Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Swarm Robotics: A Perspective on the Latest Reviewed Concepts and Applications

Known as an artificial intelligence subarea, Swarm Robotics is a developing study field investigating bio-inspired collaborative control approaches and integrates a huge collection of agents, reasonably plain robots, in a distributed and decentralized manner. It offers an inspiring essential platform for new researchers to be engaged and share new knowledge to examine their concepts in analytical and heuristic strategies. This paper introduces an overview of current activities in Swarm Robotics and examines the present literature in this area to establish to approach between a realistic swarm robotic system and real-world enforcements. First, we review several Swarm Intelligence concepts to define Swarm Robotics systems, reporting their essential qualities and features and contrast them to generic multi-robotic systems. Second, we report a review of the principal projects that allow realistic study of Swarm Robotics. We demonstrate knowledge regarding current hardware platforms and multi-robot simulators. Finally, the forthcoming promissory applications and the troubles to surpass with a view to achieving them have been described and analyzed.
Insomnia Associated with Tinnitus and Gender Differences

Chronic tinnitus causes a decrease in well-being and can negatively affect sleep quality. It has further been indicated that there are clinically relevant gender differences, which may also have an impact on sleep quality. By conducting a retrospective and explorative data analysis for differences in patients with tinnitus and patients diagnosed with tinnitus and insomnia, hypothesized differences were explored in the summed test scores and on item-level of the validated psychometric instruments. A cross-sectional study was conducted collecting data from a sample of tinnitus patients (n = 76). Insomnia was diagnosed in 49 patients. Gender differences were found on aggregated test scores of the MADRS and BDI with men scoring higher than women, indicating higher depressive symptoms in men. Women stated to suffer more from headaches (p < 0.003), neck pain (p < 0.006) and nervousness as well as restlessness (p < 0.02). Women also reported an increase in tinnitus loudness in response to stress compared to men (p < 0.03). Male individuals with tinnitus and insomnia have higher depression scores and more clinically relevant depressive symptoms than women, who suffer more from psychosomatic symptoms. The results indicate a need for a targeted therapy of depressive symptoms in male patients and targeted treatment of psychosomatic symptoms, stress-related worsening of insomnia and tinnitus in women.
Rapid Identification of New Biomarkers for the Classification of GM1 Type 2 Gangliosidosis Using an Unbiased 1H NMR-Linked Metabolomics Strategy

Biomarkers currently available for the diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic monitoring of GM1 gangliosidosis type 2 (GM1T2) disease are mainly limited to those discovered in targeted proteomic-based studies. In order to identify and establish new, predominantly low-molecular-mass biomarkers for this disorder, we employed an untargeted, multi-analyte approach involving high-resolution 1H NMR analysis coupled to a range of multivariate analysis and computational intelligence technique (CIT) strategies to explore biomolecular distinctions between blood plasma samples collected from GM1T2 and healthy control (HC) participants (n = 10 and 28, respectively). The relationship of these differences to metabolic mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of GM1T2 disorder was also investigated. 1H NMR-linked metabolomics analyses revealed significant GM1T2-mediated dysregulations in ≥13 blood plasma metabolites (corrected p < 0.04), and these included significant upregulations in 7 amino acids, and downregulations in lipoprotein-associated triacylglycerols and alanine. Indeed, results acquired demonstrated a profound distinctiveness between the GM1T2 and HC profiles. Additionally, employment of a genome-scale network model of human metabolism provided evidence that perturbations to propanoate, ethanol, amino-sugar, aspartate, seleno-amino acid, glutathione and alanine metabolism, fatty acid biosynthesis, and most especially branched-chain amino acid degradation (p = 10−12−10−5) were the most important topologically-highlighted dysregulated pathways contributing towards GM1T2 disease pathology. Quantitative metabolite set enrichment analysis revealed that pathological locations associated with these dysfunctions were in the order fibroblasts > Golgi apparatus > mitochondria > spleen ≈ skeletal muscle ≈ muscle in general. In conclusion, results acquired demonstrated marked metabolic imbalances and alterations to energy demand, which are consistent with GM1T2 disease pathogenesis mechanisms.
Reduction of Ochratoxin A during the Preparation of Porridge with Sodium Bicarbonate and Fructose

