Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Aging on Expression of Mic60 and OPA1 and Mitochondrial Morphology in Myocardium of Tibetan Sheep

Simple Summary Mitochondria play a crucial role in the adaptation to high altitude hypoxia environment in Tibetan sheep, and the changes of its morphology and structure directly affect its function. OPA1 and Mic60 are important mitochondria-shaping proteins that work together to regulate the morphology of mitochondrial inner membrane and cristae. It has been shown that aging affects the expression of OPA1 and Mic60 in mice, but it has not been investigated in sheep and hence it is not known whether it might affect the ultrastructure of mitochondria. In this context, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunohistochemistry method were used to measure the expression of Mic60 and OPA1 genes and proteins in myocardium of adult and aged Tibetan sheep, and the ultrastructure of mitochondria were compared by transmission electron microscope. The results suggest that aging can reduces the expression of Mic60 and OPA1 genes and OPA1 protein, which can affect the mitochondrial function. Abstract In order to investigate the effects of aging on the expression of Mic60 and OPA1 and mitochondrial morphology in plateau animals, the expression of Mic60 and OPA1 genes and proteins, and the morphology of mitochondria in the myocardium of adult and aged Tibetan sheep were investigated. The expression of Mic60 and OPA1 genes and OPA1 protein were higher (p < 0.05) in the myocardium of adult Tibetan sheep than in those of the aged ones. The number of mitochondrial cristae in the myocardium of adult was higher than that in aged (p < 0.05). The density of mitochondria in the myocardium of adult was higher than that in aged (p < 0.01). Compared with the adult Tibetan sheep, the mitochondrial crista of aged were relatively sparse, the crista membrane was wide, and the mitochondria were not closely linked, showing fragmentation. These results suggest that the myocardial mitochondria of the adult have better energy supply ability, indicating that aging can lead to the weakening of oxygen supply in the myocardial mitochondria of Tibetan sheep.
Alloy Design, Thermodynamics, and Electron Microscopy of Ternary Ti-Ag-Nb Alloy with Liquid Phase Separation

The Ti–Ag alloy system is an important constituent of dental casting materials and metallic biomaterials with antibacterial functions. The binary Ti–Ag alloy system is characterized by flat liquidus lines with metastable liquid miscibility gaps in the phase diagram. The ternary Ti–Ag-based alloys with liquid phase separation (LPS) were designed based on the mixing enthalpy parameters, thermodynamic calculations using FactSage and Scientific Group Thermodata Europe (SGTE) database, and the predicted ground state diagrams constructed by the Materials Project. The LPS behavior in the ternary Ti–Ag–Nb alloy was investigated using the solidification microstructure analysis in arc-melted ingots and rapidly solidified melt-spun ribbons via trans-scale observations, combined with optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) including electron probe micro analysis (EPMA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). The solidification microstructures depended on the solidification processing in ternary Ti–Ag–Nb alloys; macroscopic phase-separated structures were observed in the arc-melted ingots, whereas fine Ag globules embedded in the Ti-based matrix were observed in the melt-spun ribbons.
Power Control during Remote Laser Welding Using a Convolutional Neural Network

The increase in complex workpieces with changing geometries demands advanced control algorithms in order to achieve stable welding regimes. Usually, many experiments are required to identify and confirm the correct welding parameters. We present a method for controlling laser power in a remote laser welding system with a convolutional neural network (CNN) via a PID controller, based on optical triangulation feedback. AISI 304 metal sheets with a cumulative thickness of 1.5 mm were used. A total accuracy of 94% was achieved for CNN models on the test datasets. The rise time of the controller to achieve full penetration was less than 1.0 s from the start of welding. The Gradient-weighted Class Activation Mapping (Grad-CAM) method was used to further understand the decision making of the model. It was determined that the CNN focuses mainly on the area of the interaction zone and can act accordingly if this interaction zone changes in size. Based on additional testing, we proposed improvements to increase overall controller performance and response time by implementing a feed-forward approach at the beginning of welding.
Cross-cultural measurement equivalence of the Healthy Eating Index adapted version for children aged 1–2 years

Abstract The objectives of this study were to evaluate the cross-cultural measurement equivalence of the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) for children aged 1–2 years and to analyse the quality of nutrition of preterm infants. This was a cross-sectional study with 106 premature infants attended in two specialised outpatient clinics of university hospitals. The quality of the diet was analysed through an adapted HEI to meet the dietary recommendations of Brazilian children aged 1–2 years. Food consumption was measured by 24-h recalls. The reliability of the instrument was evaluated by internal consistency analysis and inter-observer reliability using Cronbach’s α coefficient and κ with quadratic ponderation. The construct validity was evaluated by principal component analysis and by Spearman’s correlation coefficient with total energy and consumption of some groups’ food. The diet quality was considered adequate when the total HEI score was over 80 points. Cronbach’s α was 0·54. Regarding inter-observer reliability, ten items showed strong agreement (κ > 0·8). The item scores had low correlations with energy consumed (r ≤ 0·30), and positive and moderate correlation of fruit (r 0·67), meat (r 0·60) and variety of diet (r 0·57) with total scores. When analysing the overall quality of the diet, most patients need improvement (median 78·7 points), which can be attributed to low total vegetable intake and the presence of ultraprocessed foods in the diet. The instrument showed auspicious psychometric properties, being promising to evaluate the quality of the diet in children aged 1–2 years.
Downregulation of enhancer RNA EMX2OS is associated with poor prognosis in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma

