Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
May Measurement Month 2017–2019: an analysis of blood pressure screening results from Lithuania

Abstract In 2017, Lithuania joined the global May Measurement Month (MMM) campaign which aims at raising awareness of raised blood pressure worldwide. Presented here are the data arising from the 2017, 2018, and 2019 campaigns. An opportunistic cross-sectional survey of individuals aged ≥18 years was carried out in Lithuania in 2017, 2018, and 2019. Two thousand nine hundred and nineteen participants were recruited in the MMM campaigns in response to the media engagement and interactions with the study team. The mean age of participants was 46.1 years (SD 16.3) years, 58.9% were females. Blood pressures were measured using electronic devices provided by Omron according to the MMM protocol. Of the 2919 screened participants, 1308 (44.8%) had hypertension. Of all hypertensive participants, the awareness rate, the treatment rate, and the control rates (<140/90 mmHg) were 79.5%, 41.0%, and 14.2%, respectively. Of those on antihypertensive medication, the control rate was 34.8%. The high percentage of participants with hypertension was either untreated (59.0%) or treated but uncontrolled (65.2%) suggests the usefulness of such screening programmes to improve awareness of hypertension control in Lithuania.
On the effect of rotation on populations of classical Cepheids. I. Predictions at solar metallicity

Context. Classical Cepheids are among the most important variable star types due to their nature as standard candles and have a long history of modeling in terms of stellar evolution. The effects of rotation on Cepheids have not yet been discussed in detail in the literature, although some qualitative trends have already been mentioned. Aims. We aim to improve the understanding of Cepheids from an evolutionary perspective and establish the role of rotation in th e Cepheid paradigm. In particular, we are interested in the contribution of rotation to the problem of Cepheid masses, and explore testable predictions of quantities that can be confronted with obser vations. Methods. Recently developed evolutionary models including a homogeneous and self-consistent treatment of axial rotation are s tudied in detail during the crossings of the classical instability strip (IS). The dependence of a suite of parameters on initial rotation is studied. These parameters include mass, luminosity, temperature, lifetimes, equatorial velocity, surface abundances, and ra tes of period change. Results. Several key results are obtained: i) mass-luminosity (M-L) relations depend on rotation, particularly during the blue loop phase; ii) luminosity increases between crossings of the IS. Hence, Cepheid M-L relations at fixed initial rotation rate depend on crossing number (the faster the rotation, the larger the lum inosity difference between crossings); iii) the Cepheid mass discrepancy problem vanishes when rotation and crossing number are taken into account, without a need for high core overshooting values or enhanced mass loss; iv) rotation creates dispersion around average parameters predicted at fixed mass and metallicity. This is of particular importance for the period-luminosity-relatio n, for which rotation is a source of intrinsic dispersion; v) enhanced surface abundances do not unambiguously distinguish Cepheids occupying the Hertzsprung gap from ones on blue loops (after dredgeup), since rotational mixing can lead to significantly enhan ced Main Sequence (MS) abundances; vi) rotating models predict greater Cepheid ages than non-rotating models due to longer MS lifetimes. Conclusions. Rotation has a significant evolutionary impact on classical Cepheids and should no longer be neglected in their study.
Preterm ETs Are Significantly Reduced Compared with Adults and Partially Reduced Compared with Term Infants

The release of DNA by cells during extracellular trap (ET) formation is a defense function of neutrophils and monocytes. Neutrophil ET (NET) formation in term infants is reduced compared to adults. Objective: The aim was to quantify NET and monocyte ET (MET) release and the respective key enzymes myeloperoxidase (MPO) and neutrophil elastase (NE) in preterm infants. In this prospective explorative study, ET induction was stimulated by N-formylmethionine-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP), phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and lipoteichoic acid (LTA) in the cord blood of preterm infants (n = 55, 23–36 weeks) compared to term infants and adults. METs were quantified by microscopy, and NETs by microscopy and flow cytometry. We also determined the MPO levels within NETs and the intracellular concentrations of NE and MPO in neutrophils. The percentage of neutrophils releasing ET was significantly reduced for preterm infants compared to adults for all stimulants, and with a 68% further reduction for PMA compared to term infants (p = 0.0141). The NET area was not reduced except for when fMLP was administered. The amount of MPO in NET-producing cells was reduced in preterm infants compared to term infants. For preterm infants, but not term infants, the percentage of monocytes releasing ETs was significantly reduced compared to healthy adults for LTA and LPS stimulation. Conclusion: In preterm infants, ETs are measurable parts of the innate immune system, but are released in a reduced percentage of cells compared to adults.
Propeller effect in action in the ultraluminous accreting magnetar M82 X-2