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a potential human carcinogen that poses a significant concern in food safety and public health. OTA has been found in a wide variety of agricultural commodities, including cereal grains. This study investigated the reduction of OTA during the preparation of rice- and oat-based porridge by a simulated indirect steam process. The effects of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) and fructose on the reduction of OTA were also investigated. During the processing, OTA in rice- and oat-porridge was decreased by 59% and 14%, respectively, from initial OTA artificially added at 20 μg/kg (dry weight basis). When 0.5% and 1% of sodium bicarbonate were added to rice porridge, increased reduction of OTA was observed as 78% and 68%, respectively. The same amounts of added sodium bicarbonate also further reduced OTA in oat porridge to 58% and 72%, respectively. In addition, increased reduction of OTA in the presence of fructose was observed. A combination of the two, i.e., 0.5% sodium bicarbonate and 0.5% fructose, resulted in a 79% and 67% reduction in rice porridge and oat porridge, respectively. These results indicate that indirect steaming may effectively reduce OTA in preparation of porridge-type products, particularly when sodium bicarbonate and/or fructose are added.
Mitochondria May Mediate Prenatal Environmental Influences in Autism Spectrum Disorder

We propose that the mitochondrion, an essential cellular organelle, mediates the long-term prenatal environmental effects of disease in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Many prenatal environmental factors which increase the risk of developing ASD influence mitochondria physiology, including toxicant exposures, immune activation, and nutritional factors. Unique types of mitochondrial dysfunction have been associated with ASD and recent studies have linked prenatal environmental exposures to long-term changes in mitochondrial physiology in children with ASD. A better understanding of the role of the mitochondria in the etiology of ASD can lead to targeted therapeutics and strategies to potentially prevent the development of ASD.
Forgotten No More—The Role of Right Ventricular Dysfunction in Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction: An Echocardiographic Perspective

During the last decade, studies have raised awareness of the crucial role that the right ventricle plays in various clinical settings, including diseases primarily linked to the left ventricle. The assessment of right ventricular performance with conventional echocardiography is challenging. Novel echocardiographic techniques improve the functional assessment of the right ventricle and they show good correlation with the gold standard represented by cardiac magnetic resonance. This review summarizes the traditional and innovative echocardiographic techniques used in the functional assessment of the right ventricle, focusing on the role of right ventricular dysfunction in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and providing a perspective on recent evidence from literature.
How Changes in the Nutritional Landscape Shape Gut Immunometabolism

Cell survival, proliferation and function are energy-demanding processes, fuelled by different metabolic pathways. Immune cells like any other cells will adapt their energy production to their function with specific metabolic pathways characteristic of resting, inflammatory or anti-inflammatory cells. This concept of immunometabolism is revolutionising the field of immunology, opening the gates for novel therapeutic approaches aimed at altering immune responses through immune metabolic manipulations. The first part of this review will give an extensive overview on the metabolic pathways used by immune cells. Diet is a major source of energy, providing substrates to fuel these different metabolic pathways. Protein, lipid and carbohydrate composition as well as food additives can thus shape the immune response particularly in the gut, the first immune point of contact with food antigens and gastrointestinal tract pathogens. How diet composition might affect gut immunometabolism and its impact on diseases will also be discussed. Finally, the food ingested by the host is also a source of energy for the micro-organisms inhabiting the gut lumen particularly in the colon. The by-products released through the processing of specific nutrients by gut bacteria also influence immune cell activity and differentiation. How bacterial metabolites influence gut immunometabolism will be covered in the third part of this review. This notion of immunometabolism and immune function is recent and a deeper understanding of how lifestyle might influence gut immunometabolism is key to prevent or treat diseases.
Senior Managers’ Experience with Health, Happiness, and Motivation in Hospitals and the Perceived Impact on Health Systems: The Case of Meru County, Kenya

Hospitals play a significant role in health systems. Studies among the health workforce have revealed their experiences with mental health challenges. In comparison, there is limited literature on their positive mental health. The purpose of this study was to explore senior managers’ experiences with health status, happiness, and motivation in hospitals and the perceived impact on the health system in Kenya. This qualitative study applied a phenomenological research design. Senior managers within the hospital management teams were selected using purposive sampling. Semi-structured interviews were carried out among senior managers across eleven hospitals in Meru County, Kenya. Among the eleven participants 63.6% were female and 36.4%, were male and the mean age was 44.5 years. The audio-taped data were transcribed and analyzed using Colaizzi’s phenomenological approach. The five themes revealed were: (1) Happiness in the health system; (2) Health status in the health system; (3) Motivation in the health system; (4) Challenges in the health system; (5) Possible solutions to the challenges in the health system. This study revealed the positive and negative impact of the three domains, challenges, and solutions, from the senior managers’ perspective. Healthy, happy, and motivated senior managers and healthcare workers are more responsive and perform better. Policy interventions and programs promoting happiness, health status, and motivation are necessary for strengthening the health workforce and health system.
Mucoadhesive In Situ Rectal Gel Loaded with Rifampicin: Strategy to Improve Bioavailability and Alleviate Liver Toxicity

