Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Risk stratification in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension predicts survival

Abstract Objectives To investigate if the pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) risk assessment tool presented in the 2015 ESC/ERS guidelines is valid for patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) when taking pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) into account. Design. Incident CTEPH patients registered in the Swedish PAH Registry (SPAHR) between 2008 and 2016 were included. Risk stratification performed at baseline and follow-up classified the patients as low-, intermediate-, or high-risk using the proposed ESC/ERS risk algorithm. Results. There were 250 CTEPH patients with median age (interquartile range) 70 (14) years, and 53% were male. Thirty-two percent underwent PEA within 5 (6) months. In a multivariable model adjusting for age, sex, and pharmacological treatment, patients with intermediate-risk or high-risk profiles at baseline displayed an increased mortality risk (Hazard Ratio [95% confidence interval]: 1.64 [0.69–3.90] and 5.39 [2.13–13.59], respectively) compared to those with a low-risk profile, whereas PEA was associated with better survival (0.38 [0.18–0.82]). Similar impact of risk profile and PEA was seen at follow-up. Conclusion. The ESC/ERS risk assessment tool identifies CTEPH patients with reduced survival. Furthermore, PEA improves survival markedly independently of risk group and age. Take home message: The ESC/ERS risk stratification for PAH predicts survival also in CTEPH patients, even when taking PEA into account.
Stability analysis for seed yield, components of seed and oil in linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.)

The genotype X environment interaction was studied for 10 parents and their 45 F1s for seed yield and 8 quality traits in linseed under 4 environments. Highly significant differences among genotypes, environments and E+(G X E) interaction for all the characters were observed. The nonlinear component of G X E was significant for all the characters except protein and oil contents. G X E (linear) interaction was significant for all the characters except iodine value and palmitic acid. The variety T 397 for seed yield per plant and oil content, R 552 for protein content, R 17 for palmitic acid and K 2 for stearic acid was consideloid as stable. Cross combination T 397 X LCK 152 was stable for all the characters except stearic and oleic acids. No correlation was observed among the three stability parameters for quality characters. Thus it was concluded that all the three parameters should be taken into account for improvement in quality traits in linseed.
Interleukin-4 Improves Metabolic Abnormalities in Leptin-Deficient and High-Fat Diet Mice

Obesity is a metabolic disorder that results from complex interactions between genetic predisposition and dietary factors. Interleukin-4 (IL-4), besides its role in immunity, has metabolic effects on insulin efficacy. We studied the effects of IL-4 on metabolic abnormalities in a mice model of obesity involving leptin deficiency and leptin resistance. Leptin-deficient 145E and leptin-resistant high-fat diet (HFD) mice showed lower levels of circulating IL-4. 145E and HFD mice showed a number of abnormalities: Obesity, hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, liver injury, and adiposity with concurrent inflammation, decreases in Akt, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and STAT6 phosphorylation in the hypothalamus, liver, and epididymal fat. Independent of leptin-deficient obesity and dietary obesity, a course of 8-week IL-4 supplementation improved obesity and impairment in Akt, STAT3, and STAT6 signaling. Amelioration of cytokine expression, despite variable extents, was closely linked with the actions of IL-4. Additionally, the browning of white adipocytes by IL-4 was found in epididymal white adipose tissues and 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Chronic exercise, weight management, and probiotics are recommended to overweight patients and IL-4 signaling is associated with clinical improvement. Thus, IL-4 could be a metabolic regulator and antiobesity candidate for the treatment of obesity and its complications.
Evaluation of hydrogen sulphide test for detection of fecal coliform contamination in drinking water from various sources