Enhancer RNAs are a subclass of long non-coding RNAs transcribed from enhancer regions that play an important role in the transcriptional regulation of genes. However, their role in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) is largely unknown. Herein, we identified the key enhancer RNAs in KIRC via an integrated data analysis method. Gene expression profiles and clinical data of KIRC and 32 other cancer types were acquired using the University of California Santa Cruz Xena platform. Reported enhancer RNAs and genes regulated by them were selected as putative enhancer RNA-target pairs. Kaplan-Meier survival and correlation analyses were performed to identify the key enhancer RNAs. Finally, EMX2OS was identified as the enhancer RNA most associated with survival, with EMX2 as its target. EMX2OS downregulation was significantly associated with higher histological grade, advanced stage, and poorer prognosis. The results were validated in pan-cancer data from The Cancer Genome Atlas and RT-qPCR analysis of 12 pairs of KIRC and normal real-world samples. Functional enrichment analysis indicated that several metabolism-associated signaling pathways were enriched. This study demonstrated that EMX2OS is a key metabolism-associated enhancer RNA in KIRC with a favorable impact on survival and may be a novel therapeutic target in KIRC.
BCL‐XL exerts a protective role against anemia caused by radiation‐induced kidney damage

Studies of gene‐targeted mice identified the roles of the different pro‐survival BCL‐2 proteins during embryogenesis. However, little is known about the role(s) of these proteins in adults in response to cytotoxic stresses, such as treatment with anti‐cancer agents. We investigated the role of BCL‐XL in adult mice using a strategy where prior bone marrow transplantation allowed for loss of BCL‐XL exclusively in non‐hematopoietic tissues to prevent anemia caused by BCL‐XL deficiency in erythroid cells. Unexpectedly, the combination of total body γ‐irradiation (TBI) and genetic loss of Bcl‐x caused secondary anemia resulting from chronic renal failure due to apoptosis of renal tubular epithelium with secondary obstructive nephropathy. These findings identify a critical protective role of BCL‐XL in the adult kidney and inform on the use of BCL‐XL inhibitors in combination with DNA damage‐inducing drugs for cancer therapy. Encouragingly, the combination of DNA damage‐inducing anti‐cancer therapy plus a BCL‐XL inhibitor could be tolerated in mice, at least when applied sequentially.
Lupus Erythematosus Quality of Life Questionnaire (LEQoL): Development and Psychometric Properties

Lupus erythematosus (LE) affects patients’ quality of life. Nevertheless, no instrument has been developed to assess the quality of life in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) patients. This study aims to develop and psychometrically test the “Quality of Life of Patients with Lupus Erythematosus Instrument” (LEQoL) and study the quality of life of these patients. Finally, percentiles for interpreting scores of LEQoL in patients with LE are provided. This study is cross-sectional, with a sample of 158 patients recruited from a lupus association for the psychometric evaluation of the final version of LEQoL. The scale’s reliability was assessed by Cronbach’s alpha, composite reliability (CR), and average variance extracted (AVE). Validity was examined through exploratory factorial analyses (EFA) and confirmatory factorial analyses (CFA). The definitive model, composed of 21 items grouped into five factors, presented good psychometric properties. Mean levels of quality of life were observed in patients with systemic LE, with higher values in patients with cutaneous LE. The LEQoL instrument is a useful tool for assessing the quality of life of patients with LE, allowing the evaluation of current clinical practices, the identification of educational needs, and the assessment of the effectiveness of interventions intended to improve the quality of life of patients with LE, SLE, and CLE.
Non-prescribed drug use and predictors among pregnant women in Ethiopia: systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Background The use of non-prescribed drugs are common to pregnant women. It may lead to undesirable effects, such as birth defects. Study results on the occurrence and predictor of non-prescribed drug use among pregnant women throughout Ethiopia are highly variable and inconsistent. Therefore, the objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to estimate the pooled prevalence of non-prescribed drug use and predictors among pregnant women in Ethiopia. Methods We systematically searched studies from the international databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Science Direct, Google Scholar, the Cochrane Library and others. The meta-analysis was conducted using Stata15. I2 test and Egger’s test were used to assess the heterogeneity and publication bias respectively. The random-effect model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence of non-prescribed drug use at a 95% CI. Results Eleven studies with a total of 4492 pregnant women fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were included. The pooled national level non-prescribed drug use among pregnant women was 30.38% (95% CI: 20.28, 40.48). The highest use of non-prescribed drug among pregnant women was observed in Amhara region 36.71%, while the lowest was in Tigray region 9.67%, respectively. The most frequently consumed non prescribed drugs by pregnant mothers were paracetamol 34.38%, amoxicillin 14.73%, aspirin 4.25%, metronidazole 2.81% and ciprofloxacin 2.80%. Maternal previous history of self-medication, maternal illness during pregnancy and maternal marital status were significantly associated with women non-prescribed drug use during pregnancy. Conclusions The overall prevalence of non- prescribed drug use among pregnant women in Ethiopia is relatively high, and varies across different regions. The most frequently consumed non- prescribed drug by pregnant mothers was paracetamol. Maternal; previous history of self-medication, illness during pregnancy and marital status were significantly associated with pregnant women non-prescribed drug use. Awareness of the possible side effects of taking non-prescribed drugs for all pregnant women is very relevant in the media and in the maternity ward. In particular, it is important to make clear to mothers who have a history of self-medication, to those who have a history of illness during pregnancy and to those who are pregnant, unmarried or divorced.
A retrospective study of Yiqi-Huoxue Decoction on blood pressure in patients with acute ischemic stroke

