Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Utilisation of coal fly ash in the manufacture of useful materials

Fly ash, if not utilised, is considered a waste product. Zeolitisation of coal fly ash offers the opportunity to create an added value product from a waste stream. Optimisation of the two-step zeolitisation process is necessary in order to render the process profitable. The Objective of this thesis is to analyse the optimisation of Si extraction from fly ash and the conditions of crystallisation. The type of synthetic zeolites produced were found to be highly dependent on the conditions of the crystallisation process, which has produced zeolite Na-P1, sodalite, zeolite Na-A, zeolite K-A and other species. Crystallisation parameters explored by this thesis include pH, sodium aluminate addition, time at which ash and leachate are separated, length of crystallisation period, temperature, and control experiments on Si leaching from glassware. Further experimentation analysed the effects of a closed loop system on yield, variations in ash used in the leaching process, generation of floating zeolite via precipitation on cenospheres, highly caustic ash leaching, and Ga and Ge content analysis of ash leachate. Eight sets of cation exchange capacity tests were carried out using synthetic acid mine drainage and various zeolites, zeolitised ash, and untreated ash.
Nickel allergy in lipid transfer protein sensitized patients: Prevalence and clinical features

Nickel (Ni), the main responsible for allergic contact dermatitis worldwide, is also involved in systemic condition called “Systemic Nickel Sulfate Allergy Syndrome (SNAS). ” Likewise, IgE-mediated reactivity to Lipid Transfer Protein (LTP) represents the main cause of primary food allergy in adults of Mediterranean countries. We evaluated the prevalence of SNAS in LTP allergic patients and investigated patients’ clinical features with double sensitization (LTP and Ni). A retrospective, single-center, observational study was conducted performing a complete allergological work-up including: (1) skin prick tests; (2) serum specific IgE for plant food allergens and rPru p3 (LTP); (3) patch test with 5% Ni sulfate in petrolatum. We enrolled 140 LTP allergic patients of which 36 patients (25.7% of sample) showed additional positivity to Ni patch test. Patients with double sensitization were more frequently females and reported fewer cutaneous symptoms. Higher values of sIgE for peach, apple, peanut, walnut, grain, corn, and garlic were found in LTP allergic patients, while higher values for hazelnut in the other subgroup. The prevalence of SNAS in the LTP allergic population is clinically relevant. Moreover, the clinical and immunological profiles of patients with double sensitization were different from patients monosensitized to LTP.
Bone evaluation in paediatric chronic kidney disease: Clinical practice points from the European Society for Paediatric Nephrology CKD-MBD and Dialysis working groups and CKD-MBD working group of the ERA-EDTA.

Mineral and bone disorder (MBD) is widely prevalent in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and is associated with significant morbidity. CKD may cause disturbances in bone remodelling/modelling, which are more pronounced in the growing skeleton, manifesting as short stature, bone pain and deformities, fractures, slipped epiphyses and ectopic calcifications. Although assessment of bone health is a key element in the clinical care of children with CKD, it remains a major challenge for physicians. On the one hand, bone biopsy with histomorphometry is the gold standard for assessing bone health, but it is expensive, invasive and requires expertise in the interpretation of bone histology. On the other hand, currently available non-invasive measures, including dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and biomarkers of bone formation/resorption, are affected by growth and pubertal status and have limited sensitivity and specificity in predicting changes in bone turnover and mineralization. In the absence of high-quality evidence, there are wide variations in clinical practice in the diagnosis and management of CKD-MBD in childhood. We present clinical practice points (CPPs) on the assessment of bone disease in children with CKD Stages 2-5 and on dialysis based on the best available evidence and consensus of experts from the CKD-MBD and Dialysis working groups of the European Society for Paediatric Nephrology and the CKD-MBD working group of the European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association. These CPPs should be carefully considered by treating physicians and adapted to individual patients' needs as appropriate. Further areas for research are suggested.
Atlas of Plastics Additives: Analysis by Spectrometric Methods

Part A: Theory and Practical Applications1 Introduction * 2 Extraction, Solution Precipitation and Separation of Additives * 3 IR Spectrometry * 4 Raman Spectrometry * 5 Spectrometry in the Ultraviolet and Visible Regions * 6 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometry * 7 Mass Spectrometry * 8 Structure Analysis by X-ray Diffraction * 9 Elemental Analysis * 10 Bibliography.Part B: FTIR Spectral Atlas of Plastics Additives1 Decimal Classification of Additives * 2 FTIR Spectra of Additives * 3 Chemical Name Index * 4 Trivial/Trade Names, Pigment CIE Names Index.
Comparison of Automotive Gasolines Using Capillary Gas Chromatography II: Limitations of Automotive Gasoline Comparisons in Casework