We present here the first convincing observational manifestation of a magnetar-like magnetic field in an accreting neutron star in binary system - the first pulsating ultra-luminous X-ray source X-2 in the galaxy M82. Using the Chandra X-ray observatory data we show that the source exhibit the bimodal distribution of the luminosity with two well-defined peaks separated by a factor of 40. This behaviour can be interpreted as the action of the "propeller regime" of accretion. The onset of the propeller in a 1.37 s pulsar at luminosity of ~$10^{40}$ erg/s implies the dipole component of the neutron star magnetic field of ~$10^{14}$ G.
Influence of genetic polymorphisms on serum biomarkers of cardiac health

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a leading cause of death worldwide which is why early risk prediction is crucial. Discrete Polygenic risk score (PRS) measurement using saliva or dried blood spot samples collected at home poses a convenient means for early CVD risk assessment. The present study assessed the effects of 28 disease-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on 16 serological cardiac markers and also aggregated the risk alleles into a PRS to evaluate its applicability in CVD-risk prediction. The study assessed genetic and serological markers in 184 individuals. The association between serological markers and individual genetic variants was evaluated using a two-tailed t test while the associations of serum markers with the PRS was analyzed using the Pearson correlation. The comparative analysis of genotypes revealed statistically significant associations between serum markers and CVD-associated SNPs with Apo B: Apo A-1, LDL Direct, Apo B, sdLDL, hsCRP, Lp(a), NT-proBNP, and PLAC levels being significantly associated with the risk alleles of the SNPs, rs12526453, rs5186, rs10911021, rs1801131, rs670, rs10757274, and rs10757278. Increased PLAC levels were associated with rs10757274 and rs10757278 (P < .05). The SNPs, rs1801133, rs1549758, rs1799983, rs5082, and rs5186 were significantly associated with an increase in the cardioprotective markers, HDL and ApoA1 (P < .05). Furthermore, the PRS was associated with increasing levels of several serum cardiac markers (r2 > 0.6). Significant correlations were observed between high PRS and NT-proBNP and ox-LDL levels with the r2 values being 0.82 (95% CI = 0.13–0.99; P = .03) and 0.94 (95% CI = 0.63–0.99; P = .005), respectively. The present study reports that SNPs have differential effects on serum markers with rs12526453, rs5186, rs10911021, rs1801131, rs670, rs10757274, and rs10757278 showing significant associations with elevated marker levels, which are indicators of deteriorating cardiac health. Genetic assessment via a convenient at-home collection to calculate the PRS can serve as an effective predictive tool for early CVD-risk assessment. This may help identify the risk groups that may require increased serological monitoring.
Age Specific Risks of Uterine Cancer in Type 2 Diabetes and Associated Comorbidities in Taiwan