The assessment of H2S field test for detection of potability of drinking water was evaluated by analysing 1050 water samples from various sources at room temperature and at 37oC after 18, 24, and 48 h of incubation. The H2S test showed 100, 84 and 89% correlation with Eijkman test, Membrane Filter Technique (MFT) and Most Probable Number (MPN) test for coliform, respectively. In comparisons with MPN the H2S test showed 84% correlation with open well water, 80% with tube well water and 94% with hotels and restaurants water at room temperature, indicating decrease in efficacy of this test with depth of source of water. The test can be used in the field or in village level without any skilled personnel. Hence the test can be recommended for detection of fecal contamination in drinking water in the field where laboratory facilities are limited.
Molecular fingerprint of precancerous lesions in breast atypical hyperplasia

Objective To identify atypical hyperplasia (AH) of the breast by shell-isolated nanoparticle-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SHINERS), and to explore the molecular fingerprinting characteristics of breast AH. Methods Breast hyperplasia was studied in 11 hospitals across China from January 2015 to December 2016. All patients completed questionnaires on women’s health. The differences between patients with and without breast AH were compared. AH breast lesions were detected by Raman spectroscopy followed by the SHINERS technique. Results There were no significant differences in clinical features and risk-related factors between patients with breast AH (n = 37) and the control group (n = 2576). Fifteen cases of breast AH lesions were detected by Raman spectroscopy. The main different Raman peaks in patients with AH appeared at 880, 1001, 1086, 1156, 1260, and 1610 cm−1, attributed to the different vibrational modes of nucleic acids, β-carotene, and proteins. Shell-isolated nanoparticles had different enhancement effects on the nucleic acid, protein, and lipid components in AH. Conclusion Raman spectroscopy can detect characteristic molecular changes in breast AH lesions, and may thus be useful for the non-invasive early diagnosis and for investigating the mechanism of tumorigenesis in patients with breast AH.
Genetic diversity between large white and nigerian indigenous breed of swine using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE).

Sixty-two pigs (32 large white pigs and 32 Nigerian indigenous pigs were used in this study. Biochemical techniques were used in analyzing the blood serum samples obtained from the pigs using Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis. A total of 14 loci were scored for the Nigerian Indigenous pigs and 10 for the Large White breed. The results of the molecular characterization with SDS-PAGE were analysed using PAST Package to determine genetic similarity coefficient and construct phylogenetic dendrogram. The within breed comparism of Nigerian indigenous pigs showed 62% similarity while the Large White breeds showed 65% similarity. For the between-breed comparism, the Nigerian indigenous breeds and the Large White breeds were 48% similar. The moderate genetic similarity observed in the Nigerian indigenous pigs and the Large White pigs indicates a reasonable level of genetic dilution in both breeds. Keywords : Electrophoresis, Genetic diversity, Pig, Polymorphism,
Comparative Functional Analysis of Class II Potassium Transporters, SvHKT2;1, SvHKT2;2, and HvHKT2;1, on Ionic Transport and Salt Tolerance in Transgenic Arabidopsis

Class II high-affinity potassium transporters (HKT2s) mediate Na+–K+ cotransport and Na+/K+ homeostasis under K+-starved or saline conditions. Their functions have been studied in yeast and X. laevis oocytes; however, little is known about their respective properties in plant cells. In this study, we characterized the Na+ and K+ transport properties of SvHKT2;1, SvHKT2;2 and HvHKT2;1 in Arabidopsis under different ionic conditions. The differences were detected in shoot K+ accumulation and root K+ uptake under salt stress conditions, K+ accumulation in roots and phloem sap under K+-starved conditions, and shoot and root Na+ accumulation under K+-starved conditions among the HKT2s transgenic lines and WT plants. These results indicate the diverse ionic transport properties of these HKT2s in plant cells, which could not be detected using yeast or X. laevis oocytes. Furthermore, Arabidopsis expressing HKT2s showed reduced salt tolerance, while over-expression of HvHKT2;1 in barley, which has the ability to sequestrate Na+, showed enhanced salt tolerance by accumulating Na+ in the shoots. These results suggest that the coordinated enhancement of Na+ accumulation and sequestration mechanisms in shoots could be a promising strategy to confer salt tolerance to glycophytes.
Lottery incentives have short‐term impact on ART initiation among men: results from a randomized pilot study