When comparing gasoline recovered from a fire scene with a possible source, several factors must be considered, including the variability introduced by the recovery method, possible contamination of the data by pyrolysis products, distortion of the data as a result of evaporation of the gasoline, and other alterations of the recovered gasoline by chemical and physical interactions. All of these factors can contribute to a decrease in the specificity of comparisons of gasoline recovered from fire debris relative to liquid gasoline comparisons.
Introduktion till Systemalgebra (3:e uppl)

Systemalgebra kan anvandas for att ge en beskrivning av informationsmangder och samband mellan dem oberoende av den tekniska utformningen av ett IT-system (eller databehandlingssystem). Matriser, och grafer, anvands for att beskriva sambanden mellan informationsmangder, vilket gor det mojligt att identifiera precedenter och succedenter till en informationsmangd. Ett processdiagram och en incidensmatris identifierar processer med input och output. Systemalgebran beskriver fil- och datastrukturer systematiskt och enhetligt, vilket gor det mojligt att analysera sambanden mellan informationsmangder. Den kan aven anvandas for behovsberakningar och positioneringar.
Flow diverting devices in acute ruptured blood blister aneurysms: a three centric retrospective study

Background: Blood blister aneurysms (BBAs) are a rare tiny subset of intracranial aneurysms, located at the nonbranching site of an artery, representing a therapeutic challenge from both surgical and endovascular approach. Flow-diverting efficacy, by preserving flow through the parent artery, was approved for its use in unruptured cerebral aneurysms, but no consensus was reached on its use for BBAs ruptured in the acute setting. We report a multicenter experience of use of flow diversion in acute setting of ruptured BBA, to analyze the safety and efficacy of these devices. Methods: We performed a retrospective study of 6 consecutive intracranial BBAs treated with flow diverter devices (FDD) between 2018 and 2020 at 3 italian institutions. Materials, therapy used, complications, clinical and radiographic outcomes were reviewed. Results: We used different FDD, in all cases immediate change in contrast opacification at the end of the procedure was reported. Intraprocedural IIb/IIIa inhibitor agent was the major antiplatelet protocol administered. Any complications occurred. All patients showed complete BBA obliteration at 3 months follow-up. 5/6 patients achieved good clinical outcome (0–2 mRS) at 3 months, all of which were presented with low grade SAH (Hunt Hess I–III) and a lower Fisher grade. Conclusion: Our data support this endovascular technique as a safe and effective therapeutic modality for this pathology in the acute setting. (www.actabiomedica.it).
Noninvasive Determination of IDH and 1p19q Status of Lower-grade Gliomas Using MRI Radiomics: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND: Determination of isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) status and, if IDH-mutant, assessing 1p19q codeletion are an important component of diagnosis of World Health Organization grades II/III or lower-grade gliomas. This has led to research into noninvasively correlating imaging features (“radiomics”) with genetic status. PURPOSE: Our aim was to perform a diagnostic test accuracy systematic review for classifying IDH and 1p19q status using MR imaging radiomics, to provide future directions for integration into clinical radiology. DATA SOURCES: Ovid (MEDLINE), Scopus, and the Web of Science were searched in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for Diagnostic Test Accuracy guidelines. STUDY SELECTION: Fourteen journal articles were selected that included 1655 lower-grade gliomas classified by their IDH and/or 1p19q status from MR imaging radiomic features. DATA ANALYSIS: For each article, the classification of IDH and/or 1p19q status using MR imaging radiomics was evaluated using the area under curve or descriptive statistics. Quality assessment was performed with the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 tool and the radiomics quality score. DATA SYNTHESIS: The best classifier of IDH status was with conventional radiomics in combination with convolutional neural network–derived features (area under the curve = 0.95, 94.4% sensitivity, 86.7% specificity). Optimal classification of 1p19q status occurred with texture-based radiomics (area under the curve = 0.96, 90% sensitivity, 89% specificity). LIMITATIONS: A meta-analysis showed high heterogeneity due to the uniqueness of radiomic pipelines. CONCLUSIONS: Radiogenomics is a potential alternative to standard invasive biopsy techniques for determination of IDH and 1p19q status in lower-grade gliomas but requires translational research for clinical uptake.
Presence of hearing loss is predictive of return for further stages of tinnitus therapy following initial education and counseling

