Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Importance and Assessment of Quality of Life in Symptomatic Permanent Atrial Fibrillation: Patient Focus Groups from the RATE-AF Trial

Aims: To establish the extent and impact of symptoms in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), the importance of different aspects of quality of life (QoL), and how we should assess wellbeing. Methods: Focus groups of patients with symptomatic permanent AF in a trial of heart rate control; the RATE-AF trial randomised 160 patients aged ≥60 years with permanent AF and at least NYHA class II dyspnoea to either digoxin or beta-blockers. Patient and public representatives led the focus groups and performed all data acquisition and analysis, using thematic approaches to interpret patient views about QoL and its measurement. Results: Substantial impairment of health-related QoL was noted in 160 trial patients, with impact on all domains apart from mental health. Eight women and 11 men aged 61–87 years participated in the focus groups. Common themes were a lack of information from healthcare professionals about AF, a lack of focus on QoL in consultations, and a sense of frustration, isolation, and reduced confidence. There was marked variability in symptoms in individual patients, with some describing severe impact on activities of daily living, and profound interaction with comorbidities such as arthritis. Day-to-day variation in QoL and difficulty in attributing symptom burden to AF or other comorbidities led to challenges in questionnaire completion. Consensus was reached that collecting both general and AF-specific QoL would be useful in routine practice, along with participation in peer support, which was empowering for the patients. Conclusions: The impact of comorbidities is poorly appreciated in the context of AF, with considerable variability in QoL that requires both generic and AF-specific assessment. Improvement in QoL should direct the appraisal, and reappraisal, of treatment decisions for patients with permanent AF.
Elevated specific conductance enhances productivity and biomass of periphytic cyanobacteria from Lake Tahoe and Lake Tanganyika

Abstract: Productivity of attached algae is limited by macronutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus when light is saturating. Attached algae can supplement the available dissolved inorganic nutrient pool through the production of intracellular and extracellular enzymes in order to sequester otherwise bio-unavailable forms of nitrogen and phosphorus. Increased cation concentration can potentially stimulate attached algal productivity through increased enzyme activity and increased nutrient uptake efficiency. We conducted a full factorial laboratory experiment to test the effects of increased cation concentration, measured as specific conductance, and phosphorus source (inorganic or organic) on productivity of algae collected from Lake Tahoe and Lake Tanganyika. We manipulated cation concentration using commercially available lake salts, primarily magnesium, calcium, and potassium. Algal dry mass and productivity were significantly higher in the elevated conductivity treatments regardless of whether the phosphorus provided was in organic or inorganic form. No difference in dry mass was observed between phosphorus source and lake of origin but inorganic phosphorus treatments had significantly higher productivity. Our findings suggest that increased specific conductance in nutrient limited conditions can stimulate attached algal biomass and productivity.
Tuning and commissioning a new Power System Stabilizer parameters at Sarir gas turbine power plant: PART I: Local Mode

This paper presents a new parameters tuning power system stabilizer at Sarir gas turbine power plant. The objective is to damp the local mode of oscillations that occur following power system disturbances. The bode plots and root locus are used to illustrate the process of tuning the PSS controls. In this paper, we describe the proposed parameters, and compare with old parameters rotor damping. The study is covered a field experiment and simulation. The old parameters was made by SIEMENS are chosen to compared with the proposed model. In the field commissioning, the step signal points is applied to the AVR to performance monitoring and compares with the simulations.
Analysis of Physical Access Control System for Understanding Users Behavior and Anomaly Detection Using Neo4j

Physical Access Control (PAC) systems play a central role in the protection of critical infrastructures, where both the provision of timely access and preserving the security of sensitive areas are paramount. A key challenge is how to detect normal and abnormal behavior of authorized users in PAC systems. This problem becomes increasingly severe as such systems become more and more complex, and is deployed to manage a large amount of sensitive or private areas, buildings and resources. Therefore, the focus of this paper is to develop a Graph-based method for analysis of PAC log data to detect normal and abnormal behavior. To achieve this, we have developed an Eclipse application (AC2Neo4j) that transforms PAC log data into Neo4j automatically, thus allowing for powerful analysis to take place using cypher queries.
Overview of the method for choosing the most suitable database system according to certain criteria

Nowadays, information technology is one of the key component of ongoing projects in all sectors. Medicine, mechanical engineering, the banking sector, the agro-industry, all of them are on one level or another side of using information technologies and information systems is to predict, calculate or facilitate automatic actions. Information systems do not only simplify daily tasks, even also makes it possible to use resources optimally. However, the information systems require using of optimal solutions and the choice of implementation technologies by themselves. As a result, it seems relevant to develop an automated system for calculating the most suitable database for projects. The purpose of the research is to develop the system for selecting database, also taking into an account the possibility of using hybrid SQL and NoSQL technologies. This article provides an overview also analysis existing types of databases and a comparative analysis method for choosing a system.
Varietal Differences in Mature Protein Composition of Wheat Resulted From Different Rates of Polymer Accumulation During Grain Filling

