cases the dielectric relaxation rate is found to approach the structural relaxation rate in the vicinity of Tg. In the monohydroxy alcohols where the −OH group is easily accessible for hydrogen bonding, the spectral character is nearly Debye down to Tg. In alcohols, where the −OH group is relatively inaccessible for hydrogen bonding, the spectral half-width is significantly higher than that of .
Distribution of nickel fractions in forest luvisols in the south Podlasie lowland.

Sequential extraction methods enable identification of chemical fractions of heavy metals in soil environment as well as evaluation of their availability and potential toxicity to biotic elements of a trophic chain. The study aimed at separating nickel fractions from particular genetic horizons of forest Luvisols by means of three sequential extraction methods (modified Tessier’s, Zeien and Brummer’s as well as Hedley’s with Tiessen and Moir’s modifications methods), and to compare the metal content in four fractions: easily soluble, exchangeable, organic, and residual, along with their distribution within studied soils’ profiles. Nickel concentrations in the examined fractions varied: the largest amounts of the heavy metal (regardless of the analytical procedure applied) were found in residual fraction Fresid (mineral horizons) and organic fraction Forg (forest litter horizons – Ol), while the smallest ones occurred in easily soluble fraction F1 (all genetic horizons). Statistical processing revealed significant dependences between the four nickel fractions as well as between the fractions and selected properties of analyzed soils (except soil pH and total nickel content Ni t ).