Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Current Evidence of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Use in the Treatment of Tendon Disorders: A Systematic Review, Meta-analysis, and Meta-regression of Prospective Clinical Studies

Purpose Although several studies with animals have reported the effects of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for tendon regeneration, little is known about the efficacy and safety of MSCs in human tendon disorders. We performed this meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of MSC therapy in patients with tendon disorders enrolled in prospective clinical studies. Methods We systematically searched prospective clinical studies investigating the effects of MSCs administration on human tendon disorders with at least a 6-month follow-up period on PubMed-Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases. The primary outcome of interest was the change in pain on motion related to tendon disorders. We performed a pairwise meta-analysis using the fixed-effects model to assess treatment response, which was calculated by the standardized mean difference. Meta-regression analyses were performed to assess the relationship between MSCs dose and pooled effect sizes in each cell dose. Results Four prospective clinical trials investigating the effect of MSCs on tendon disorders were retrieved. MSCs showed significant pooled effect size (overall Hedge’s g pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) = 1.868; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.274–2.462; P < 0.001). The treatment with MSCs improved all the aspects analyzed, i.e. pain, functional scores, radiologic parameters (magnetic resonance image or ultrasonography), and arthroscopic findings. In the meta-regression analysis, there was a significant cell dose-dependent response in pain relief (Q = 9.06, P = 0.029). While three studies reported mild adverse events after MSCs injection, these were not severe and relieved spontaneously. Conclusions Our meta-analysis revealed that MSC therapy may improve pain, function, radiologic, and arthroscopic parameters in patients with tendon disorders. Due to the small number of studies in this meta-analysis and considering the increasing MSCs applications, there is a strong need for large-scale randomized controlled trials to confirm the long-term functional improvement as well as the adverse effects of MSC therapies in tendon disorders.
Lymphatic filariasis in 2016 in American Samoa: Identifying clustering and hotspots using non-spatial and three spatial analytical methods

Background American Samoa completed seven rounds of mass drug administration from 2000–2006 as part of the Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (LF). However, resurgence was confirmed in 2016 through WHO-recommended school-based transmission assessment survey and a community-based survey. This paper uses data from the 2016 community survey to compare different spatial and non-spatial methods to characterise clustering and hotspots of LF. Method Non-spatial clustering of infection markers (antigen [Ag], microfilaraemia [Mf], and antibodies (Ab [Wb123, Bm14, Bm33]) was assessed using intra-cluster correlation coefficients (ICC) at household and village levels. Spatial dependence, clustering and hotspots were examined using semivariograms, Kulldorf’s scan statistic and Getis-Ord Gi* statistics based on locations of surveyed households. Results The survey included 2671 persons (750 households, 730 unique locations in 30 villages). ICCs were higher at household (0.20–0.69) than village levels (0.10–0.30) for all infection markers. Semivariograms identified significant spatial dependency for all markers (range 207–562 metres). Using Kulldorff’s scan statistic, significant spatial clustering was observed in two previously known locations of ongoing transmission: for all markers in Fagali’i and all Abs in Vaitogi. Getis-Ord Gi* statistic identified hotspots of all markers in Fagali’i, Vaitogi, and Pago Pago-Anua areas. A hotspot of Ag and Wb123 Ab was identified around the villages of Nua-Seetaga-Asili. Bm14 and Bm33 Ab hotspots were seen in Maleimi and Vaitogi-Ili’ili-Tafuna. Conclusion Our study demonstrated the utility of different non-spatial and spatial methods for investigating clustering and hotspots, the benefits of using multiple infection markers, and the value of triangulating results between methods.
Effects of pH on Foam Formation by Whipping in Spray-Dried Egg White Dispersion