Two varieties of wheat differing in high-molecular-weight glutenin subunit composition (Oxley, 2+12, Glu-D1a and Egret, 5+10, Glu-D1d) and dough properties were examined in order to determine the manner in which differences in mature protein composition were the result of differences in accumulation of proteins during grain filling. To this end, grain samples from each cultivar were taken at 5 day intervals from 10 days after anthesis to maturity, and analysed for protein content and composition. Wheat proteins were separated and quantified as albumin/globulin, monomer, SDS-soluble polymer and SDS-insoluble polymer using size-exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography. For both cultivars, the accumulation of each class of protein was found to be highly asynchronous: synthesis of albumin/globulin was followed by that of monomer, SDS-soluble polymer and finally SDS-insoluble polymer, such that the average molecular size of grain protein increased throughout grain filling. Varietal differences in mature protein composition were almost entirely the result of a greater rate of polymer accumulation in the 2+12 than in the 5+10 genotype.
Delay-Dependent Stability Analysis of Inverted Pendulum Controlled Over Communication Network

In this paper, the sweeping test method is used for the first time to estimate the delay margin of the inverted pendulum system and to stabilize the system when the controlled signal is fedback through the communication network. In addition, the controller design based on a Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR) is used. The delay margin is calculated by sweeping test to easily grantee the stability of the system with CAN bus. The results are tested through Matlab/Simulink simulation and show that the sweeping test method is an accurate method to compute the delay margin.
Development of a computational model on the neural activity patterns of a visual working memory in a hierarchical feedforward Network

Understanding the mechanism of information processing in the human brain remains a unique challenge because the nonlinear interactions between the neurons in the network are extremely complex and because controlling every relevant parameter during an experiment is difficult. Therefore, a simulation using simplified computational models may be an effective approach. In the present study, we developed a general model of neural networks that can simulate nonlinear activity patterns in the hierarchical structure of a neural network system. To test our model, we first examined whether our simulation could match the previously-observed nonlinear features of neural activity patterns. Next, we performed a psychophysics experiment for a simple visual working memory task to evaluate whether the model could predict the performance of human subjects. Our studies show that the model is capable of reproducing the relationship between memory load and performance and may contribute, in part, to our understanding of how the structure of neural circuits can determine the nonlinear neural activity patterns in the human brain.
Intraspecific Hybridisation of Boronia heterophylla F. Muell

Boronia heterophylla is cultivated for cut flower production. Three cultivars dominate production, ‘Red', ‘Cameo', and ‘Moonglow'. A variety of colors and an extended flowering period are demanded by local and overseas markets. The aim of this study was to develop procedures for a Boronia heterophylla breeding program through intraspesific hybridization. This may yield progeny with desirable characteristics, ideally increased vigor, and a range of flower colors and flowering times. Nine pollination combinations were attempted, each self pollination and all reciprocal crosses. Seed set varied from 17 to 95%. Embryo rescue (was employed to produce hybrid plants using half strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal media and it was most successful (75%) 5-6 weeks after pollination. All shoots multiplied on media containing MS salts + NAA (0.1 mg/l) + BA (0.4 mg/l). All shoots transferred to medium containing half strength MS salts + NAA (4 mg/l) produced roots. Plantlets were acclimatized to sterile potting mix (in a small chamber within a glass house. This intraspecific hybridization system was very successful and plants were obtained for all pollination treatments except for selfed ‘Moonglow'. Embryo rescue may provide a system for germinating other species with difficult to germinate or dormant seed.
Protective Effects of Black Raspberry (Rubus occidentalis) Extract against Hypercholesterolemia and Hepatic Inflammation in Rats Fed High-Fat and High-Choline Diets

Choline is converted to trimethylamine by gut microbiota and further oxidized to trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) by hepatic flavin monooxygenases. Positive correlation between TMAO and chronic diseases has been reported. Polyphenols in black raspberry (BR), especially anthocyanins, possess various biological activities. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of BR extract on the level of choline-derived metabolites, serum lipid profile, and inflammation markers in rats fed high-fat and high-choline diets. Forty female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into four groups and fed for 8 weeks as follows: CON (AIN-93G diet), HF (high-fat diet), HFC (HF + 1.5% choline water), and HFCB (HFC + 0.6% BR extract). Serum levels of TMAO, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol and cecal trimethylamine (TMA) level were significantly higher in the HFC than in the HFCB. BR extract decreased mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory genes including nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and protein expression of NF-κB and COX-2 in liver tissue. These results suggest that consistent intake of BR extract might alleviate hypercholesterolemia and hepatic inflammation induced by excessive choline with a high-fat diet via lowering elevated levels of cecal TMA and serum TMAO in rats.
A Systematic Review of the Diagnostic Methods of Small Fiber Neuropathies in Rehabilitation

