Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CMR Mapping: The 4th-Era Revolution in Cardiac Imaging

Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging has witnessed substantial progress with the advent of parametric mapping techniques, most notably T1 and T2 mapping. These advanced techniques provide valuable insights into a wide range of cardiac conditions, including ischemic heart disease, cardiomyopathies, inflammatory cardiomyopathies, heart valve disease, and athlete’s heart. Mapping could be the first sign of myocardial injury and oftentimes precedes symptoms, changes in ejection fraction, and irreversible myocardial remodeling. The ability of parametric mapping to offer a quantitative assessment of myocardial tissue properties addresses the limitations of conventional CMR methods, which often rely on qualitative or semiquantitative data. However, challenges persist, especially in terms of standardization and reference value establishment, hindering the wider clinical adoption of parametric mapping. Future developments should prioritize the standardization of techniques to enhance their clinical applicability, ultimately optimizing patient care pathways and outcomes. In this review, we endeavor to provide insights into the potential contributions of CMR mapping techniques in enhancing the diagnostic processes across a range of cardiac conditions.
Differences in left ventricular myocardial function and infarct size in female patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction and spontaneous coronary artery dissection

Introduction Differences in pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and natural course of ST-elevation myocardial infarction in female patients due to either spontaneous dissection (SCAD-STEMI) or atherothrombotic occlusion (type 1 STEMI) have been discussed. Current knowledge on differences in left ventricular myocardial function and infarct size is limited. The aim of this study was to assess baseline clinical characteristics, imaging findings, and therapeutic approach and to compare differences in echocardiographic findings at baseline and 3-month follow-up in patients with SCAD-STEMI and type 1 STEMI. Methods This was a prospective multicenter study of 32 female patients (18–55 years of age) presenting with either SCAD-STEMI due to left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) dissection or type 1 STEMI due to atherothrombotic LAD occlusion. Results The two groups were similar in age, risk factors, comorbidities, and complications. SCAD-STEMI patients more often had Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction 3 flow, while type 1 STEMI patients were more often treated with percutaneous coronary intervention and dual antiplatelet therapy. Baseline mean left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (LVEF) was similar in the two groups (48.0% vs. 48.6%, p = 0.881), but there was a significant difference at the 3-month follow-up, driven by an improvement in LVEF in SCAD-STEMI compared to type 1 STEMI patients (Δ LVEF 10.1 ± 5.3% vs. 1.8 ± 5.1%, p = 0.002). LV global longitudinal strain was slightly improved in both groups at follow-up; however, the improvement was not significantly different between groups (−4.6 ± 2.9% vs. −2.0 ± 2.8%, p = 0.055). Conclusions The results suggest that female patients with SCAD-STEMI are more likely to experience improvement in LV systolic function than type 1 STEMI patients.
Comparison of biomedical science students’ perceptions of online versus paper-based examinations

Online examinations are becoming increasingly incorporated into higher education. However, Biomedical Science students’ perspectives on exam format preferences remains unexplored. This study aims to investigate exam format preferences and attitudes of these students.A self-reported survey of 31 questions on online exam perceptions was utilized and composed of six dimensions: affective factors, validity, practicality, reliability, security, and pedagogy. Scores measured student attitudes around online exams. Additionally, categorical questions examined attitudes around open-book online exams (OBOEs), closed-book online exams (CBOEs), and paper-based exams (PBEs). Qualitative analysis was conducted via the use of open-ended questions and a focus group on five participants. The questionnaire was distributed to undergraduates and 146 students responded across six different programmes.The findings revealed that 57.5% of students preferred OBOEs while only 19.9% preferred PBEs. OBOEs were perceived as more favorable in all six dimensions and superior in terms of reducing stress, ensuring fairness, allowing demonstration of understanding, and retaining information. Gender had no statistically significant influence on perception. However, programme statistically significantly affected responses. Qualitative data supported the main statistical analysis and identified a trade-off between the ability to retain information with PBEs, despite the stress and better demonstration of understanding with OBOEs.Overall, OBOEs were viewed positively and were well accepted; they are anticipated to be a dominant examination format at the UoP. Institutions wishing to implement online exams should consider the perceived benefits they have over traditional exams. These findings contribute to the understanding of students’ perceptions of exam formats, which can inform their design and application in higher education. Further research should explore the perceptions of other disciplines and identify ways to address any challenges associated with online exams.
The Bioactivity of a Hydroxytyrosol-Enriched Extract Originated after Direct Hydrolysis of Olive Leaves from Greek Cultivars

