Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Numerical simulation of blowing ratio effects on film cooling on a gas turbine blade

This article investigates the film cooling effectiveness and heat transfer in three regimes for a film-cooled gas turbine blade at the leading edge of the blade with 45 0 angle of injection. A Rolls Royce blade has been used in this study as a solid body with the blade cross section from Hub to Shroud varying with a degree of skewness. A 3-D finite-volume method has been employed (FLUENT 6.3) with a   k turbulence model. The numerical results show the effectiveness cooling and heat transfer behavior with increasing injection blowing ratio BR (1, 1.5 and 2). In terms of the film cooling performance, high BR enhances effectiveness cooling on pressure side and extends the protected area along the spanwise direction from hub to shroud. The influence of increased blade film cooling can be assessed via the values of Nusselt number in terms of reduced heat transfer to the blade.
Adverse pregnancy outcomes in women with diabetes-related microvascular disease and risks of disease progression in pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background The rise in the global prevalence of diabetes, particularly among younger people, has led to an increase in the number of pregnant women with preexisting diabetes, many of whom have diabetes-related microvascular complications. We aimed to estimate the magnitude of the risks of adverse pregnancy outcomes or disease progression in this population. Methods and findings We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis on maternal and perinatal complications in women with type 1 or 2 diabetic microvascular disease and the risk factors for worsening of microvascular disease in pregnancy using a prospective protocol (PROSPERO CRD42017076647). We searched major databases (January 1990 to July 2021) for relevant cohort studies. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. We summarized the findings as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using random effects meta-analysis. We included 56 cohort studies involving 12,819 pregnant women with diabetes; including 40 from Europe and 9 from North America. Pregnant women with diabetic nephropathy were at greater risk of preeclampsia (OR 10.76, CI 6.43 to 17.99, p < 0.001), early (<34 weeks) (OR 6.90, 95% CI 3.38 to 14.06, p < 0.001) and any preterm birth (OR 4.48, CI 3.40 to 5.92, p < 0.001), and cesarean section (OR 3.04, CI 1.24 to 7.47, p = 0.015); their babies were at higher risk of perinatal death (OR 2.26, CI 1.07 to 4.75, p = 0.032), congenital abnormality (OR 2.71, CI 1.58 to 4.66, p < 0.001), small for gestational age (OR 16.89, CI 7.07 to 40.37, p < 0.001), and admission to neonatal unit (OR 2.59, CI 1.72 to 3.90, p < 0.001) compared to those without nephropathy. Diabetic retinopathy was associated with any preterm birth (OR 1.67, CI 1.27 to 2.20, p < 0.001) and preeclampsia (OR 2.20, CI 1.57 to 3.10, p < 0.001) but not other complications. The risks of onset or worsening of retinopathy were increased in women who were nulliparous (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.28 to 2.40, p < 0.001), smokers (OR 2.31, 95% CI 1.25 to 4.27, p = 0.008), with existing proliferative disease (OR 2.12, 95% CI 1.11 to 4.04, p = 0.022), and longer duration of diabetes (weighted mean difference: 4.51 years, 95% CI 2.26 to 6.76, p < 0.001) compared to those without the risk factors. The main limitations of this analysis are the heterogeneity of definition of retinopathy and nephropathy and the inclusion of women both with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Conclusions In pregnant women with diabetes, presence of nephropathy and/or retinopathy appear to further increase the risks of maternal complications.
Home pharmacological therapy in early COVID‐19 to prevent hospitalization and reduce mortality: Time for a suitable proposal