Three types of spray-dried egg white powders, of which dispersion in water showed pH of 7.4 (EW7.4), 8.4 (EW8.4) and 10 (EW10), respectively, were adjusted to pH 4.0, 7.4 and 9.0. The obtained egg white dispersions were separately whipped to afford foams similar to meringue. Foaminess (specific volume) was highest at pH 4.0 for EW8.4 and EW10, but lowest for EW7.4. From stress–strain curves, three parameters (maximum stress, breakdown and apparent elasticity) were calculated and compared among pH levels adjusted just before whipping. All parameters were lowest at pH 4.0 and showed inhibited foam formation in contrast with foaminess. Thus, EW7.4-whipped foam showed a different pH-dependency from EW8.4 and EW10. On sodium dodecyl sulfatepolyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of insoluble fractions derived from whipped foams, lysozyme was washed out by KCl solution for EW7.4, differing from EW8.4 and EW10, in which lysozyme remained in the insoluble fraction after washing with KCl or water. From the above results, pH adjustment for egg white before spray drying is considered to modify the interaction between egg proteins and to change the physical properties of whipped foam.
Optimization of extraction process and characterization of water-soluble polysaccharide (Galactomannan) from Algerian biomass; Citrullus colocynthis seeds

ABSTRACT In this work, the optimization of extraction of polysaccharides from Citrullus colocynthis curd polysaccharides (CCPs) is investigated by using the analysis of variance. For this aim, a chemical extraction method has been developed in order to be able to isolate CCPs at high level of purity. The extraction was performed by using boiling water at different extraction times (30, 60 and 120 min), extraction temperatures (50, 75 and 100°C), and a material ratio (30, 60 and 100 g/ml), for maximum polysaccharide extraction. The 3-D response surface plot and the contour plot derived from the mathematical models are used to determine the optimal conditions. The optimum extraction conditions are as follows: extraction temperature 100°C, extraction time 120 min and the ratio of water 30 ml/g. Under these conditions, the experimental final mass is 210.6 mg which is very close to the predicted value (209.46 mg) with a regression coefficient of 94.01%. In addition, the existence of the polysaccharide has been confirmed by the characterization of the galactomannan obtained from C. colocynthisis obtained by Fourier transform infrared-attenuated total reflection, IR-Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction.
Exploring the Potential of Antibody Mimetics for Detecting Environmental Contaminants

Over the past 15-20 years, there has been growing interest and concern from the scientific and regulatory communities over the potential risks of emerging environmental contaminants (ECs). State-of-the-art techniques used for monitoring ECs do not provide the high spatial and temporal resolution measurements required to better understand and mitigate the risks. Immunoassays, which use antibodies to detect a target compound with high affinity, specificity and selectivity, partly address these limitations. However, the use of antibodies for the detection of small-sized, non-immunogenic environmental contaminants, presents a number of challenges. Recent advances in protein engineering have led to the emergence of antibody mimetics that offer the high affinity and specificity associated with antibodies, but with reduced batch-to-batch variability, increased stability, and in vitro selection to ensure rapid discovery of binders against a wide range of targets. This study explores the potential of Affimers, a recent example of antibody mimetics, as suitable bioreceptors for the detection of small organic molecules. Methylene blue (MB), a redox-active molecule used as a fabric dye and diclofenac (DCF), an important environmental contaminant, were selected as the target compounds and Affimers against MB and DCF were developed by the BioScreening Technology Group, University of Leeds. The objectives of this project were to a) demonstrate that the developed Affimers can bind to the selected targets with very high affinity, b) assess their performance in the complexity of environmental water samples (selectivity), and c) investigate the potential of an Affimer-based assay for small molecule detection. Target immobilisation for Affimer characterisation was achieved using long-chained alkanethiol linkers coupled with oligoethylene glycol (LCAT–OEG) and the immobilisation approach was evaluated through electrochemical measurements and infrared spectroscopy. Subsequently, binding between the immobilised targets and target-specific Affimers was quantified using quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D). Affimer affinity studies revealed Affimer dissociation constants (KD=13.7 nM and 73 nm for MB and DCF Affimers respectively) was comparable to that of high affinity antibodies. Furthermore, the high selectivity of MB-Affimers was demonstrated using limnetic water samples. Finally, an Affimer-based competition ELISA was demonstrated (LOD=75 nM), illustrating the potential of Affimers as bioreceptors in immunoassays for the detection of small-sized, non-immunogenic compounds. These findings are very promising, encouraging further research into Affimer-based assays and biosensors in order to introduce a novel, alternative path for rapid, on-site monitoring of contaminants in the environment.
Diseño y desarrollo de cuero vegetal a base de los residuos de las fibras de hoja de piña (Ananas comosus) golden del VRAEM

