Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ischemia modified albumin and thiol/disulfide balance in patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis

Hashimoto thyroiditis is a common cause of goiter and acquired hypothyroidism in individuals residing in areas of no iodine deficiency. The fact that the structure of serum albumin exhibits changes in ischemic conditions has paved the way for the discovery of a new serum cardiac ischemia marker, Ischemia Modified Albumin. The other one, thiol/disulphide homeostasis, plays an important part in antioxidative protection, detoxification, cell growth, and apoptosis. In this study, we aimed to investigate both the relationship be - tween Thiol/Disulphide homeostasis and Ischemia Modified Albumin in patients diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. A total of 70 Hashimoto ’ s thyroiditis patients and 50 healthy ones were included in this study. Age, gender, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), anti-thyroid peroxidase (TPO), anti-thyroglobulin (TG) levels were recorded. Ischemia Modified Albumin and thiol-disulphid homeostasis parameters were measured through automated spectrophotometric methods. the ages of individuals included in the study ranged from 35 to 58 years. The native thiol/total thiol were found to be significantly lower in Hashimoto patients when compared to those enrolled in the control group (P < 0.05), whereas the Ischemia Modified Albumin, disul - phide, native thiol, total thiol, disulphide/native thiol, and disulphide/total thiol were found to be significantly higher in Hashimoto patients when compared to those in the control (P < 0.05). Increased Ischemia Modified Albumin, native and total thiol, and disulphide levels are related to increased oxidative stress. Although Ischemia Modified Albumin and Thiol-disulphide defense are important oxidative indicators in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, many determinants are known to be involved in this process
Amphibian and reptilian fauna from the early Miocene of Echzell, Germany

The present study describes a rich amphibian and reptilian assemblage from the early Miocene locality Echzell, Germany. It consists of one allocaudate, five salamander, five frog, one gecko, chamaeleonids, anguine lizards, one lacertid, one skink and five snake taxa. The entire herpetofauna of Echzell is represented by genera and/or families very broadly known from the early Miocene of Europe. Contrary to other early Miocene herpetofaunas, the Echzell assemblage includes surprisingly only one form of crocodile-newts (Chelotriton). The Echzell Palaeobatrachus robustus represents the youngest record of the species and extends its stratigraphic range to the late early Miocene. Regarding chameleons, the frontal is partly preserved, but represents the first described frontal of the extinct species Chamaeleo andrusovi. The only anguine lizard that can be identified in the assemblage is represented by a new genus and species Smithosaurus echzellensis. Our phylogenetic analyses consistently recovered it as the sister taxon to either [Ophisauriscus quadrupes + Ophisaurus holeci] + [Anguis + Ophisaurus] (in the first analysis) or [Anguis + Ophisaurus] (in the second analysis). However, the results are based on limited fossil material – the parietal – and the support for the clade is very low. Thus, the interpretation of the Smithosaurus relationship among anguines needs to be taken with caution and has to be tested in further studies. Among snakes, Natrix longivertebrata represents the oldest record of the species and extends the stratigraphic range of this fossil snake back to the early Miocene. In addition, we provide here a broader comparison of the Echzell amphibian and reptilian assemblage with their European records for the MN3 and MN4 biostratigraphical units. Besides that, the entire herpetofauna of Echzell includes very broadly known early Miocene European forms. Remains of other groups of the same period such as Bufonidae, Hylidae, Pelodytidae, Amphisbaenia, Varanidae, Cordylidae, Pseudopus, are not found in the material available to us. We also conclude that the amphibian and reptilian fossil record across MN3–MN4 is significantly biased by taphonomic and/or environmental conditions. The amphibian and reptilian assemblage of Echzell is rich in forms living in humid and warm environments with forested areas, permanent water bodies and also some open habitats. The following climatic parameters can be reconstructed based on the herpetofauna: a mean annual temperature of 17.4–28.8 °C, minimal warm month temperature 18–28.3 °C, minimal cold month temperature 8–22.2 °C, and mean annual precipitation with a value of 791±254 mm.
A Structure-Conduct-Performance Analysis of the Ethiopian Microfinance Industry