The COVID‐19 pandemic is a highly dramatic concern for mankind. In Italy, the pandemic exerted its major impact throughout the period of February to June 2020. To date, the awkward amount of more than 134,000 deaths has been reported. Yet, post‐mortem autopsy was performed on a very modest number of patients who died from COVID‐19 infection, leading to a first confirmation of an immune‐thrombosis of the lungs as the major COVID‐19 pathogenesis, likewise for SARS. Since then (June–August 2020), no targeted early therapy considering this pathogenetic issue was approached. The patients treated with early anti‐inflammatory, anti‐platelet, anticoagulant and antibiotic therapy confirmed that COVID‐19 was an endothelial inflammation with immuno‐thrombosis. Patients not treated or scarcely treated with the most proper and appropriate therapy and in the earliest, increased the hospitalization rate in the intensive care units and also mortality, due to immune‐thrombosis from the pulmonary capillary district and alveoli. The disease causes widespread endothelial inflammation, which can induce damage to various organs and systems. Therapy must be targeted in this consideration, and in this review, we demonstrate how early anti‐inflammatory therapy may treat endothelia inflammation and immune‐thrombosis caused by COVID‐19, by using drugs we are going to recommend in this paper.
Design of triple‐band antenna using S‐shaped patch fed by cross strip line for WLAN and WiMAX applications

This paper presents a simple triple‐band S‐shaped patch antenna fed by a cross strip line for both WLAN and WiMAX applications. It is operated at the triple bands of 2.4 and 5.2 GHz for WLAN and 3.5 GHz for WiMAX. The antenna, designed on an FR4 substrate with a thickness of 1.6 mm and relative permittivity of 4.4, is fed by a 50‐Ω microstrip line, and is of size 25 × 35 mm. The simulated and measured results of |S11|, gains, and radiation patterns are presented. The measured results show that the triple‐band antenna achieves a broad operating bandwidth of 2.36–2.54, 3.27–3.69, and 5.16–5.48 GHz for a 10‐dB return loss (i.e. |S11|<−10 dB). The gains of the antenna measured at 2.4, 3.5, and 5.2 GHz frequencies are 1.87, 1.95, and 3.82, respectively. The radiation pattern of the antenna is omnidirectional. © 2015 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Nutrition senolytics - illusion or reality for cognitive ageing?

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text Purpose of review Cell senescence is implicated in numerous age-related conditions. Antiageing therapies and nutritional approaches have been researched for purposes of removing senescent cells (senolytics) to treat or prevent age-related diseases, such as cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease. In this updated review, we examined the evidence from the last 18 months regarding nutrition senolytics, with a focus on cognitive ageing among older adults. Recent findings Overall, 19 systematic reviews and 17 intervention studies were included. Studies failed to provide evidence of nutritional senolytic agents or senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) suppressors, for oral supplements providing beneficial effects on cognitive ageing among older adults. The protective role of food sources such as berries and nuts, and dietary patterns of Mediterranean diet and Mediterranean-DASH diet Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay diet against cognitive decline or risk of dementia have been mostly supported by recent studies. Summary The present review gathered additional evidence for both oral supplements and foods/diets rich in nutritional senolytic agents or SASP suppressors on cognitive health among older adults. In pursuing antiageing strategies, the importance of whole foods and healthy diets should not be overlooked, future studies are warranted on long-term effects and cytotoxicity of nutritional senolytics.
EhSir2c, a Sir2 homolog from the human pathogen Entamoeba histolytica interacts with a DNA repair protein, EhRAD23: Protein-protein interaction, docking and functional study

Abstract Chromosome segregation is a crucial phenomenon in the cell cycle and defects in genome segregation result in an abnormality in various cellular events. Unlike higher eukaryotes, chromosome segregation and a number of cell cycle events are unusual in the protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica (E. histolytica). Characterization of Sir2 proteins from E. histolytica may reveal its unique cellular events as they play role in diverse cellular processes including chromosome segregation. E. histolytica has four homologs of Sir2 proteins. EhSir2a and EhSir2b show sequence similarity towards eukaryotic Sir2 homologs, whereas EhSir2c and EhSir2d are more like prokaryotic sirtuins. Using both computational and experimental methods, EhSir2c has been characterized in this study. The three-dimensional structure of EhSir2c is predicted by homology modelling. The protein interactors of EhSir2c have been identified by yeast-two-hybrid screening against the cDNA library of E. histolytica. We have identified a novel interactor, EhRAD23 which is a homolog of UV excision repair protein RAD23. The interaction of EhSir2c and EhRAD23 was validated by pull-down assay. UV-C irradiation up-regulates the relative expression of EhSir2c, suggesting the necessity of EhSir2c in UV-induced stress in this parasite. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma
Effects of Manipulation of Noradrenergic Activities on the Expression of Dopaminergic Phenotypes in Aged Rat Brains