En primer lugar, se realiza un estudio teorico sobre la materia prima y la tecnologia que implica la obtencion de la fibra, para desarrollar un material similar al cuero, luego se tuvo que implementar una desfibradora mecanica en base a la secuencialidad y retroalimentacion, con la aplicacion de principios de ensayo-error y la ingenieria inversa; que con el uso del software de modelamiento mecanico CAD Solidworks 2018 proporciono el diseno de elementos de maquinas agroindustriales, la validacion y optimizacion en funcion de sus requisitos operacionales, alineados a las normas vigentes internacionales de la ingenieria de materiales, para la construccion y operacion de la maquina. Se caracterizo la calidad del desfibrado teniendo en cuenta la limpieza de las fibras, el cual decrece exponencialmente dentro de los limites investigados con respecto a la holgura del desfibrado, haciendose mayor para distancias menores a 1 mm. Para una distancia de desfibrado de 1 mm las fibras quedan lo suficientemente limpias, sin embargo, para una distancia de desfibrado de 1,5 mm las fibras obtenidas no pueden ser utilizadas debido a la gran cantidad de material no fibroso que aun se encuentra adherido a las mimas. Con la desfibradora se extrae una importante cantidad de celulosa de las hojas, ideal para convertirlas en un material flexible, resistente y ecologico alternativo al cuero de origen animal sustentable al uso a los desechos producidos durante la cosecha de esta fruta. La versatilidad de este material permite desarrollar una gran variedad investigaciones dirigidas a la produccion de carteras, bolsos, tapizados, calzados y demas accesorios que se pueden manufacturar en cuero.
N-Methyl-N,N,N-trioctylammonium chloride as a novel and green corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in an acid chloride medium: electrochemical, DFT and MD studies

In the present work, N-methyl-N,N,N-trioctylammonium chloride (Aliquat 336) has been evaluated as a green and novel corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in a 1 M HCl solution using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) and chemical, spectroscopic (FTIR and UV-visible) methods. The results show that Aliquat 336 is an effective corrosion inhibitor and showed the maximum inhibition efficiency of 94.6% at a very low concentration of 4.95 μM. The results of the EIS study showed that Aliquat 336 inhibits corrosion by an adsorption mechanism. The PDP results revealed that Aliquat 336 is a mixed type inhibitor, which predominantly acts as a cathodic inhibitor. The formation of an inhibitor film on the metal surface was corroborated by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The adsorption of Aliquat 336 on a mild steel surface obeys the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Quantum chemical calculations (DFT based) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation studies further corroborated the adsorption and inhibition action of Aliquat 336 on the steel surface.
Imputation benchmark of β-value and M-value from DNA methylation data under different missing data mechanisms.

Background: High-throughput technologies enable the cost-effective collection and analysis of DNA methylation data throughout the human genome. This naturally entails missing values management that can complicate the analysis of the data. Several general and specific imputation methods are suitable for DNA methylation data. However, there are no detailed studies of their performances under different missing data mechanisms -(completely) at random or not- and different representations of DNA methylation levels (β and M-value). Results: We make an extensive analysis of the imputation performances of seven imputation methods on simulated missing completely at random (MCAR), missing at random (MAR) and missing not at random (MNAR) methylation data. We further consider imputation performances on the β- and M-value popular representations of methylation levels. Overall, β -values enable better imputation performances than M-values. Imputation accuracy is lower for mid-range β -values, while it is generally more accurate for values at the extremes of the β -value range. The MAR values distribution is on the average more dense in the mid-range in comparison to the expected β -value distribution. As a consequence, MAR values are on average harder to impute. Conclusions: The results of the analysis provide guidelines for the most suitable imputation approaches for DNA methylation data under different representations of DNA methylation levels and different missing data mechanisms.
The Reasons for not Utilization of Intrauterine Device among Short Term Modern Contraceptive User Women in Hossana Town Public Health Facilities: Qualitative Study