Abstract This retrospective study investigated the effect of Yiqi-Huoxue Decoction (YQHXD) on blood pressure (BP) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). A total of 72 patients with BP following AIS who received routine treatment were included in this retrospective study. Of those, 36 patients received YQHXD and were assigned to a treatment group. The other 36 patients were allocated to a control group. All patients were treated for a total of 4 months. The outcomes were assessed by systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score and Barthel index scale (BIS). All outcomes were measured after 4-month treatment. After treatment, all subjects in the treatment group showed greater improvements in SBP (P < .05), DBP (P < .05), NIHSS (P < .05) score, and BIS (P < .05) than those of patients in the control group. In addition, the safety profile is similar in both groups. The findings of this study demonstrated that YQHXD may benefit on BP in patients with AIS. Future studies should focus on warranting the current results.
Treatment of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome in Children and Adolescents: A Structured Literature Scoping Review

Background: Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is characterized by chronic, spontaneous and provoked pain of the distal extremities whose severity is disproportionate to the triggering event. Diagnosis and treatment are still debated and multidisciplinary. The purpose of this systematic review is to analyze the available literature to provide an update on the latest evidence related to the treatment of CRPS in growing age. Methods: Data extraction was performed independently by three reviewers based on predefined criteria and the methodologic quality of included studies was quantified by the Newcastle–Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale Cohort Studies. Results: At the end of the first screening, following the previously described selection criteria, we selected n = 103 articles eligible for full-text reading. Ultimately, after full-text reading and a reference list check, we selected n = 6. The articles focused on physical (PT), associated with cognitive behavioral (CBT) and pharmacological (PhT) treatments. The combination of PT + CBT shows the most efficacy as suggested, but a commonly accepted protocol has not been developed. Conclusions: Physical therapy in association with occupational and cognitive behavioral treatment is the recommended option in the management of pediatric CPRS. Pharmacological therapy should be reserved for refractory and selected patients. The design and development of a standard protocol are strongly suggested.
Host Range and Coding Potential of Eukaryotic Giant Viruses

Giant viruses are a group of eukaryotic double-stranded DNA viruses with large virion and genome size that challenged the traditional view of virus. Newly isolated strains and sequenced genomes in the last two decades have substantially advanced our knowledge of their host diversity, gene functions, and evolutionary history. Giant viruses are now known to infect hosts from all major supergroups in the eukaryotic tree of life, which predominantly comprises microbial organisms. The seven well-recognized viral clades (taxonomic families) have drastically different host range. Mimiviridae and Phycodnaviridae, both with notable intrafamilial genome variation and high abundance in environmental samples, have members that infect the most diverse eukaryotic lineages. Laboratory experiments and comparative genomics have shed light on the unprecedented functional potential of giant viruses, encoding proteins for genetic information flow, energy metabolism, synthesis of biomolecules, membrane transport, and sensing that allow for sophisticated control of intracellular conditions and cell-environment interactions. Evolutionary genomics can illuminate how current and past hosts shape viral gene repertoires, although it becomes more obscure with divergent sequences and deep phylogenies. Continued works to characterize giant viruses from marine and other environments will further contribute to our understanding of their host range, coding potential, and virus-host coevolution.
Extent and nutritional quality of foods and beverages to which children are exposed in Colombian TV food advertising