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------iii Acknowledgements-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------iv Table of contents---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------v List of tables--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------x List of figures------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------xi Acronyms----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------xii Chapter One: Introduction----------------------------------------------------------------------------------1 1.1 Background of the study----------------------------------------------------------------------1 1.2 Statement of the problem---------------------------------------------------------------------2 1.3 Objectives of the study------------------------------------------------------------------------3 1.4 Research hypotheses---------------------------------------------------------------------------4 1.5 Data collection methodology-----------------------------------------------------------------4 1.6 Significance of the study----------------------------------------------------------------------4 1.7 Scope and limitation of the study------------------------------------------------------------5 1.8 Organization of the study---------------------------------------------------------------------5
Sex-specific lipid dysregulation in the Abca7 knockout mouse brain

Abstract Alzheimer’s disease is a devastating neurodegenerative disease that affects more women than men. The pathomechanism underlying the sex disparity, especially in the brain, is unclear. ABCA7 is one of the strongest susceptibility genes for Alzheimer’s disease. It mediates the transport of lipids across membranes and is associated with pathways related to amyloid-β neuropathology. However, the role of ABCA7 in the regulation of brain lipids is largely unknown. Sex-specific differences in the pathological link between brain lipid dysregulation and amyloid-β are also unknown. Here, we undertook quantitative discovery lipidomics of male and female Abca7 knockout (n = 52) and wild type (n = 35) mouse brain using sophisticated liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. We identified 61 lipid subclasses in the mouse brain and found sex-specific differences in lipids that were altered with Abca7 deletion. The altered lipids belong to cellular pathways that control cell signalling, sterol metabolism, mitochondrial function and neuroprotection. We also investigated the relationship between lipids and amyloid-β levels in the Abca7 knockout mice and found elevated free cholesterol only in female mice that was significantly correlated with amyloid-β42 levels. In male Abca7 knockout mice, the neuroprotective ganglioside GD1a levels were elevated and inversely correlated with amyloid-β42 levels. Collectively, these results demonstrate that Abca7 deletion leads to sex-specific lipid dysregulation in the brain, providing insight into the underlying sex disparity in the aetiology of Alzheimer’s disease.
Determination of the vagal threshold and changes of it's using

Exercise intensity causes changes in the activity of both branches of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) as involved in cardiovascular system regulation. Reduction in vagal activity and an increase in sympatho-adrenal activity is associated with an increase in death risk from both cardiac and arrhythmic causes during exercise. The main aim of this work was to develop a simple mathematic algorithm for determination of critical exercise intensity, at which, if exceeded, the cardiovascular system starts to be influenced dominantly by rising sympathetic activity including catecholamine and a significant withdrawal in cardiac vagal activity (vagal threshold - TVA) occurs. The testing group consisted of 10 volunteers (men). Their mean age was 27.24 ± 3.23 years and the mean value of their maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) was 50.24 ± 4.63 ml.kg-1.min-1. ANS activity was monitored by the microprocessor diagnostics system VarCor PF 7 and assessed by a non invasive spectral analysis (SA) of heart rate variability (HRV) method. The power of the high frequency component (PHF) was calculated by integrating the area under the power spectral density curve in the frequency range from 0.15 to 0.5 Hz. Changes in autonomic cardiac regulation were assessed during walking in the steady state with exercise intensities ranging from 20 to 70% of maximal heart rate reserve (MHRR) on the treadmill. Each exercise intensity increases of about the 10% MHRR in a range from 20 to 70% MHRR led to a significant decrease in vagal activity. A designed mathematic algorithm for detecting the deflection point of the vagal activity during incremental exercise intensity revealed TVA at 43.63 ± 4.66% MHRR. We can state that the designed algorithm for detection of TVA enables an estimation of such a "safe" intensity, when the vagal activity is still preserved and sympathetic activity does not markedly rise up during exercise. The estimation of TVA could be recommended especially for the exercise prescription for patients with both reduction HRV, and at risk for sudden cardiac death.
Multi-objective optimization of thermo-acoustic devices using teaching-learning-based optimization algorithm