Abstract Objective Identify clinical factors that predict the likelihood of patients returning for further evaluation and treatment following stage 1 education and counselling in a staged tinnitus habituation program. Design Retrospective cross-sectional study. Demographics, audiometric findings and Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) scores were used for predictive modelling to determine the likelihood of patients returning for subsequent therapy. Study samples One hundred and ninety consecutive patients treated in an outpatient, staged tinnitus habituation program. Results Improvements in THI scores were observed in all subjects (n = 119, d = 0.49, p < 0.001), both for those without hearing loss (n = 13, d = 0.54, p = 0.03) and those with hearing loss (n = 106, d = 0.48, p < 0.001) following Stage 1 education and counselling. Subjects with hearing loss were 14 times more likely to return for Stage 2 evaluation (p < 0.001) following completion of Stage 1 education and counselling. Conclusion Subjects with idiopathic subjective non-pulsatile tinnitus across all degrees of tinnitus severity benefit from group education and counselling alone. Subjects with hearing loss, irrespective of most hearing loss configurations, are more likely to return for subsequent stages of the program.
Gold compact disc appended Tröger's base scaffolds as MALDI-TOF biodetection probes

Troger’s base was discovered in 1887 by J. Troger and has a V-shaped structure with C2 symmetry containing a chiral, hydrophobic cleft creating an angle of 90˚. For many years its chiral cleft has been utilised for the stationary phase of chiral HPLC columns, a chiral resolving agent and as a chiral catalyst. Over the past 30 years it has been reported that this interesting molecule can intercalate DNA, inhibit enzyme activity and behave as a synthetic receptor. The biological activity of the analogues of Troger’s base has only been narrowly investigated. This investigation has generated a plethora of biologically interesting Troger’s base derivatives via utilisation of ‘click’ chemistry on a novel bis-azido Toger’s base scaffold. The detection of proteins quickly, efficiently and cheaply is a huge challenge and this project aims to use cheap, readily available gold compact discs as a novel platform for the portable detection and sensing of biological interactions on the gold CD surface. The use of a gold compact disc and its ability to bind self assembled monolayers will be investigated and the detection of these biological interactions via MALDI-TOF spectrometry will be probed. The (+)-biotin / streptavidin interaction will be used as a model study for these purposes with the ambition to develop this further with humanitarian and military applications. The V-shape and 90˚ angle of Troger’s base will be exploited to investigate its use as a scaffold for binding to gold compact discs for the development of surface based biological assays and proteomics. The incorporation of stable isotopes into organic molecules will also be investigated and we report a new protocol for the mild and efficient deuteration of terminal alkynes and their subsequent use in organic chemistry.
Maternal high-fat diet in mice alters immune regulation and lung function in the offspring

Abstract PUFA modulate immune function and have been associated with the risk of childhood atopy and asthma. We investigated the effect of maternal fat intake in mice on PUFA status, elongase and desaturase gene expression, inflammatory markers and lung function in the offspring. C57BL/6J mice (n 32) were fed either standard chow (C, 20·4 % energy as fat) or a high-fat diet (HFD, 39·9 % energy as fat) for 4 weeks prior to conception and during gestation and lactation. At 21 d of age, offspring were weaned onto either the HFD or C, generating four experimental groups: C/C, C/HF, HF/C and HF/HF. Plasma and liver fatty acid composition were measured by GC and gene expression by quantitative PCR. Lung resistance to methacholine was assessed. Arachidonic acid concentrations in offspring plasma and liver phospholipids were increased by HFD; this effect was greater in the post-natal HFD group. DHA concentration in offspring liver phospholipids was increased in response to HFD and was higher in the post-natal HFD group. Post-natal HFD increased hepatic fatty acid desaturase (FADS) 2 and elongation of very long-chain fatty acid 5 expression in male offspring, whereas maternal HFD elevated expression of FADS1 and FADS2 in female offspring compared with males. Post-natal HFD increased expression of IL-6 and C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) in perivascular adipose tissue. The HFD lowered lung resistance to methacholine. Excessive maternal fat intake during development modifies hepatic PUFA status in offspring through regulation of gene expression of enzymes that are involved in PUFA biosynthesis and modifies the development of the offspring lungs leading to respiratory dysfunction.
Computational design of small molecular modulators of protein–protein interactions with a novel thermodynamic cycle: Allosteric inhibitors of HIV‐1 integrase

Targeting protein–protein interactions for therapeutic development involves designing small molecules to either disrupt or enhance a known PPI. For this purpose, it is necessary to compute reliably the effect of chemical modifications of small molecules on the protein–protein association free energy. Here we present results obtained using a novel thermodynamic free energy cycle, for the rational design of allosteric inhibitors of HIV‐1 integrase (ALLINI) that act specifically in the early stage of the infection cycle. The new compounds can serve as molecular probes to dissect the multifunctional mechanisms of ALLINIs to inform the discovery of new allosteric inhibitors. The free energy protocol developed here can be more broadly applied to study quantitatively the effects of small molecules on modulating the strengths of protein–protein interactions.
Impact of multimorbidity on risk and outcome of stroke: Lessons from chronic kidney disease