Simple Summary The incidence of uterine cancer is increasing worldwide in recent decades, especially in the young age population. In parallel, a trend of early onset of diabetes mellitus (DM) and obesity was also observed in the young population. Since DM and obesity are known risk factors of uterine cancer, we proposed to investigate the age-specific risks of uterine cancer in subjects with DM and related metabolic comorbidities. In this nationwide population-based study, we found the risk of uterine cancer in DM subjects was significantly higher in the younger age groups, especially in the age group 30–39 years. Obesity, polycystic ovarian syndrome, hyperlipidemia, statin use, and hormone replacement therapy were also significantly associated with uterine cancer in subjects younger than 50 years of age. Therefore, subjects with DM, especially younger women with respective comorbidities, should be recommended to have appropriate uterine cancer screenings for early detection. Abstract Introduction: The global incidence of uterine cancer has increased substantially in recent decades. We evaluated if the trend of increasing prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and obesity are attributed to the development of uterine cancer. Methods: Using data derived from the National Health Insurance database and Taiwan Cancer Registry, multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models were adapted to analyze the risk factors of uterine cancer with potential confounding variables. Results: There were a total of 5,104,242 women aged 30–70 years enrolled in the study and 147,772 of them were diagnosed with DM during 2005–2007. In a total of 11 years of follow-up, 14,398 subjects were diagnosed with uterine cancer. An elevated risk of uterine cancer was observed in women with DM of all ages (HR 1.66, 95% CI 1.53–1.81, p < 0.0001). The effect of DM was highest at age 30–39 years (RR 3.05, 95% CI 2.35–3.96, p < 0.0001). In the group of <50 years old, DM patients had at least a twofold higher risk of developing uterine cancer (HR 2.39, 95% CI 2.09–2.74, p < 0.0001). Subjects among all ages diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) (HR 2.91, 95% CI 2.47–3.42, p < 0.0001), obesity (HR 2.13, 95% CI 1.88–2.41, p < 0.0001), and those undergoing hormone replacement therapy (HRT) (HR 1.60, 95% CI 1.33–1.93, p < 0.0001) were also positively associated with uterine cancer. Positive associations of hyperlipidemia (HR 1.33, 95% CI 1.22–1.46, p < 0.0001) and statin use (HR 1.27, 95% CI 1.12–1.44, p = 0.0002) on uterine cancer were only observed in subjects <50 years. On the contrary, hyperlipidemia was negatively associated with uterine cancer in subjects ≥50 years (HR 0.91, 95% CI: 0.84–0.98, p = 0.0122). Conclusions: DM is in general the most important risk factor for uterine cancer, especially in premenopausal women. Obesity, PCOS, HPL, statin use, and HRT were also associated with uterine cancer in subjects younger than 50 years. Premenopausal women with DM and respective comorbidities should be aware of the development of uterine cancer.
A new method for the inversion of atmospheric parameters of A/Am stars

We present an automated procedure that derives simultaneously the effective temperature $T_{eff}$, the surface gravity logg, the metallicity [Fe/H], and the equatorial projected rotational velocity vsini for "normal" A and Am stars. The procedure is based on the principal component analysis inversion method of Paletou et al. (2015a). A sample of 322 high resolution spectra of F0-B9 stars, retrieved from the Polarbase, SOPHIE, and ELODIE databases, were used to test this technique with real data. We have selected the spectral region from 4400-5000\AA\ as it contains many metallic lines and the Balmer H$\beta$ line. Using 3 datasets at resolving powers of R=42000, 65000 and 76000, about 6.6x$10^6$ synthetic spectra were calculated to build a large learning database. The Online Power Iteration algorithm was applied to these learning datasets to estimate the principal components (PC). The projection of spectra onto the few PCs offered an efficient comparison metric in a low dimensional space. The spectra of the well known A0- and A1-type stars, Vega and Sirius A, were used as control spectra in the three databases. Spectra of other well known A-type stars were also employed in order to characterize the accuracy of the inversion technique. All observational spectra were inverted and atmospheric parameters derived. After removal of a few outliers, the PCA-inversion method appears to be very efficient in determining $T_{eff}$, [Fe/H], and vsini for A/Am stars. The derived parameters agree very well with previous determinations. Using a statistical approach, deviations of around 150 K, 0.35 dex, 0.15 dex, and 2 km/s were found for $T_{eff}$, logg, [Fe/H], and vsini with respect to literature values for A-type stars. The PCA-inversion proves to be a very fast, practical, and reliable tool for estimating stellar parameters of FGK and A stars, and deriving effective temperatures of M stars.
Stability and ratooning ability of some sugarcane genotypes under Upper-Egypt conditions