Background Intrauterine device (IUD) is a safe, long-acting, and effective method of contraception. However, is under-utilized in many countries, including Ethiopia. The several studies presented to address the problem, nearly all are quantitative. These have primarily generated a list of associated factors and reasons that did not seem to help health systems to design effective strategies to address the problem. This study looked at the problem with a different approach to explore the issue in detail and help to develop locally appropriate strategies to increase the utilization of IUD in the study area. To this end, qualitative method focused entirely on understanding why short term contraceptive user women are not using IUD from the maternal health service programs. Objective To explore the reasons for not utilization of IUD among short term modern contraceptive users in Hossana town public health facilities, southern Ethiopia. Method A Phenomenological qualitative study was conducted in Hossana town public health facilities, Southern Ethiopia from November 1-30, 2019. A total of 13 in-depth interviews were conducted: eleven short term contraceptive users, one health centre head and one health extension worker/community health worker/ were included in the study. Semi-structured interviewer guided questions and tape recorder were used to collect data. The collected data were expanded, labelled and ordered chronologically. Data were organized after subsequent detailed reading and analysis. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the collected data. Result In this study, the reasons for not utilization of IUD was poor knowledge about the benefits of IUD, insufficient counseling and not providing informed choices, and the absence of trained health personals and shortage of necessary supplies. Conclusion The main reasons for not utilization of IUD was poor counseling of mothers, unsupportive provider-client relationships, and poor counseling by service providers. Efforts to rise IUD users need to focus on improving counseling of mothers and strengthening the health systems.
Zinc as an element of therapeutic importance: A review

Zinc enjoys vital role by being cofactor of large number of mettaloenzymes enzymes like carbonic anhydrase, superoxide dismutase, phospholipase A2, alkaline phosphate, a-mannosidase, alcohol dehydrogenase, carboxypeptidase A and B, D-glyceraldahyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, glutamic dehydrogenase, lactic dehydrogense. Zinc deficiency may be caused due to primary deficiency of zinc in diet or secondary influences like increased phytate and calcium in diet. Zinc deficiency signs are more common in non ruminants; in ruminants the rumen environment overcomes the effect of phytate present in diet. Zinc deficiency causes skin lesions probably by interfering in protein synthesis, impaired immunity by affecting both cell mediated as well as humoral immunity, growth by depressing the appetite and decreasing feed conversion efficiency, infertility by causing retarded testicular development and interference in spermatogenesis.
Pemisahan Bahan Aktif dalam Buah Sosis (Kigelia africana) dengan Metode Ekstraksi Padat-Cair (Leaching)

ABSTRAK Industri kosmetik dan farmasi merupakan contoh industri yang saat ini banyak menggunakan bahan alami sebagai bahan baku dalam pembuatan produknya. Salah satu tanaman herbal adalah buah sosis. Buah sosis mengandung senyawa-senyawa aktif penting bagi manusia, yaitu flavonoid, iridoid, naphthoquinone, dan coumarin. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah menentukan jenis pelarut, rasio pelarut/bahan baku, waktu operasi, dan persen yield terbaik dalam proses ekstraksi buah sosis dengan metode ekstraksi soxhlet pada variasi jenis pelarut (etanol 96% dan metanol), rasio volume pelarut/berat bahan baku (8:1, 10:1, 12:1), dan waktu operasi (1,2, dan 3 jam). Berdasarkan data yang diperoleh, ekstrak terbaik yaitu ekstrak yang menggunakan pelarut metanol, waktu ekstraksi selama 3 jam, dan rasio pelarut/bahan baku yaitu 10:1, dengan perolehan yield sebesar 33,12%. Hasil uji kualitatif menunjukkan bahwa pada ekstrak tersebut mengandung empat senyawa yang diinginkan. Sementara hasil uji kuantitatif menunjukkan bahwa pada ekstrak metanol buah sosis tersebut terkandung flavonoid sebanyak 5168 ppm. Kata kunci: Buah sosis, ektraksi, flavonoid, iridoid, naphthoquinone ABSTRACT Cosmetic and pharmaceutical industry are two examples of some industries that currently uses a lot of chemical substances as the raw materials to produce their products. But there has been some research about natural substances to replace chemical substances as the raw materials. One of the natural substances is sausage fruit. Sausage fruit contains important bio active compounds for human life such as flavonoids, iridoids, naphthoquinones, and coumarins. In this research, the extraction of bioactive compounds from sausage fruit with soxhlet extraction process has been studied. The purpose of this experiment is to determine the best type of solvent, solvent to solid ratio, and operating time with varying: type of solvent (methanol and ethanol), volume solvent to weight solid ratio (8:1, 10:1, 12:1), and operating time (1-3 hours). The experiment found that the optimal extraction conditions were as follows: methanol as the solvent, extraction time 3 hours, and the solvent-solid ratio of 10:1 with a yield of 33,12%. The result of a qualitative test of the extract shows that the extract contains flavonoids, iridoids, naphthoquinones, and coumarins. Meanwhile, the result of a quantitative test shows that the extract contains flavonoids as much as 5168 ppm. Keywords: Sausage fruit, extraction, flavonoid, iridoid, naphthoquinone
Sodium amphibole in the post-glaucophane high-pressure domain: The role of eckermannite