Among people living with HIV in South Africa, viral suppression is lower among men than women. The study aim was to test the impact of lottery incentives, which reward positive health choice (e.g. antiretroviral therapy (ART) linkage) with a chance to win a prize, on strengthening the HIV care continuum including ART initiation and viral suppression for men.
Questioning dual antimicrobial therapy as first line in recent Australian Therapeutic Guidelines.

has not been through the copyediting, typesetting, pagination and proofreading process, which may lead to differences between this version and the Version of Record. Please cite this article as doi: 10.1111/ADJ.12783 This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved Questioning dual antimicrobial therapy as first line in recent Australian Therapeutic Guidelines Corresponding author: Dr Leanne Teoh Melbourne Dental School University of Melbourne Carlton, Victoria 3053 Australia Email: leanne.teoh@unimelb.edu. au
Using Electronic Data Collection Platforms to Assess Complementary and Integrative Health Patient-Reported Outcomes: Feasibility Project

Background The Veteran Administration (VA) Office of Patient-Centered Care and Cultural Transformation is invested in improving veteran health through a whole-person approach while taking advantage of the electronic resources suite available through the VA. Currently, there is no standardized process to collect and integrate electronic patient-reported outcomes (ePROs) of complementary and integrative health (CIH) into clinical care using a web-based survey platform. This quality improvement project enrolled veterans attending CIH appointments within a VA facility and used web-based technologies to collect ePROs. Objective This study aimed to (1) determine a practical process for collecting ePROs using patient email services and a web-based survey platform and (2) conduct analyses of survey data using repeated measures to estimate the effects of CIH on patient outcomes. Methods In total, 100 veterans from one VA facility, comprising 11 cohorts, agreed to participate. The VA patient email services (Secure Messaging) were used to manually send links to a 16-item web-based survey stored on a secure web-based survey storage platform (Qualtrics). Each survey included questions about patient outcomes from CIH programs. Each cohort was sent survey links via Secure Messaging (SM) at 6 time points: weeks 1 through 4, week 8, and week 12. Process evaluation interviews were conducted with five primary care providers to assess barriers and facilitators to using the patient-reported outcome survey in usual care. Results This quality improvement project demonstrated the usability of SM and Qualtrics for ePRO collection. However, SM for ePROs was labor intensive for providers. Descriptive statistics on health competence (2-item Perceived Health Competence Scale), physical and mental health (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Global-10), and stress (4-item Perceived Stress Scale) indicated that scores did not significantly change over time. Survey response rates varied (18/100, 18.0%-42/100, 42.0%) across each of the 12 weekly survey periods. In total, 74 of 100 participants provided ≥1 survey, and 90% (66/74) were female. The majority, 62% (33/53) of participants, who reported the use of any CIH modality, reported the use of two or more unique modalities. Primary care providers highlighted specific challenges with SM and offered solutions regarding staff involvement in survey implementation. Conclusions This quality improvement project informs our understanding of the processes currently available for using SM and web-based data platforms to collect ePROs. The study results indicate that although it is possible to use SM and web-based survey platforms for ePROs, automating scheduled administration will be necessary to reduce provider burden. The lack of significant change in ePROs may be due to standard measures taking a biomedical approach to wellness. Future work should focus on identifying ideal ePRO processes that would include standardized, whole-person measures of wellness.
Abundância de microartrópodes do solo em fragmentos de mata com araucária no sul do Brasil

The abundance of soil microarthropods from seven fragments of Araucaria Forest, Muitos Capoes, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, was compared. The size of the fragments ranged from 0.25 ha to 35 ha, the two largest fragments are situated within the Aracuri Ecological Station and the remaining five are situated in a cattle ranching farm. In June 2000, three plots (10 m x 10 m) were established in the central area of each patch, and three soil cores (7 cm diameter x 6 cm deep) were taken per plot. The abundance of microarthropods in the upper six centimeters (soil + litter) varied between 63209 and 102704 ind.m-2, with oribatid mites (Acari, Cryptostigmata) being dominant in all fragments (between 46.9 % and 61.3 % of total individuals). Most microarthropod groups presented a decrease in abundance with decreasing fragment area, with a statistically significant difference between smaller and larger fragments. The proportion of oribatids also decreased with decreasing fragment area. The results suggest that the growing fragmentation process of Araucaria forests in southern Brazil, associated to a tendency for reducing the size of remnant fragments, can affect the abundance of soil microarthropods, and therefore, the quality and health of this ecosystem.
Outperforming yet undervalued: Undergraduate women in STEM