This systematic review describes the several methods to diagnose and measure the severity of small fiber neuropathies and aims to guide the physician to define all the diagnostic approaches for adopting the best strategies described in the current literature. The search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and Web of Science. Two reviewers independently reviewed and came to consensus on which articles met inclusion/exclusion criteria. The authors excluded all the duplicates, animals’ studies, and included the English articles in which the diagnostic measures were finalized to assess the effectiveness of rehabilitation and pharmacologic treatment of patients with small fiber neuropathies. The search identified a total of 975 articles with the keywords “small fiber neuropathy” AND “rehabilitation” OR “therapy” OR “treatment”. Seventy-eight selected full-text were analyzed by the reviewers. Forty-one publications met the inclusion criteria and were included in the systematic review. Despite the range of diagnostic tools for the assessment of small fiber neuropathy, other robust trials are needed. In addition, always different diagnostic approaches are used, a unique protocol could be important for the clinicians. More research is needed to build evidence for the best diagnostic methodologies and to delineate a definitive diagnostic protocol.
Multicenter Validation of Metabolic Abnormalities Related to PSP According to the MDS‐PSP Criteria

It remains unclear whether the supportive imaging features described in the diagnostic criteria for progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) are suitable for the full clinical spectrum. The aim of the current study was to define and cross‐validate the pattern of glucose metabolism in the brain associated with a diagnosis of different PSP variants. A retrospective multicenter cohort study performed on 73 PSP patients who were referred for a fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography PET scan: PSP–Richardson's syndrome, n = 47; PSP–parkinsonian variant, n = 18; and progressive gait freezing, n = 8. In addition, we included 55 healthy controls and 58 Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. Scans were normalized by global mean activity. We analyzed the regional differences in metabolism between the groups. Moreover, we applied a multivariate analysis to obtain a PSP‐related pattern that was cross‐validated in independent populations at the individual level. Group analysis showed relative hypometabolism in the midbrain, basal ganglia, thalamus, and frontoinsular cortices and hypermetabolism in the cerebellum and sensorimotor cortices in PSP patients compared with healthy controls and PD patients, the latter with more severe involvement in the basal ganglia and occipital cortices. The PSP‐related pattern obtained confirmed the regions described above. At the individual level, the PSP‐related pattern showed optimal diagnostic accuracy to distinguish between PSP and healthy controls (sensitivity, 80.4%; specificity, 96.9%) and between PSP and PD (sensitivity, 80.4%; specificity, 90.7%). Moreover, PSP–Richardson's syndrome and PSP–parkinsonian variant patients showed significantly more PSP‐related pattern expression than PD patients and healthy controls. The glucose metabolism assessed by fluorodeoxyglucose PET is a useful and reproducible supportive diagnostic tool for PSP–Richardson's syndrome and PSP–parkinsonian variant. © 2020 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Parthenolide as Cooperating Agent for Anti-Cancer Treatment of Various Malignancies

Primary and acquired resistance of cancer to therapy is often associated with activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). Parthenolide (PN) has been shown to inhibit NF-κB signaling and other pro-survival signaling pathways, induce apoptosis and reduce a subpopulation of cancer stem-like cells in several cancers. Multimodal therapies that include PN or its derivatives seem to be promising approaches enhancing sensitivity of cancer cells to therapy and diminishing development of resistance. A number of studies have demonstrated that several drugs with various targets and mechanisms of action can cooperate with PN to eliminate cancer cells or inhibit their proliferation. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge on PN activity and its potential utility as complementary therapy against different cancers.
The fate of active left‐side infective endocarditis with operative indication in absence of valve surgery

Although the benefits of surgery in infective endocarditis (IE) are clear, an unneglectable proportion of patients do not undergo surgery despite clear operative indication. Outcomes of these patients are poorly reported. With this study, we aim to analyze patient profiles, indication for surgery, decision‐making, and outcomes of patients not undergoing surgery despite contemporary surgical indications.
Trends in Degradable Mesoporous Organosilica-Based Nanomaterials for Controlling Drug Delivery: A Mini Review