The current article presents three case studies based on a multi-objective optimization approach to optimize the performance of thermo-acoustic devices by obtaining the best possible set of geometrical characteristic parameters. In case study 1, the performance of a thermo-acoustic refrigerator is measured in terms of three objectives namely, acoustic cooling load (ΦC), coefficient of performance, and acoustic power loss (W02). Each objective is assigned a weight to facilitate suitable user-defined significance. The case study 2 aims to optimize a thermoacoustic prime-mover. The influence of stack position and its length, resonator length, plate thickness, and plate spacing are considered as design variables. Two objectives namely, pressure amplitude (P) and frequency (f) are considered as objectives for multi-objective optimization of the thermo-acoustic prime-mover. In case study 3, the performance of a thermo-acoustic engine is measured in terms of five objectives namely, work output (W), viscous loss (Rv), conductive heat loss (Qcond), convective heat loss (Qconv), and radiative heat loss (Qrad). Since the multiple objectives are to be optimized simultaneously, each objective is assigned a weight to facilitate suitable user-defined significance. The multi-objective optimization is carried out by the teaching-learning-based optimization algorithm. The results of application of teaching-learning-based optimization algorithm are compared with the results of General Algebraic Modeling System, response surface methodology, and experimental results. The results of the teaching-learning-based optimization algorithm are found better compared to those given by the other approaches.
Effectiveness of Mild to Moderate Hypothermic Cardiopulmonary Bypass on Early Clinical Outcomes

Background: Intraoperative hypothermia is an integral part of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), and a precise degree of hypothermia may improve the early clinical outcomes of cardiac surgery. Presently, there is no agreement on an accurate, advantageous temperature range for routine use in CPB. To address this issue, we conducted a retrospective observational study to compare the effects of different hypothermic temperature ranges on primary (inotropic support, blood loss, and platelet count) and secondary (ventilation support and in-hospital stay) outcomes in patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery. Methods: Data were retrieved from the medical database of the Cardiovascular Surgery Department, King Edward Medical University, Lahore-Pakistan (a tertiary care hospital), dating from February 2015 to December 2017. Patients were divided into mild (34 °C to 36 °C), intermediate (31 °C to 33 °C), or moderate (28 °C to 30 °C) hypothermic groups. Results: Out of 275 patients, 245 (89.09%) fit the inclusion criteria. The cohort with mild hypothermic CPB temperatures presented better clinical outcomes in terms of requiring less inotropic support, less blood loss, fewer blood transfusions, improved platelet counts, shorter in-hospital stays, and required less ventilation support, when compared with other hypothermic groups. Conclusions: Mild hypothermic CPB (34 °C to 36 °C) may produce better clinical outcomes for cardiac surgery and improve the quality of health of cardiac patients.
Cardiopulmonary Effects and Pharmacokinetics of Dexmedetomidine Used as an Adjunctive Analgesic to Regional Anesthesia of the Oral Cavity with Levobupivacaine in Dogs