In spite of efforts to increase gender diversity across many science fields, women continue to encounter beliefs that they lack ability and talent. Undergraduate education is a critical time when peer influence may alter choice of majors and careers for women interested in science. Even in life science courses, in which women outnumber men, gender biases that emerge in peer-to-peer interactions during coursework may detract from women’s interest and progress. This is the first study of which we are aware to document that women are outperforming men in both physical and life science undergraduate courses at the same institution, while simultaneously continuing to be perceived as less-able students. This is problematic because undergraduate women may not be able to escape gender-ability stereotypes even when they are outperforming men, which has important implications for 1) the recognition of women’s achievements among their peers in undergraduate education and 2) retention of women in STEM disciplines and careers.
Use of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease: A Review.

Importance Recent randomized clinical trials have demonstrated that glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) reduce cardiovascular events in at-risk individuals with type 2 diabetes. Despite these findings, GLP-1RAs are underused in eligible patients, particularly by cardiologists. Observations To date, randomized clinical trials of albiglutide, dulaglutide, liraglutide, and injectable semaglutide have reported favorable cardiovascular outcomes. Most recently approved for clinical use, oral semaglutide has a favorable safety profile and is currently undergoing regulatory evaluation and further study for cardiovascular outcomes. Professional society guidelines now recommend GLP-1RA therapy for cardiovascular risk mitigation in patients with type 2 diabetes and established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) or multiple ASCVD risk factors, independent of glucose control or background antihyperglycemic therapy (other diabetes medications being used). Additional conditions suitable for GLP-1RA therapy include obesity and advanced chronic kidney disease (estimated glomerular filtration rate <30 mL/min/1.73 m2), for which cardiovascular risk-reducing options are limited. Out-of-pocket costs and secondary advantages (eg, weight loss) may inform shared decision-making discussions regarding potential therapies. GLP-1RA therapy has a favorable safety profile. Its most common adverse effect is gastrointestinal upset, which typically wanes during the early weeks of therapy and may be mitigated by starting at the lowest dose and escalating as tolerated. Depending on baseline glycemic control, sulfonylureas and insulin may need to be decreased before GLP-1RA initiation; without concurrent use of insulin or sulfonylureas, GLP-1RAs are not associated with hypoglycemia. Multidisciplinary follow-up and collaborative care with primary care physicians and/or endocrinologists are important. Conclusions and Relevance Findings from this review suggest that GLP-1RAs are safe, are well tolerated, and improve cardiovascular outcomes, largely independent of their antihyperglycemic properties, but they remain underused by cardiologists. This review provides a practical resource for cardiologists for initiating GLP-1RAs and managing the therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes and established ASCVD or high risk for ASCVD.
Derivatives

Novel 4-(5-bromo-2-hydroxyphenyl)-5-methyl-2-(N,N-dialkylamino)-1,3-dithiol-2-ylium hydrogen sulphates have been synthesized by the heterocyclisation of the 1-(5-bromo-2-hydroxyphenyl)-1-oxapropan-2-yl dithiocarbamates. The latter compounds have been obtained from the reaction of the corresponding substituted a-bromopropiophenone with various salts of dithiocarbamic acids. These derivatives were characterized by NMR and MS spectrometry, UV-Vis and IR spectroscopy.
Differences between Well-Differentiated Neuroendocrine Tumors and Ductal Adenocarcinomas of the Pancreas Assessed by Multi-Omics Profiling