This study investigated the effects of the pharmacological manipulation of noradrenergic activities on dopaminergic phenotypes in aged rats. Results showed that the administration of L-threo-3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine (L-DOPS) for 21 days significantly increased the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine transporter (DAT) in the striatum and substantia nigra (SN) of 23-month-old rats. Furthermore, this treatment significantly increased norepinephrine/DA concentrations in the striatum and caused a deficit of sensorimotor gating as measured by prepulse inhibition (PPI). Next, old rats were injected with the α2-adrenoceptor antagonist 2-methoxy idazoxan or β2-adrenoceptor agonist salmeterol for 21 days. Both drugs produced similar changes of TH and DAT in the striatum and SN. Moreover, treatments with L-DOPS, 2-methoxy idazoxan, or salmeterol significantly increased the protein levels of phosphorylated Akt in rat striatum and SN. However, although a combination of 2-methoxy idazoxan and salmeterol resulted in a deficit of PPI in these rats, the administration of 2-methoxy idazoxan alone showed an opposite behavioral change. The in vitro experiments revealed that treatments with norepinephrine markedly increased mRNAs and proteins of ATF2 and CBP/p300 and reduced mRNA and proteins of HDAC2 and HDAC5 in MN9D cells. A ChIP assay showed that norepinephrine significantly increased CBP/p300 binding or reduced HDAC2 and HDAC5 binding on the TH promoter. The present results indicate that facilitating noradrenergic activity in the brain can improve the functions of dopaminergic neurons in aged animals. While this improvement may have biochemically therapeutic indication for the status involving the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons, it may not definitely include behavioral improvements, as indicated by using 2-methoxy idazoxan only.
Finding value with prehabilitation in older persons receiving surgery

Purpose of review Patients presenting for surgery are increasingly older and frail. Prehabilitation offers the best hope of preemptive functional optimisation to improve postoperative outcomes. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses show signals of improved function and reduced complications and length of stay, but are hampered by small trials with heterogeneous nature of interventions. Recent findings The value proposition for prehabilitation is strengthened by applying the following considerations to the evidence. Multimodal prehabilitation programmes incorporating elements of exercise, nutrition, and psychological preparation have a sound physiological basis and will help standardise care delivery and evidence gathering. Targeting prehabilitation resources at high-risk patients may yield higher returns. Effective prehabilitation programmes must be individualised and pragmatic to address known barriers to adherence. The evidence for functional improvement is clear and this aligns with the values of older patients. A comprehensive analysis of value incorporates functional, quality of life, and cost outcomes in addition to conventional morbidity and mortality measures. Summary Multimodal prehabilitation delivered by a multidisciplinary team improves functional outcomes following surgery. Function is an integral part of multidimensional value assessment including clinical and experiential measures. Future value enhancements include addressing frailty and overcoming barriers through targeted programme design.
COMBINING ABILITY ANALYSIS FOR YIELD, YIELD COMPONENTS AND TRAITS RELATED TO KALAHASTI MALADY RESISTANCE

Seven parental lines were crossed in half diallel fashion to identify the best general and specific combiners for further use in development of high yielding kalahasti malady resistant genotype. ICG(FDRS)79 was the best general combiner for yield, yield attributes and kalahasti malady resistance. Kalahasti was the best general combiner for 100-kernel weight and total phenolic compounds while Narayani, Tirupati 4 and Kadiri 6 for earliness. Narayani× ICG(FDRS) 79 followed by Tirupati 4 × ICG(FDRS) 79 and Kadiri 6 × ICG(FDRS) 79 were identified as best cross combinations with high SCA effect for traits viz., pod and kernel yield per plant, number of primary branches per plant and number of kernels per plant. Among these three cross combinations, Tirupati 4 × ICG (FDRS) 79 recorded high negative SCA effect for days to maturity and high positive SCA effect for total phenolic compounds.
Assessment of Adult Spinal Deformity Complication Timing and Impact on 2-Year Outcomes Using a Comprehensive Adult Spinal Deformity Classification System