Abstract An amphibole close to eckermannite in composition, ideally Na3Mg4AlSi8O22(OH)2, was encountered in experiments on a bulk composition close to that of glaucophane at 6.2 GPa, ~550–650 °C. The synthetic amphibole has an average composition corresponding to ANa0.96B(Na1.80Mg0.20)C(Mg4Al)T(Si7.85Al0.15) O22(OH)2. This composition is displaced from that of end-member eckermannite by exchange vectors +0.15 BMgTAlBNa–1TSi–1 and +0.05 A□BMgANa–1BNa–1 (□ = vacant site). In terms of end-members, it corresponds to 80% eckermannite + 15% Mg-katophorite, Na(NaMg)(Mg4Al)(Si7Al)O22(OH)2, + 5% Mg-winchite, (NaMg)(Mg4Al)Si8O22(OH)2, and as such is essentially binary. The absence of a glaucophane component implies that the stability of sodium amphibole at very high pressures (>4 GPa) involves eckermannitic rather than glaucophanic compositions. The stabilization of the eckermannite-pyrope tie line allows this highly Na-rich amphibole to occur even in bulk compositions that are not particularly Na-rich. In blueschist facies metabasites, it is possible that eckermannite forms by the reaction 9 jadeite + 7 talc → 3 eckermannite + 3 pyrope + 13 coesite + 4 H2O, above the stability limit of glaucophane that is defined by the reaction glaucophane → 2 jadeite + talc.
Recycling HPLC for the purification of oligostilbenes from Dipterocarpus semivestitus and Neobalanocarpus heimii (Dipterocarpaceae)

ABSTRACT Medium pressure liquid chromatography and semipreparative high-performance liquid chromatography, followed by recycling high-performance liquid chromatography, were used for the isolation and purification of oligostilbenes from the acetone extracts of Dipterocarpus semivestitus and Neobalanocarpus heimii. Two stilbene dimers, ε-viniferin and cis-ε-viniferin, and a stilbene trimer, cis-miyabenol C were isolated from D. semivestitus. A trimer, ampelopsin C, and two tetramers, hemsleyanol D and isohopeaphenol, were isolated from N. heimii. The purities of the compounds were determined by an ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
The therapeutic efficacy of oxime treatment in cyclosarin- poisoned mice pretreated with a combination of pyridostigmine benactyzine and trihexyphenidyl

Summary The present study was performed to assess and compare the therapeutic efficacy of various oximes (methoxime, BI-6, HI-6) combined with benactyzine (BNZ) in cyclosarin (GF-agent)-poisoned mice and to evaluate the influence of pretreatment with PANPAL (pyridostigmine, benactyzine and trihexyphenidyl) on the effect of antidotal treatment in mice poisoned with the GF-agent. In the first part of our experiment, methoxime, BI-6 or HI-6 in combination with benactyzine were used for the treatment of GF-poisoned mice. In the second part of the experiment the animals were pretreated with PANPAL 60 min before the GF-agent challenge and then the oxime therapy was applied in the same time scheme as before. All the therapeutic regimens showed a protective ratio higher than 2 and significantly increased the LD 50 of GF-agent. The most efficacious oxime in decreasing of GF-agent toxicity was HI-6. PANPAL increased the protective ratios of all therapeutic regimens in comparison with administration of the oxime and BNZ alone. From the results obtained, the combination of pretreatment with PANPAL and following therapy with BNZ and HI-6 seems to be the most efficacious therapeutic regimen for treatment of GF-agent-poisoned mice.