The present study was carried out at El-Mataana Agricultural Research Station, Agricultural Research center, Luxor Governorate (Latitude 25°41′N, Longitude 32°39′E) in three crop seasons 2018/19, 2019/20 and 2020/21 (PC, FR and SR) to evaluate stability and ratoon ability of five sugarcane genotypes, namely (G.84-47, G.2003-47, G.2004-27 and C.57-14 compared with the commercial variety GT.54-9) under three-row distances (80, 100 and 120 cm). A strip block design was used. The results recorded that, the new variety G.2004-27 had the high cane and sugar yields followed by the cultivated variety GT.54-9 without significant difference between them only in sugar yield trait, whereas the lowest values were recorded by C.57-14 genotypes. The genotype G.2004-27 and the commercial variety GT.54-9 got their highest cane and sugar yields under 100 cm row distance in SR crop. The commercial variety GT.54-9 and G.2003-47 (new variety) had the 1 st rank of RA under 80 cm row distance for cane yield, while under 100 cm row distance the cultivar GT.54-9 ranked in 1 st where the new variety G.2003-47 ranked in 1 st one under 120 cm row distance in the same trait. Although, the promising variety G.2003-47 was the most stable genotype in cane and sugar yields across tested environments.
A new Herschel view of the young star T54: not a transitional disk?

Context. Observations of transitional disks give us an understandin g of the formation of planets and planetary systems such as our own. But care must be taken in the identification of such sourc es: the higher spatial resolution of the Herschel Space Observatory provides a new view on the origin of the far-infrared and sub- millimeter excesses observed. Aims. We review the nature of previously known transitional disks in the Chamaeleon I star-forming region with Herschel data. Methods. We analyze Herschel PACS and SPIRE images of the young star T54 together with ancillary images. We also analyze its spectral energy distribution and indications from optical and mid-infrared spectroscopy. Results. We detect extended emission in the PACS 70� m image∼6 ′′ off source at a position angle of 196 ◦ from T54. The emission detected at longer wavelength (PACS 100, 160, SPIRE 250 and 350� m) is also offset from the position of the star. This suggests that the excess observed in the far-infrared part of the SED is not fully associated with T54. Conclusions. Herschel images show that the far-infrared excess seen in T54 is not due to a transitional disk but to extended emission south-west of the source. The object still shows point-like and now downscaled excess at mid-infrared wavelengths, but its origin cannot be constrained without higher spatial resolution da ta. However, different indications point towards an evolved disk or extended unresolved emission close to the source.
Numerical modelling of flows involving submerged bodies and free surfaces

Kinetic energy extraction devices for ocean and river flows are often located in the vicinity of the fluid free surface. This differs from wind turbines where the atmosphere may be considered to extend to infinity for the purposes of numerical modelling. As most kinetic energy extraction devices are based on lifting surfaces, a numerical model is sought which can model both lifting and free surface flows. One such model is the boundary element method which has been successfully applied to free surface problems and to lifting flows as well as the combined problem. This study seeks to develop a high order boundary element method that is capable of modelling unsteady lifting and free surface flows in three dimensions. Although high order formulations of boundary element methods are common for free surface problems, providing improved accuracy and computational time, their usage for lifting flows is less frequent. This may be due to the hypersingular boundary integral equation (HBIE) which must be solved in order to find the velocity of the vortex wakes behind lifting surfaces. In previous lifting flow studies using high order boundary element methods the wake velocities have been determined at the element centres and then interpolated to the collocation points. Not until the paper of Gray et al. (2004b) has a method been available for the direct solution of the HBIEs at the edges of three dimensional high order elements with C0 continuous interfaces. The solution employs a technique known as the Galerkin boundary element method. This study shows, for the first time, that the Galerkin boundary element method is applicable to the solution of the HBIE on the vortex wake of a lifting body. The application of the technique is then demonstrated as part of the numerical model developed herein. The model is based on the high order boundary element method developed by Xü (1992) for non-linear free surface flows. This formulation is extended to include steady uniform flow throughout the computational domain as well as the presence of lifting and non-lifting bodies. Several verification cases are implemented to test the accuracy of the model.
The Laplace transform boundary element method for diffusion-type problems