The last few years of enhancing the design of hybrid mesoporous organosilica nanoparticles has allowed their degradation under specific pathologic conditions, which finally is showing a light in their potential use as drug delivery systems towards clinical trials. Nevertheless, the issue of controlling the degradation on-demand at cellular level still remains a major challenge, even if it has lately been addressed through the incorporation of degradable organo-bridged alkoxysilanes into the silica framework. On this basis, this mini review covers some of the most recent examples of different degradable organosilica nanomaterials with potential application in nanomedicine, from degradable non-porous to mesoporous organosilica nanoparticles (MONs), functionalized with responsive molecular gates, and also the very promising degradable periodic mesoporous organosilica materials (PMOs) only consisting of organosilica bridges.
Relationships between Total, Free and Bioavailable Vitamin D and Vitamin D Binding Protein in Early Pregnancy with Neonatal Outcomes: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Maternal vitamin D deficiency has been associated with adverse neonatal outcomes, however, existing results are inconsistent. Current data focus on total 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) as the common measure of vitamin D status, while additional measures including vitamin D-binding protein (VDBP) and free and bioavailable metabolites have not been explored in relation to neonatal outcomes. We examined whether VDBP and total, free, and bioavailable vitamin D metabolites in early pregnancy are associated with subsequent neonatal outcomes. In this retrospective analysis of 304 women in early pregnancy (<20 weeks gestation), demographic and anthropometric data were collected and total 25(OH)D (chemiluminescent assay), VDBP (polyclonal enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)) and albumin (automated colorimetry) were measured in bio-banked samples. Free and bioavailable 25(OH)D were calculated using validated formulae. Neonatal outcomes were derived from a medical record database. Higher maternal total and free 25(OH)D concentrations were associated with higher neonatal birthweight (β = 5.05, p = 0.002 and β = 18.06, p = 0.02, respectively), including after adjustment for maternal covariates including age, body mass index (BMI) and ethnicity (all p ≤ 0.04). Higher total 25(OH)D and VDBP concentrations were associated with a lower likelihood of neonatal jaundice (odds ratio [OR] [95%CI] = 0.997 [0.994, 1.000], p = 0.04 and 0.98 [0.96, 0.99], p = 0.03, respectively), but these were attenuated after adjustment for the above maternal covariates (both p = 0.09). Our findings suggest a novel association between free 25(OH)D and neonatal birthweight. Total 25(OH)D concentrations were also associated with birthweight, and both total 25(OH)D and VDBP were associated with jaundice, but the latter were not significant after adjustment. These results suggest a potential link between these metabolites and neonatal outcomes; however, further large-scale prospective studies are warranted.
Modifying Wicking Speeds in Paper-Based Microfluidic Devices by Laser-Etching

Paper-based microfluidic devices are an attractive platform for developing low-cost, point-of-care diagnostic tools. As paper-based devices’ detection chemistries become more complex, more complicated devices are required, often entailing the sequential delivery of different liquids or reagents to reaction zones. Most research into flow control has been focused on introducing delays. However, delaying the flow can be problematic due to increased evaporation leading to sample loss. We report the use of a CO2 laser to uniformly etch the surface of the paper to modify wicking speeds in paper-based microfluidic devices. This technique can produce both wicking speed increases of up to 1.1× faster and decreases of up to 0.9× slower. Wicking speeds can be further enhanced by etching both sides of the paper, resulting in wicking 1.3× faster than unetched channels. Channels with lengthwise laser-etched grooves were also compared to uniformly etched channels, with the most heavily grooved channels wicking 1.9× faster than the fastest double-sided etched channels. Furthermore, sealing both sides of the channel in packing tape results in the most heavily etched channels, single-sided, double-sided, and grooved, wicking over 13× faster than unetched channels. By selectively etching individual channels, different combinations of sequential fluid delivery can be obtained without altering any channel geometry. Laser etching is a simple process that can be integrated into the patterning of the device and requires no additional materials or chemicals, enabling greater flow control for paper-based microfluidic devices.
Examining the variability of small-reservoir water levels in semi-arid environments for integrated water management purposes, using remote sensing

Accurate, reliable and continuous monitoring of water reservoirs is critical for sustainable water harvesting as well as planning by different water resources management authorities, especially in semi-arid environments. This study thus assessed the utility of remote sensing technologies for extracting critical information on dam water levels for uMzingwane dam, in the south western part of Zimbabwe, for the years 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2013. The Normalised Difference Wetness Index (NDWI), computed from multi-Landsat ETM+ and Landsat 8 images, was applied to extract the dam water levels. Our results indicate that the dam water levels varied significantly (α = 0.05) from 2007 to 2013. It was further observed that dam water levels increased with the increase in rainfall patterns, within uMzingwane catchment between the year 2007 and 2013. The findings of this research therefore demonstrate the importance of remote sensing techniques in assessing water resources in data scarce areas.