Nowadays, olive leaf polyphenols have been at the center of scientific interest due to their beneficial effects on human health. The most abundant polyphenol in olive leaves is oleuropein. The biological properties of oleuropein are mainly due to the hydroxytyrosol moiety, a drastic catechol group, whose biological activity has been mentioned many times in the literature. Hence, in recent years, many nutritional supplements, food products, and cosmetics enriched in hydroxytyrosol have been developed and marketed, with unexpectedly positive results. However, the concentration levels of hydroxytyrosol in olive leaves are low, as it depends on several agricultural factors. In this study, a rapid and easy methodology for the production of hydroxytyrosol-enriched extracts from olive leaves was described. The proposed method is based on the direct acidic hydrolysis of olive leaves, where the extraction procedure and the hydrolysis of oleuropein are carried out in one step. Furthermore, we tested the in vitro bioactivity of this extract using cell-free and cell-based methods, evaluating its antioxidant and DNA-protective properties. Our results showed that the hydroxytyrosol-enriched extract produced after direct hydrolysis of olive leaves exerted significant in vitro antioxidant and geno-protective activity, and potentially these extracts could have various applications in the pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries.
Interdisciplinary interventional and physiotherapy management of facet joint syndrome

Low back-pain is the most common pain syndrome. Radiofrequency facet denervation (RFD) is a minimally inva - sive method of treatment of chronic low back pain caused by facet joint syndrome. In this procedure electric current with frequency of radio waves are used to cause thermal injury to a small branch nerve that innervates painful facets. There are numerous studies confirming the effectiveness of this therapy. A good outcome of RFD can be sustained by appropriate and regular exercise. The aim of this article is to recommend such a program of exercises focused on strengthening the muscles and improving stabilization of the lumbar spine
MOVIMENTOS SOCIAIS E GEOGRAFIA

As diversas transformações sociais criam constantes mudanças nas dinâmicas urbanas e geográficas, despontando em novas formações e conexões humanas no que tange a discutir a cidade, seu território e pertencimento. Aos agentes sociais, denominados por Corrêa (1995) como grupos sociais excluídos, ou seja, vivendo em situação de vulnerabilidade social e de constante luta pelo direito à cidade e à moradia, o amparo surge, muitas vezes, por meio de redes de apoio, constituídas nas ações dos movimentos sociais. A formação de movimentos sociais e de intensificação dos estudos sobre sua forma de atuação e seu papel político e social, ao final do século XX, possibilitou que a geografia, enquanto ciência, tivesse uma visão mais crítica e cada vez mais próxima ao homem e de suas intervenções no espaço. Tal interface vem permitindo transformações por meio das ações sociais, tanto na geograficidade do espaço quanto na construção do pensamento geográfico.
Enhancing Business Decision Making through a New Corporate Reputation Measurement Model: Practical Application in a Supplier Selection Process

The importance of corporate reputation is a critical issue for business growth, sustainability, and success, as it represents a key intangible asset for the management of all companies. This business importance has its correlation in the academic and research field, where corporate reputation has a high number of publications in the literature. However, despite the importance of this concept, one of the great challenges of recent decades, and one that is still evident today, is how to measure corporate reputation quantitatively and how it affects sustainability. Following an in-depth exploration of the available literature, this manuscript aims to demonstrate the effective application of fuzzy models in enhancing decision-making processes within the realm of corporate reputation management for companies. To achieve this goal, this paper proposes a new corporate reputation measuring model based on the fuzzy 2-tuple linguistic and AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) methodologies. The proposed model promotes the computation of corporate reputation for companies based on three widely cited and universally recognized criteria outlined in the literature, drawing inspiration from a well-established framework in the field. This approach ensures a comprehensive and widely accepted foundation for evaluating corporate reputation: Capability, Benevolence, and Integrity and adding the Net Promote Score variable. To integrate sustainability into this equation, our model suggests the inclusion of variables related to sustainable practices in the measurement of corporate reputation. Recognizing the growing importance of sustainability in the public perception of companies, factors such as social responsibility, environmental management, and business ethics are recommended for consideration in the assessment of corporate reputation. The model proposed in this paper is tested and validated on a real business case, based on the selection of several companies selected for an empirical study in the selection of suppliers. For future research endeavors, the authors suggest expanding the model to encompass various decision-making processes. Additionally, they recommend exploring the integration of machine learning algorithms and data analysis techniques to identify patterns and provide recommendations for enhancing corporate reputation.
Investigating pretreatment methods for struvite precipitation in liquid dairy manure