Postoperative complications among 584 patients were classified with the International Spine Study Group-AO spine complications classification system. Radiographic and implant-related complications occurred late, and had significant detrimental impact on health related quality of life. Similarly, patients with late occurring complications after postoperative day 90 were more likely to require readmission or reoperation. Study Design. Retrospective review of prospectively collected multicenter registry data. Objective. To identify rates and timing of postoperative complications in adult spinal deformity (ASD) patients, the impact of complication type and timing on health related quality of life (HRQoL) outcomes, and the impact of complication timing on readmission and reoperation rates. Better understanding of complication timing and impact on HRQoL may improve patient selection, preoperative counseling, and postoperative complication surveillance. Summary of Background Data. ASD is common and associated with significant disability. Surgical correction is often pursued, but is associated with high complication rates. The International Spine Study Group, AO Spinal Deformity Forum, and European Spine Study Group have developed a new complication classification system for ASD (ISSG-AO spine complications classification system). Methods. The ISSG-AO spine complications classification system was utilized to assess complications occurring over the 2-year postoperative time period amongst a multicenter, prospectively enrolled cohort of patients who underwent surgery for ASD. Kaplan–Meier survival curves were established for each complication type. Propensity score matching was performed to adjust for baseline disability and comorbidities. Associations between each complication type and HRQoL, and reoperation/readmission and complication timing, were assessed. Results. Of 584 patients meeting inclusion criteria, cardiopulmonary, gastrointestinal, infection, early adverse events, and operative complications contributed to a rapid initial decrease in complication-free survival. Implant-related, radiographic, and neurologic complications substantially decreased long-term complication-free survival. Only radiographic and implant-related complications were significantly associated with worse 2-year HRQoL outcomes. Need for readmission and/or reoperation was most frequent among those experiencing complications after postoperative day 90. Conclusion. Surgeons should recognize that long-term complications have a substantial negative impact on HRQoL, and should carefully monitor for implant-related and radiographic complications over long-term follow-up. Level of Evidence: 4
Clinical Relevance of Rifampicin‐Moxifloxacin Interaction in Isoniazid-Resistant/Intolerant Tuberculosis Patients

Moxifloxacin is an attractive drug for the treatment of isoniazid-resistant rifampicin-susceptible tuberculosis (TB) or drug-susceptible TB complicated by isoniazid intolerance. However, co-administration with rifampicin decreases moxifloxacin exposure. ABSTRACT Moxifloxacin is an attractive drug for the treatment of isoniazid-resistant rifampicin-susceptible tuberculosis (TB) or drug-susceptible TB complicated by isoniazid intolerance. However, co-administration with rifampicin decreases moxifloxacin exposure. It remains unclear whether this drug–drug interaction has clinical implications. This retrospective study in a Dutch TB center investigated how rifampicin affected moxifloxacin exposure in patients with isoniazid-resistant or -intolerant TB. Moxifloxacin exposures were measured between 2015 and 2020 in 31 patients with isoniazid-resistant or -intolerant TB receiving rifampicin, and 20 TB patients receiving moxifloxacin without rifampicin. Moxifloxacin exposure, i.e., area under the concentration-time curve (AUC0-24h), and attainment of AUC0-24h/MIC > 100 were investigated for 400 mg moxifloxacin and 600 mg rifampicin, and increased doses of moxifloxacin (600 mg) or rifampicin (900 mg). Moxifloxacin AUC0–24h and peak concentration with a 400 mg dose were decreased when rifampicin was co-administered compared to moxifloxacin alone (ratio of geometric means 0.61 (90% CI (0.53, 0.70) and 0.81 (90% CI (0.70, 0.94), respectively). Among patients receiving rifampicin, 65% attained an AUC0-24h/MIC > 100 for moxifloxacin compared to 78% of patients receiving moxifloxacin alone; this difference was not significant. Seven out of eight patients receiving an increased dose of 600 mg moxifloxacin reached the target AUC0-24h/MIC > 100. This study showed a clinically significant 39% decrease in moxifloxacin exposure when rifampicin was co-administered. Moxifloxacin dose adjustment may compensate for this drug–drug interaction. Further exploring the impact of higher doses of these drugs in patients with isoniazid resistance or intolerance is paramount.
Cochlear Implant Compression Optimization for Musical Sound Quality in MED-EL Users