Although it is a front-line in tuberculosis treatment, rifampicin (RF) exhibits poor oral bioavailability and hepatotoxicity. Rectal mucoadhesive and in situ rectal gels were developed to overcome drug drawbacks. A RF/polyethylene glycol 6000 co-precipitate was first prepared in different ratios. Based on the drug solubility, the selected ratio was investigated for drug/polymer interaction and then incorporated into in situ rectal gels using Pluronic F127 (15%) and Pluronic F68 (10%) as a gel base and mucoadhesive polymers (HPMC, sodium alginate and chitosan). The formulations were assessed for gelation temperature and gel strength. The selected formulation was investigated for in vivo assessments. The results showed that a 1:1 drug/polymer ratio exhibited satisfying solubility with the recorded drug/polymer interaction. Depending on their concentrations, adding mucoadhesive polymers shifted the gelation temperature to lower temperatures and improved the gel strength. The selected formulation (F4) did not exhibit any anal leakage or marked rectal irritation. Using a validated chromatographic analytical method, F4 exhibited higher drug absorption with a 3.38-fold and 1.74-fold higher bioavailability when compared to oral drug suspension and solid suppositories, respectively. Toxicity studies showed unnoticeable hepatic injury in terms of biochemical, histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations. Together, F4 showed a potential of enhanced performance and also offered lower hepatic toxicity, thus offering an encouraging therapeutic alternative.
Managing Difficulties of Microsatellite Instability Testing in Endometrial Cancer-Limitations and Advantages of Four Different PCR-Based Approaches

Simple Summary Due to the approval of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy for microsatellite instability-high or mismatch repair-deficient advanced solid tumors, testing of both biomarkers has gained interest in recent years. Available testing systems were established in the context of Lynch Syndrome for colorectal cancer, thus differences between microsatellite profiles across cancer types may lead to false data interpretation using validated tests for another tumor entity. The present study deals with challenges during microsatellite instability testing in endometrial cancer (EC) and provides a comprehensive comparative study of four different PCR-based approaches which could help to improve microsatellite instability (MSI) testing in future screenings. A validation strategy has been developed for the Idylla system, which can guide the method transfer to other tumor entities, and a screening procedure for EC has been proposed. By direct comparison, this study was able to highlight advantages and limitations of each system in an extensive manner. Abstract Microsatellite instability (MSI), a common alteration in endometrial cancers (EC) is known as a biomarker for immune checkpoint therapy response alongside screening for Lynch Syndrome (LS). However, former studies described challenging MSI profiles in EC hindering analysis by using MSI testing methods intensively validated for colorectal cancer (CRC) only. In order to reduce false negatives, this study examined four different PCR-based approaches for MSI testing using 25 EC samples already tested for mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR). In a follow up validation set of 75 EC samples previously tested both for MMR and MSI, the efficiency of a seven-marker system corresponding to the Idylla system was further analyzed. Both Bethesda and Promega marker panels require trained operators to overcome interpretation complexities caused by either hardly visible additional peaks of one and two nucleotides, or small shifts in microsatellite repeat length. Using parallel sequencing adjustment of bioinformatics is needed. Applying the Idylla MSI assay, an evaluation of input material is more crucial for reliable results and is indispensable. Following MMR deficiency testing as a first-line screening procedure, additional testing with a PCR-based method is necessary if inconclusive staining of immunohistochemistry (IHC) must be clarified.
Impact of the Diet on the Formation of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation Induced by Bacterial Biofilm in the Oral Cavity