Phosphorus (P) recovery and re-use is very important today for sustainable nutrient cycling and water quality protection due to the declining global P reserves and increasingly stringent wastewater treatment regulations. P recovery as struvite (MgNH4PO4·6H2O) is a promising technology because it can be used as a slow-release fertilizer. The objective of this study was to investigate different pretreatment methods to enhance struvite precipitation in dairy manure. Generally there are two challenges that need to be overcome to precipitate struvite in liquid dairy manure. The first is the relatively high calcium (Ca) concentration. The present study investigated the effectiveness of two calcium binding reagents to reduce the calcium inhibitory effects to enhance the struvite precipitation. A chemical equilibrium model (Visual MINTEQ 2.60) was used to determine the pH to acidify manure and to precipitate struvite. Then, bench-scale experiments were conducted to validate the model results using synthetic and untreated manure. First, the manure was acidified (pH 4.5) to liberate the particulate-bounded Mg 2+ , Ca 2+ and inorganic P. Second, EDTA and/or oxalate compounds were added to the manure. Third, pH was increased to 7.5 for struvite precipitation from the liquid filtrate. Results showed that struvite-containing crystals were obtained from the samples treated with calcium removal compounds, with a total suspended solids (TSS) concentration less than 4,000 mg/L
An echocardiographic tool for the interatrial conduction disorders – old dog, new tricks?

Background : Bachmann’s bundle plays a crucial role in the physiology of interatrial signal conduction. In the 1970s, Bayes de Luna introduced the definition of interatrial blocks (IABs), which negatively influence atrioven - tricular (AV) synchrony and left atrial (LA) activation. We aimed to assess the potential of LA strain technology in evaluating the mechanics of LA in patients with correct conduction and IABs. Additionally, we measured the pa - rameters of regurgitation in pulmonary veins (PV), which depend on the type of interatrial conduction. Material and methods: The study group comprised 51 patients (26 male, 25 female) with symptomatic COVID-19 and si - nus rhythm. Our study analyzed their medical history, electrocardiography (ECG) and echocardiography, including the LA strain parameters. Results: Global peak atrial longitudinal strain (PALS) depended on P-wave duration, LA volume, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and inferior pulmonary veins (PV) regurgitation parameters. Glo - bal peak atrial contractile strain (PACS) statistically depends on the LVEF, LA volume and the P-wave morphology. Conclusions: The presence of IABs negatively influences PACS and PALS. Examining LA strain is complementary to accurate ECG, which may be helpful in everyday clinical practice, particularly in diagnosing heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and as a predictor of new episodes of atrial fibrillation (AF).
Clinical and sociodemographic factors associated with time spent sitting in military police

ABSTRACT Objective: To verify the association between clinical and sociodemographic factors and time spent sitting in military police. Method: This is a cross-sectional study, with 432 military police officers from Eastern Regional Policing Command units of the Military Police of Bahia de Feira de Santana. Data collection took place from August to December 2022 through Google Forms using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Results: Men predominated (82.35%), race/color was black (87.04%), the head of the family had completed higher education (47.69%) and police officers with a partner (81.94%). The risk of time spent sitting ≥ 180 minutes per day was lower in males (IRR < 1). Increasing age was associated with a lower risk of time spent sitting ≥ 180 minutes per day (IRR < 1). Conclusion: Male police officers with more years of experience were less exposed to sedentary behavior. Specific interventions and health policies aimed at combating sedentary behavior become relevant, aiming to promote health and prevent diseases.
Changes in Flight Altitude of Black-Tailed Gulls According to Temporal and Environmental Differences

Simple Summary Gulls are known for their adaptability and can navigate various environments from coastal and inland areas to marine spaces. Despite extensive studies using GPS tracking devices to explore the habitat use and flight patterns of numerous gull and other bird species, little such research has focused on the widely-distributed black-tailed gulls (Larus crassirostris) inhabiting the Korean Peninsula. To fill this gap in our understanding, our study employed GPS trackers to analyze the flight behavior and habitat use of black-tailed gulls. Our results unveiled distinct ranges of activity and flight altitudes that were influenced by both season and region. These findings suggest that the flight behavior of black-tailed gulls is responsive to environmental changes. Our study contributes fundamental data on the flight behavior of black-tailed gulls. Abstract In this study, GPS trackers were attached to black-tailed gulls (Larus crassirostris) breeding on five islands in Republic of Korea during April and May 2021, and their flight frequency, behavioral range, and flight altitude were compared during and after the breeding season. During the breeding season, the flight frequency was lowest on Dongman Island (28.7%), where mudflats were distributed nearby, and the range of activity was narrow. In contrast, it tended to be high on Gungsi Island (52%), where the breeding colony was far from land, resulting in a wider range of activity. Although the flight frequency on Dongman Island increased post-breeding season (42.7%), it decreased on other islands. The mean flight altitude during the breeding season was lowest on Dongman Island and highest on Napdaegi Island. In most breeding areas, the mean flight altitude during the post-breeding season was higher than that during the breeding season. However, the lead flight altitude was lower during the non-breeding season compared to that in the breeding season. The home range expanded after the breeding season, with no significant difference in lead time between the breeding and non-breeding seasons. Our findings reveal that black-tailed gulls exhibit varying home ranges and flight altitudes depending on season and geographical location. As generalists, gulls display flexible responses to environmental changes, indicating that flight behavior adapts to the evolving environment over time and across regions.
Structural segmentation controlled the 2015 Mw 7.8 Gorkha earthquake rupture in Nepal