Diffusion-type problems are described by parabolic partial differential equations; they are defined on a domain involving both time and space. The usual method of solution is to use a finite difference time-stepping process which leads to an elliptic equation in the space variable. The major drawback with the finite difference method in time is the possibility of severe stability restrictions. An alternative process is to use the Laplace transform. The transformed problem can be solved using a suitable partial differential equation solver and the solution is transformed back into the time domain using a suitable inversion process. In all practical situations a numerical inversion is required. For problems with discontinuous or periodic boundary conditions, the numerical inversion is not straightforward and we show how to overcome these difficulties. The boundary element method is a well-established technique for solving elliptic problems. One of the procedures required is the evaluation of singular integrals which arise in the solution process and a new formulation is developed to handle these integrals. For the solution of non-homogeneous equations an additional technique is required and the dual reciprocity method used in conjunction with the boundary element method provides a way forward. The Laplace transform is a linear operator and as such cannot handle non-linear terms. We address this problem by a linearisation process together with a suitable iterative scheme. We apply such a procedure to a non-linear coupled electromagnetic heating problem with electrical and thermal properties exhibiting temperature dependencies.
On the origin of the HLX-1 outbursts

HLX-1, currently the best intermediate-mass black hole candidate, has undergone seven violent outbursts, each with a peak X-ray luminosity of $L_{\mathrm{peak},\mathrm{X}}\sim 10^{42}\ \rm{erg\ s^{-1}}$. Interestingly, the properties of the HLX-1 outbursts evolve with time. In this work, we aim to constrain the physical parameters of the central engine of the HLX-1 outbursts in the framework of the black hole accretion. We find that the physical properties of the HLX-1 outbursts are consistent with being driven by the radiation pressure instability. This scenario can explain the evolution of the recurrent timescales of the HLX-1 outbursts as a function of the durations.
Injectable chitosan- Ulva lactuca polysaccharide hydrogel neutralizes oxidative stress in experimental diabetic neuropathy

Polysaccharide –based hydro gels from marine algae are attractive materials for biomedical applications which include polyfunctionality and biodegradability. There were reports of many algae based hydrogels and their applications in diabetic neuropathy. The present study aims to investigate the progressive effects of injectable Chitosan-Ulva lactuca polysaccharide hydrogel (C-UL hydrogel) on experimentally induced diabetic neuropathy in mice. Physicochemical properties of C-UL hydrogel were analyzed by proximate composition, FTIR, SEM, and swelling properties. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ, 60 mg/kg). C-UL hydrogel treatment was started 15 days after diabetes induction and continued for 30 days. Serum levels of cholesterol profile and insulin were assessed. In liver, brain, and pancreas tissues, antioxidants superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) were measured. In the liver, brain and pancreas tissues, C-UL hydrogel attenuated diabetes-induced changes in serum antioxidants and cholesterol excluding insulin. Diabetes-induced dysregulated levels of SOD, CAT, and GST were ameliorated by C-UL hydrogel. Histopathological analysis shows that C-UL hydrogel corrects the altered neuronal changes in diabetic animals. C-UL hydrogel prevents brain damage by regulating the antioxidant pathways in the mice model.
Time Variability of the Geocoronal Solar-Wind Charge Exchange in the Direction of the Celestial Equator

We report on the detection of a time variable O VII line emission in a deep 100 ks Suzaku X-ray Imaging Spectrometer spectrum of the galactic ridge X-ray emission. The observed line intensity is too strong (11 ˙ 2 line unit or photon cm � 2 s � 1 sr � 1 ) to be emitted inside the heavily obscured galactic disk. It showed a factor of two time variation that showed a significant (� 4 � ) correlation with the solar-wind O 7+ ion flux. The high line intensity and good time correlation with the solar wind strongly suggests that it originated from geocoronal solar-wind charge-exchange emission. We discuss the X-ray line intensity while considering a line-of-sight direction and also theoretical distribution models of the neutral hydrogen and solar wind around Earth. Our results indicate that X-ray observations of geocoronal solar-wind charge-exchange emission can be used to constrain these models.