With both an aging population and greater post-stroke survival, multimorbidity is a growing healthcare challenge, affecting over 40% of stroke patients, and rising rapidly and predictably with increasing age. Commonly defined as the co-occurrence of two or more chronic conditions, multimorbidity burden is a strong adverse prognostic factor, associated with greater short- and long-term stroke mortality, worse rehabilitation outcomes, and reduced use of secondary prevention. Chronic kidney disease can be considered as the archetypal comorbidity, being age-dependent and also affecting about 40% of stroke patients. Chronic kidney disease and stroke share very similar traditional cardiovascular risk factor profiles such as hypertension and diabetes, though novel chronic kidney disease-specific risk factors such as inflammation and oxidative stress have also been proposed. Using chronic kidney disease as an exemplar condition, we explore the mechanisms of risk in multimorbidity, implications for management, impact on stroke severity, and downstream consequences such as post-stroke cognitive impairment and dementia.
Glue embolization of a pial arteriovenous fistula of the spinal artery

There are no clear guidelines about the treatment Pial Arteriovenous Fistulae (PAVF). For high-risk and severally symptomatic fistulae surgery is the first choice of treatment, including feeding artery ligation, surgical resection, radiosurgery and endovascular embolization techniques. We described a case of a patient with a symptomatic PAVF at the craniocervical junction fed by the anterior spinal artery, successfully treated with endovascular approach consisting of glue embolization of the feeding vessel. (www.actabiomedica.it).
An examination of the extent to which drinking motives and problem alcohol consumption vary as a function of deprivation, gender and age.

INTRODUCTION Existing research points to a link between socioeconomic factors, alcohol consumption and harms, while another body of work documents the importance of varying motivations to drink in shaping alcohol behaviours. Yet, little is currently known about the extent to which alcohol consumption may be differentially associated with drinking motives as a function of deprivation, gender and age. METHODS Cross-sectional analysis of data from a UK sample aged between 18 and 75 years (n = 1639; 51% male, Mage 47.74, SD 14.66). Structural equation modelling, using clustering to account for the multi-level nature of the data set, was carried out to assesses the relationships between deprivation (Index of Multiple Deprivation), occupation, age, gender and problem alcohol consumption (Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test) and social, conformity, enhancement and coping drinking motives. RESULTS Coping, enhancement and conformity, but not social, motives were associated with problem alcohol consumption. Drinking motives were stronger predictors of problem consumption than gender and age, with motives tending to be endorsed more strongly by younger and male respondents. Responses from participants with working-class occupations tended to be characterised by elevated endorsements of coping motives. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION Drinking motives are stronger predictors of problem alcohol consumption than socio-demographic variables although these factors exert influences on people's motives to drink.
i2d: an R package for simulating data from images and the implications in biomedical research

Abstract Motivation High-quality imaging analyses have been proposed to drive innovation in biomedical and biological research. However, the application of images remains underexploited because of the limited capacity of human vision and the challenges in extracting quantitative information from images. Computationally extracting quantitative information from images is critical to overcoming this limitation. Here, we present a novel R package, i2d, to simulate data from an image based on digital convolution. Results The R package i2d allows users to transform an image into a simulated dataset that can be used to extract and analyze complex information in biomedical and biological research. The package also includes three novel and efficient methods for graph clustering based on simulated data, which can be used to dissect complex gene networks into sub-clusters that have similar biological functions. Availability and implementation The code, the documentation, a tutorial and example data are available on an open source at: github.com/XiaoyuLiang/i2d. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Impact of lymphadenectomy on the treatment of endometrial cancer using data from the JSOG cancer registry

Objective Regional lymph node (LN) dissection is a standard surgical procedure for endometrial cancer, but there is currently no clear consensus on its therapeutic significance. We aimed to determine the impact of regional LN dissection on the outcome of endometrial cancer. Methods Study subjects comprised 36,813 patients who were registered in the gynecological tumor registry of the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, had undergone initial surgery for endometrial cancer between 2004 and 2011, and whose clinicopathological factors and prognosis were appropriate for our investigation. The following clinicopathological factors were obtained from the registry: age, surgical stage classification, Union for International Cancer Control tumor, node, metastasis classification, histological type, histological differentiation, presence or absence of LN dissection, and postoperative treatment. We retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathological factors and therapeutic outcomes for patients with endometrial cancer. Results Analysis of all subjects showed that the group that underwent LN dissection had a significantly better overall survival than the group that did not undergo dissection. Analysis based on stage showed similar results across groups, except for stage Ia. Analysis based on stage and histological type showed similar results across groups, except for stage Ia endometrial carcinoma G1 or Ia G2. Multivariate analysis of prognostic factors indicated that LN dissection is an independent prognostic factor and that it has a greater impact on prognosis than adjuvant chemotherapy. Conclusion Despite the limitations of a retrospective study with some biases, the results suggest that LN dissection in endometrial cancer has a prognostic effect.