Most pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) are indolent, while pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs) are particularly aggressive. To elucidate the basis for this difference and to establish the biomarkers, by using the deep sequencing, we analyzed somatic variants across coding regions of 409 cancer genes and measured mRNA/miRNA expression in nine PNETs, eight PDACs, and four intestinal neuroendocrine tumors (INETs). There were 153 unique somatic variants considered pathogenic or likely pathogenic, found in 50, 57, and 24 genes in PDACs, PNETs, and INETs, respectively. Ten and 11 genes contained a pathogenic mutation in at least one sample of all tumor types and in PDACs and PNETs, respectively, while 28, 34, and 11 genes were found to be mutated exclusively in PDACs, PNETs, and INETs, respectively. The mRNA and miRNA transcriptomes of PDACs and NETs were distinct: from 54 to 1659 differentially expressed mRNAs and from 117 to 250 differentially expressed miRNAs exhibited high discrimination ability and resulted in models with an area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC-ROC) >0.9 for both miRNA and mRNA. Given the miRNAs high stability, we proposed exploring that class of RNA as new pancreatic tumor biomarkers.
Disentangling Context Availability and Concreteness in Lexical Decision and Word Translation

This study examines contrasting predictions of the dual coding theory and the context availability hypothesis regarding concreteness effects in monolingual and bilingual lexical processing. In three experiments, concreteness was controlled for or confounded with rated context availability. In the first experiment, bilingual subjects performed lexical decision in their native language (Dutch, L1). In the second experiment, lexical decision performance of bilinguals in their second language (English, L2) was examined. In the third experiment, bilinguals translated words “forwards” (from L1 to L2) or “backwards” (from L2 to L1). Both monolingual and bilingual tasks showed a concreteness effect when concreteness was confounded with context availability. However, concreteness effects disappeared when abstract and concrete words were matched on context availability, and even occasionally reversed. Implications of these results for theories that account for concreteness effects, particulary in bilingual processing, are discussed.
Neural Activation and Transformation in Explants of Competent Ectoderm under the Influence of Fragments of Anterior Notochord in Urodeles

Experiments in which folds of competent ectoderm were attached to neural plates of host embryos at various cranio-caudal levels (Nieuwkoop et al ., 1952) suggested that two successive influences emanate from the underlying archenteron roof: a first one representing a more or less non-specific activation which leads autonomously to a differentiation in a prosencephalic direction; and a second one transforming these prosencephalic differentiation tendencies into more caudal ones leading to the formation of rhombencephalon and spinal cord. The work of Eyal-Giladi (1954) in which the temporal and spatial relations of neural induction were analysed by means of an interruption of the induction at various stages of development and at various cranio-caudal levels of the presumptive neural area showed very clearly that during gastrulation two successive waves of induction actually pass through the presumptive neuro-ectoderm in a caudo-cranial direction. The first wave, which emanates from the presumptive prechordal material, leads to an activation of the ectoderm and its autonomous development in a prosencephalic direction.
Phytochemical and acute toxicity studies of the aqueous and methanol extracts of Emilia coccinea (Sims) G. Don.

: Emilia coccinea serves various indigenous medicinal uses in traditional settings without much consideration about the possible adverse effects of the consumption of its crude extracts. The present study examined the possible acute toxic effects of the oral administration of the aqueous and methanol extracts of E. coccinea leaves in mice. Graded doses (1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 g/kg) of the extracts were administered to 6 groups of mice and their responses observed for 2 hrs and 24 hrs for behavioural changes and mortality respectively. The results showed that the administration of a single dose of the extracts did not produce any harmful effect or death in the animals and the mice had no negative behavioural changes. The LD 50 was found to be greater than 8 g/kg since up to this dose no death was recorded. There was no significant change (P>0.05) in the mean body weight of the test and control mice. The phytochemical screening using qualitative standards revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides and terpenoids in both extracts. The results of this study suggest that the aqueous and methanol extracts of the leaf of E. coccinea can be considered safe within the administered doses.