The ongoing collision of India with Asia is partly accommodated by slip on the Main Himalayan Thrust (MHT). The 25 April 2015, M w 7.8 Gorkha earthquake is the most recent major event to rupture the MHT, which dips gently northward beneath central Nepal. Although the geology of the range has been studied for decades, fundamental aspects of its deep structure remain disputed. Here, we develop a structural cross section and a three-dimensional, geologically informed model of the MHT that are consistent with seismic observations from the Gorkha earthquake. A comparison of our model to a detailed slip inversion data set shows that the slip patch closely matches an ovalshaped, gently dipping fault surface bounded on all sides by steeper ramps. The Gorkha earthquake rupture seems to have been limited by the geometry of that fault segment. This is a significant step forward in understanding the deep geometry of the MHT and its effect on earthquake nucleation and propagation. Published models of fault locking do not correlate with the slip patch or our fault model in the vicinity of the earthquake, further suggesting that fault geometry was the primary control on this event. Our result emphasizes the importance of adequately constraining subsurface fault geometry in megathrusts in order to better assess the sizes and locations of future earthquakes.
The impact of far-right political orientation and cultural values on conservative attitudes toward life and death in Europe: a multilevel approach

Belief systems are core organizing factors of social attitudes and behaviors, and their study has highlighted the role of conservatism as a contributing mechanism in mitigating concerns associated with change avoidance, as well as the reduction of uncertainty and ambiguity in life. Moreover, these aspects seem to be consistently used as powerful tools in the political and social discourse of the far-right. Life and death ethics are an example of issues that deal with the need for stability and control over personal and social life that people endorsing conservative values seek to attain. There is a rich line of studies on the individual and social explanatory factors of political conservatism, but less attention has been dedicated to moral conservatism as an autonomous and meaningful concept. The current research follows a multilevel approach to disentangle the individual and contextual correlates of conservative attitudes toward life and death. Thus, besides looking at the influence of individual choices related to religion and political orientation, this study also seeks to analyse the impact of the context, introducing in the model variables measuring economic performance, social and gender inequality, religious diversity and the prevalence of materialism and post-materialism values. Multilevel models using data from the 34 countries that participated in the last wave of the European Values Study (2017–2020), revealed an association between far-right orientation and conservative attitudes toward life and death, and that this relationship is moderated by materialism/post-materialism values, economic performance, and social inequality. Our findings reinforce the role of democracy as an environment where freedom of choice and thought are indisputable rights, cherished by most of the populations, regardless of their political position or their stance on moral issues.
Apple Pomace Extract Improves MK-801-Induced Memory Impairment in Mice

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease that involves progressive cognitive decline accompanied by synaptic degeneration and impaired neurotransmission. Recent studies revealed that apple pomace, a waste byproduct of the apple processing industry, has beneficial health properties, but its potential to prevent and treat AD has not been determined. Herein, we examined the effects of apple pomace extract on N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist MK-801-induced memory impairment in mice. Repeated treatment with apple pomace extract for 7 days reversed the MK-801-induced impairment of associative memory and recognition memory. RNA sequencing revealed that repeated treatment with apple pomace extract altered the gene expression profile in the hippocampus of mice. Real-time PCR showed that apple pomace extract induced upregulation of the mRNA expression for Zfp125 and Gstp1. Furthermore, gene sets related to synapse and neurotransmission were upregulated by apple pomace extract. These findings indicate that apple pomace extract may be useful for the prevention and treatment of AD.
Statistical Analysis of Long-Term Measured Electric Field of the Operating ±800 kV HVDC Bipolar Transmission Lines

Presently, there is a lack of understanding regarding the distribution of the DC electric field of actual operating bipolar ±800 kV lines and its statistical correlation with meteorological factors. A 13-month measurement has been conducted for the operating ±800 kV HVDC bipolar transmission lines in China, from which the statistical variation of the DC electric field at the ground level were obtained across various seasons. It is found that electric field distribution is asymmetric except for summer and the average values of electric field statistics for all seasons are similar to those in autumn. The correlation between the meteorological parameters and the electric field was analyzed with correlation coefficients and Random Forests algorithm. And it indicates the wind speed perpendicular to lines, relative humidity and air pressure is the most influential meteorological parameters.