The diet is related to the diversity of bacteria in the oral cavity, and the less diverse microbiota of the oral cavity may favor the growth of pathogenic bacteria of all bacterial complexes. Literature data indicate that disturbances in the balance of the bacterial flora of the oral cavity seem to contribute to both oral diseases, including periodontitis, and systemic diseases. If left untreated, periodontitis can damage the gums and alveolar bones. Improper modern eating habits have an impact on the oral microbiome and the gut microbiome, which increase the risk of several chronic diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. The subject of our consideration is the influence of the traditional diet on the formation of oxidative stress and inflammation caused by bacterial biofilm in the oral cavity. Through dental, biomedical and laboratory studies, we wanted to investigate the effect of individual nutrients contained in specific diets on the induction of oxidative stress inducing inflammation of the soft tissues in the oral cavity in the presence of residual supra- and subgingival biofilm. In our research we used different types of diets marked as W, T, B, F and noninvasively collected biological material in the form of bacterial inoculum from volunteers. The analyzed material was grown on complete and selective media against specific strains of all bacterial complexes. Additionally, the zones of growth inhibition were analyzed based on the disc diffusion method. The research was supplemented with dental and periodontological indicators. The research was supplemented by the application of molecular biology methods related to bacterial DNA isolation, PCR reactions and sequencing. Such selected methods constitute an ideal screening test for the analysis of oral bacterial microbiota. The obtained results suggest that certain types of diet can be an effective prophylaxis in the treatment of civilization diseases such as inflammation of the oral cavity along with periodontal tissues and gingival pockets.
Predicting Risk of Antenatal Depression and Anxiety Using Multi-Layer Perceptrons and Support Vector Machines

Perinatal depression and anxiety are defined to be the mental health problems a woman faces during pregnancy, around childbirth, and after child delivery. While this often occurs in women and affects all family members including the infant, it can easily go undetected and underdiagnosed. The prevalence rates of antenatal depression and anxiety worldwide, especially in low-income countries, are extremely high. The wide majority suffers from mild to moderate depression with the risk of leading to impaired child–mother relationship and infant health, few women end up taking their own lives. Owing to high costs and non-availability of resources, it is almost impossible to diagnose every pregnant woman for depression/anxiety whereas under-detection can have a lasting impact on mother and child’s health. This work proposes a multi-layer perceptron based neural network (MLP-NN) classifier to predict the risk of depression and anxiety in pregnant women. We trained and evaluated our proposed system on a Pakistani dataset of 500 women in their antenatal period. ReliefF was used for feature selection before classifier training. Evaluation metrics such as accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, precision, F1 score, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve were used to evaluate the performance of the trained model. Multilayer perceptron and support vector classifier achieved an area under the receiving operating characteristic curve of 88% and 80% for antenatal depression and 85% and 77% for antenatal anxiety, respectively. The system can be used as a facilitator for screening women during their routine visits in the hospital’s gynecology and obstetrics departments.
A Simple Method for a Protective Coating on Stainless Steel against Molten Aluminum Alloy Comprising Polymer-Derived Ceramics, Oxides and Refractory Ceramics

A new coating based on polymer-derived ceramics (PDC), oxides and refractory ceramic with a thickness of around 50 µm has been developed to improve the resistance corrosion of stainless steel substrate against molten aluminum alloy in a thermal energy storage (TES) system designed to run at high temperature (up to 600 °C). These coatings implemented by straightforward methods, like tape casting or paintbrush, were coated on planar and cylindrical stainless-steel substrates, pyrolyzed at 700 °C before being plunged for 600 and 1200 h in molten AlSi12 at 700 °C. The stainless-steel substrate appears healthy without intermetallic compounds, characteristic of molten aluminum alloy corrosion. The protective coating against AlSi12 corrosion shows excellent performance and appears interesting for TES applications.
Molecular Epidemiology of Xanthomonas euvesicatoria Strains from the Balkan Peninsula Revealed by a New Multiple-Locus Variable-Number Tandem-Repeat Analysis Scheme

Bacterial spot of pepper and tomato is caused by at least three species of Xanthomonas, among them two pathovars of Xanthomonas euvesicatoria, which are responsible for significant yield losses on all continents. In order to trace back the spread of bacterial spot pathogens within and among countries, we developed the first multilocus variable number of tandem repeat analyses (MLVA) scheme for pepper- and tomato-pathogenic strains of X. euvesicatoria. In this work, we assessed the repeat numbers by DNA sequencing of 16 tandem repeat loci and applied this new tool to analyse a representative set of 88 X. euvesicatoria pepper strains from Bulgaria and North Macedonia. The MLVA-16 scheme resulted in a Hunter–Gaston Discriminatory Index (HGDI) score of 0.944 and allowed to resolve 36 MLVA haplotypes (MTs), thus demonstrating its suitability for high-resolution molecular typing. Strains from the different regions of Bulgaria and North Macedonia were found to be widespread in genetically distant clonal complexes or singletons. Sequence types of the variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) amplicons revealed cases of size homoplasy and suggested the coexistence of different populations and different introduction events. The large geographical distribution of MTs and the existence of epidemiologically closely related strains in different regions and countries suggest long dispersal of strains on pepper in this area.