Simple Summary The modern approach to multimodal analgesia is based on the use of various types of analgesics before, during, and after surgery, including local anesthetics, such as levobupivacaine. Dexmedetomidine is used as an adjunctive analgesic to enhance the efficacy and duration of local anesthetics, but its use may be associated with dose-related adverse effects, such as hypertension and bradycardia. The primary aim of the study was to investigate the cardiopulmonary effects of dexmedetomidine administered perineurally as an adjunctive analgesic to regional anesthesia of the upper and lower jaw with levobupivacaine in anesthetized dogs. The secondary aim of the study was to investigate the pharmacokinetics of dexmedetomidine to explain the changes in cardiopulmonary parameters due to dexmedetomidine administration. Infraorbital administration was associated with faster absorption of dexmedetomidine, while application into the submucosa near the inferior alveolar nerve resulted in better bioavailability and faster elimination. Perineural administration of dexmedetomidine was associated with lower plasma concentration compared to intravenous administration and may be preferable because it induces a less pronounced cardiovascular response in terms of hypertension and bradycardia. Abstract This study investigated the cardiopulmonary effects and pharmacokinetics of dexmedetomidine (DEX) used as an adjunctive analgesic for regional anesthesia of the oral cavity with levobupivacaine in anesthetized dogs. Forty dogs were randomly assigned to four groups of 10 dogs. All dogs received levobupivacaine (4 blocks) with DEX IO (infraorbital block, n = 10) or IA (inferior alveolar block, n = 10) or placebo (PLC; n = 10) or DEX (n = 10) was injected intravenously (IV) after administration of levobupivacaine. The dose of DEX was always 0.5 µg/kg. Cardiopulmonary parameters were recorded, and blood was drawn for the quantification of DEX in plasma using LC-MS/MS. Heart rate was lower in all LB + DEX groups, while mean arterial pressure (MAP) was higher in the LB + DEX IV and LB + DEX IA groups compared to the LB + PLC IV group. Compared to DEX IV, IO and IA administration resulted in lower MAP up to 2 min after application. Absorption of DEX was faster at IO administration (Cmax and Tmax were 0.47 ± 0.08 ng/mL and 7.22 ± 1.28 min and 0.76 ± 0.09 ng/mL and 7.50 ± 1.63 min for the IO and IA block, respectively). The IA administration resulted in better bioavailability and faster elimination (t1/2 was 63.44 ± 24.15 min and 23.78 ± 3.78 min for the IO and IA block, respectively). Perineural administration of DEX may be preferable because of the less pronounced cardiovascular response compared to IV administration.
Healthcare Use in the Five Years Before a First Infertility Diagnosis: A Danish Register-Based Case–Control Study in the CROSS-TRACKS Cohort

Purpose Infertility may affect somatic and mental health later in life. Nevertheless, health status before diagnosed infertility is sparsely studied in women. We aimed to describe healthcare use in primary and secondary care before a first infertility diagnosis and compare use between cases and controls. Materials and Methods The case–control study was based on register data and used incidence density sampling. From the CROSS-TRACKS Cohort, we included women residing in the Horsens area in Denmark in 2012–2018 (n = 54,175). Eligible women were aged 18–40 years, nulliparous, and living in heterosexual relationships. Cases were women with a first infertility diagnosis in the Danish National Patient Registry (index date). Five controls were matched on age, birth year, and calendar time. Through linkage to Danish national health registries, we identified general practitioner (GP) attendance, paraclinical examinations, hospital contacts, diagnoses, and redeemed prescriptions. Healthcare use from one year to five years before index date was compared with conditional logistic regression. Results We identified 711 cases and 3555 controls. At one year before index date, cases consulted their GP (odds ratio (OR) = 5.2, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.2, 8.3) and visited hospital (OR = 1.2, 95% CI: 1.0, 1.4) and redeemed prescriptions (OR = 2.3 95% CI: 1.9, 2.7) more often compared to controls. Cases more often had blood and hemoglobin tests performed, redeemed more drugs related to genitourinary and hormonal diseases, and were more often diagnosed with endocrine and genitourinary diseases in the year before a first infertility diagnosis compared to controls. Cases and controls had comparable healthcare use from five years to one year before a first infertility diagnosis. Conclusion Cases and controls had similar healthcare use from five years to one year before a first infertility diagnosis. However, cases had a higher healthcare use in the year preceding a first infertility diagnosis compared to controls.
Temperature Field Evolution of Seeding during Directional Solidification of Single-Crystal Ni-Based Superalloy Castings