Abstract Objective: To examine children’s exposure to food and beverage advertising across a year of Colombian television based on whether products exceed Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO)-defined nutrient thresholds. Design: Nutritional information was obtained for all foods and beverages advertised and used to categorise each product according to the product category (e.g. beverage, snack food) and nutritional quality based on the PAHO model for identifying products in excess of free sugars, Na or saturated fat or containing non-caloric sweeteners or trans-fat. Television audience ratings data were used to derive the average child audience (unique child viewers) per ad and the number of times ads were seen by children in a single week (weekly impressions) based on product category and nutritional quality. Setting: All food and beverage ads on cable and over-the-air TV in Colombia in 2017. Participants: N/A. Results: Of all instances of TV ads, 89·3 % were of unhealthy products. A larger proportion of male and female children, as well as children from low (88·01 %), mid (89·10 %) and high (89·10 %) socio-economic status, are exposed to advertising of unhealthy products, but no significant difference was found between these proportions. Conclusion: The majority of foods and beverages advertised to Colombian children are unhealthy. These findings highlight a need to implement statutory measures to reduce children’s exposure to unhealthy food advertising in Colombia, as obesity and overweight have been increasing among school-age children in Colombia, and exposure to television advertising of unhealthy foods is a known contributor to children’s food intake and obesity.
Functional Recovery after Surgery for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis in Patients with Hypertension

Hypertension is a prevalent condition that is associated with lower health status in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. The study determined whether hypertension is a prognostic factor associated with functional recovery after spine surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis. This was a secondary analysis of the Alberta Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Study in which patients were identified as participants at the time of lumbosacral magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Multivariable linear regression analyses were performed to examine hypertension as a prognostic factor of functional recovery after surgery (Oswestry Disability Index, the Swiss Spinal Stenosis (SSS)-Symptom Severity and SSS-Physical Function scales). Of the 97 surgical participants, 49 who were hypertensive were older (76.8, SD 11.4 years) than the 48 non-hypertensive participants (66.7, SD 12.4 years) (p < 0.001). No significant associations between hypertension and post-operative function in any of the three multivariable models were seen. The Oswestry Disability Index mean score improved after surgery (effect size: 1.73; 95%CI: 1.39, 2.06), with no differences seen between those with and without hypertension (p = 0.699). Large changes were seen after surgery for the SSS-Symptom Severity (effect size: 1.0, 95%CI 0.7, 1.3) and SSS-Physical Function (effect size: 0.9, 95%CI 0.6, 1.2) scales. Hypertension alone does not negatively impact functional recovery following surgery.
Atomic and Molecular Processes: an R-Matrix Approach

Introduction. Summary of atomic and molecular R-matrix theory. Applications: Electron-atom scattering. Electron-ion scattering. Electron-molecule scattering H^T2, O^T2, HCl. Photoionization. Free-free transitions H-, C-. Computer program packages: Structure codes. Scattering codes. References not in the R-matrix bibliography. Key to the R-matrix bibliography. R-matrix bibliography. Reproduced papers.
18F-FDG PET and 18F-FDG PET/CT in Vulvar Cancer

Aim The aims of this study were to determine the role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in vulvar cancer patients and to extract summary estimates of its diagnostic performance for preoperative lymph node staging. Patients and Methods PubMed/Medline and Embase databases were searched to identify studies evaluating 18F-FDG PET/CT in vulvar cancer patients. The assessment of methodological quality of the included articles was performed. Per-patient and per-groin pooled estimates, with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) were calculated. Results Ten articles were included in the systematic review, 7 among which evaluated the diagnostic performance of preoperative 18F-FDG PET/CT for lymph node staging. Qualitative per-patient analysis (72 patients from 4 studies) resulted in estimated pooled sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and DOR of 0.70 (95% CI, 0.44–0.95), 0.90 (95% CI, 0.76–1.04), 0.86 (95% CI, 0.66–1.06), 0.77 (95% CI, 0.56–0.97), and 10.49 (95% CI, 1.68–65.50), respectively. Qualitative per-groin analysis (245 groins from 5 studies) resulted in estimated pooled sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and DOR of 0.76 (95% CI, 0.57–0.94), 0.88 (95% CI, 0.82–0.94), 0.70 (95% CI, 0.55–0.85), 0.92 (95% CI, 0.86–0.97), and 19.43 (95% CI, 6.40–58.95), respectively. Conclusions Despite limited literature data, this systematic review and meta-analysis revealed that a negative preoperative PET/CT scan may exclude groin metastases in at least early-stage vulvar cancer patients currently unfit for sentinel node biopsy and select those eligible for a less invasive surgical treatment. A positive PET/CT result should otherwise be interpreted with caution. Larger prospective studies are needed to confirm these results and to evaluate the diagnostic value of standardized semiquantitative analysis compared with the qualitative one.