Objectives: Variations in loudness are a fundamental component of the music listening experience. Cochlear implant (CI) processing, including amplitude compression, and a degraded auditory system may further degrade these loudness cues and decrease the enjoyment of music listening. This study aimed to identify optimal CI sound processor compression settings to improve music sound quality for CI users. Design: Fourteen adult MED-EL CI recipients participated (Experiment No. 1: n = 17 ears; Experiment No. 2: n = 11 ears) in the study. A software application using a modified comparison category rating (CCR) test method allowed participants to compare and rate the sound quality of various CI compression settings while listening to 25 real-world music clips. The two compression settings studied were (1) Maplaw, which informs audibility and compression of soft level sounds, and (2) automatic gain control (AGC), which applies compression to loud sounds. For each experiment, one compression setting (Maplaw or AGC) was held at the default, while the other was varied according to the values available in the clinical CI programming software. Experiment No. 1 compared Maplaw settings of 500, 1000 (default), and 2000. Experiment No. 2 compared AGC settings of 2.5:1, 3:1 (default), and 3.5:1. Results: In Experiment No. 1, the group preferred a higher Maplaw setting of 2000 over the default Maplaw setting of 1000 (p = 0.003) for music listening. There was no significant difference in music sound quality between the Maplaw setting of 500 and the default setting (p = 0.278). In Experiment No. 2, a main effect of AGC setting was found; however, no significant difference in sound quality ratings for pairwise comparisons were found between the experimental settings and the default setting (2.5:1 versus 3:1 at p = 0.546; 3.5:1 versus 3:1 at p = 0.059). Conclusions: CI users reported improvements in music sound quality with higher than default Maplaw or AGC settings. Thus, participants preferred slightly higher compression for music listening, with results having clinical implications for improving music perception in CI users.
Rift Valley Fever Virus Seroprevalence among Humans, Northern KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa, 2018–2019

We detected Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) IgM and IgG in human serum samples collected during 2018–2019 in northern KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. Our results show recent RVFV circulation and likely RVFV endemicity in this tropical coastal plain region of South Africa in the absence of apparent clinical disease.
International trends in systemic human exposures to 2,4 dinitrophenol reported to poisons centres

Abstract Background 2,4 dinitrophenol (DNP) is a toxic industrial chemical that reduces body weight and body fat by uncoupling oxidative phosphorylation but at the risk of severe dose-related toxicity. Increases in human DNP exposures have been reported in the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia in recent years, but little information is available for other countries. This study was performed in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) to establish international rates of systemic DNP-related exposures and deaths, as reported to poisons centres. Methods Poison Centres listed in the WHO Directory of Poison Centres were contacted by email. Data were requested on numbers of enquiries relating to systemic DNP exposure by year, sex and clinical outcome (fatal/non-fatal) for the period January 2010 to September 2020. Results Responses were received from poisons centres in 38 countries which reported 456 separate cases of DNP exposure (303 male, 125 female, 28 sex not reported). Annual case numbers increased from 4 in 2010 to 71 in 2015, with subsequent reductions to 53 in 2019. On a population basis, case rates were higher in Australasia, Europe and North America than in Asia, Africa, and South or Central America, but with substantial differences in rates between countries within the same continent. When mortality data was available, case fatality was high (11.9%, 95% CI 9.0, 15.4) with no significant difference between females (11.3%, 95% CI 6.4, 18.9) and males (12.6%; 95% CI 9.1, 17.1; odds ratio 0.86, 95% 0.45, 1.73, p = 0.72). Conclusions Substantial increases in calls to poisons centres regarding human systemic exposures to DNP internationally between 2010 and 2015, especially those in Europe, Australia and North America, with fatal outcomes common. Countries affected should consider appropriate additional measures to further reduce the risk of human exposure to this hazardous chemical.