By combined numerical simulations and unidirectional solidification experiments, the temperature field evolution of seeding for nickel-based single-crystal superalloys was studied. At the steady state, the position of the mushy zone in the seed moves down as the melt is poured into the mold. The holding time required for the temperature field of the seed segment to reach the steady state is less for seeds with casting than for those without casting. The holding time required to completely eliminate randomly oriented broken dendrites in the melt-back zone is much longer than that required for the temperature field to achieve a steady state. A short incubation stage is required before the temperature field evolution process; then, the migration rate of the isotherm gradually increases until it is the vicinity of the withdrawal rate. Finally, the effect of temperature field evolution on the formation of stray grains in seed segments is discussed.
Determination of prevalence, characteristics, management and related factors for pain in the older adults: pain among nursing home residents

This study aimed to determine pain assessment approaches and pain management strategies in elderly people in a nursing home.The cross-sectional-descriptive study sample consisted of 147 older adults living in a nursing home in Turkey in 2019. They all agreed to participate in the study (n = 147); however, as our research was about older adults with pain problems, the study was completed with a total of 108 older adults experiencing pain problems. The participants' average age was 73.60 ± 6.97 years. Geriatric pain scale scores were higher for women aged 75 years and over, those who had a chronic disease and those who received analgesics, and there was a statistically significant difference between the mean scores (p < 0.05). Nurses must pay attention to pain assessment and management in nursing homes because of the adverse effects of pain on older adults' health status, vital functions, and well-being.
A simple method for developing efficient room temperature reduced graphene oxide-coated polyurethane sponge and cotton for oil-water separation

ABSTRACT Oil spilled during transportation, domestic, and industrial usage causes grave water and soil pollution. Therefore, oil recovery through absorption or separation from water has been a challenge to the scientific community. The 3D porous structure of polyurethane (PU) sponge attracted significant attention in oil-water separation applications. However, its poor hydrophobicity decreases and limits its oil-absorption efficacy dramatically. In this paper, we focused on improving the hydrophobicity of the sponge by modifying it with graphene oxide (GO) followed by its reduction to reduce graphene oxide (rGO) via a commonly available green reducing agent, L-ascorbic acid (L-AA). The rGO modified PU sponge was used to absorb and collect oil from an oil-water mixture with satisfactory recoveries of up to ~ 97%. Moreover, the prepared rGO-PU sponge exhibited excellent reusability and compressibility without any crack or leaking. Finally, we compared the results of this study with rGO modified cotton (rGO-cotton) surfaces prepared via the same protocols. The results show that the high compressible and porous nature of sponges (rGO-PU) outperformed the rGO-cotton. Furthermore, this research work was proven to be environmentally friendly and cost-effective absorbent for efficiently extracting oil from oil-water mixtures with fewer toxic chemicals and cheap raw materials utilization.
Ambidexterity and innovation in cluster SMEs: evidence from Indonesian manufacturing

ABSTRACT Resource constraints are widely regarded as a major barrier for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to achieve ambidexterity. While operating in a cluster may help SMEs alleviate resource constraints, it also creates the risk of over embeddedness within the cluster whereby firms focus excessively on exploitation that hampers their ability to achieve ambidexterity. We propose that cluster SMEs with risk-taking orientation and that pursue knowledge search beyond cluster boundaries can overcome over embeddedness within their clusters and achieve ambidexterity. We further suggest that ambidexterity can be a critical competence for SMEs to realise superior innovation performance. Analysis of data gathered through face-to-face interviews and questionnaires from 109 owner-managers of SMEs in a footwear manufacturing cluster in Indonesia support these predictions. Extra-cluster ties and risk taking are critical antecedents of ambidexterity in cluster SMEs. Further, ambidexterity mediates the effects of risk taking fully, and extra-cluster ties partially, on SMEs’ innovation performance.