Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Application of medical-nurse integration health education in aged patients undergoing percutaneous vertebroplasty

This study was designed to explore the effect of medical-nurse integration health education in aged patients undergoing percutaneous vertebroplasty. A total of 72 aged patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures, who obtained percutaneous vertebroplasty from June 2019 to May 2022 were selected in this study. Patients were divided into control group (n = 36) and experimental group (n = 36) according to the time of hospitalization. The patients in control group received routine health education, while the patients in the experimental group received medical-nurse integration health education. We evaluated participants on 4 key aspects, their understanding of relevant knowledge, compliance with functional exercise, residual lower back pain rate, and satisfaction with the health education received. Our study found that patients in the experimental group had a significantly higher mastery rate of health education knowledge compared to those in the control group (88.89% vs 50.00%, P < .001). Additionally, compliance with the functional exercise program was higher in the experimental group, with over 80% of patients fully compliant, compared to only about 44.4% in the control group (P = .001). The average Japanese Orthopaedic Association score of the observation group 1 week after operation was higher than that of the control group (P < .05). Moreover, most patients in the experimental group were very satisfied with the medical-nurse integration health education, while most patients in the control group were only satisfied (P < .001). For aged patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures treated by percutaneous vertebroplasty, medical-nurse integration health education could be an effective method to improve the ability of patients to obtain relevant education, enhance the compliance of patients for functional exercise and increase patient satisfaction to the education, and reduce residual low back pain in patients.
Cytokine-Induced Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Demonstrate Their Immunoregulatory Functions to Prolong the Survival of Diabetic Mice

Type 1 diabetes is an inflammatory state. Myeloid-derived suppressive cells (MDSCs) originate from immature myeloid cells and quickly expand to control host immunity during infection, inflammation, trauma, and cancer. This study presents an ex vivo procedure to develop MDSCs from bone marrow cells propagated from granulocyte–macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1β cytokines expressing immature morphology and high immunosuppression of T-cell proliferation. The adoptive transfer of cytokine-induced MDSCs (cMDSCs) improved the hyperglycemic state and prolonged the diabetes-free survival of nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice with severe combined immune deficiency (SCID) induced by reactive splenic T cells harvested from NOD mice. In addition, the application of cMDSCs reduced fibronectin production in the renal glomeruli and improved renal function and proteinuria in diabetic mice. Moreover, cMDSCs use mitigated pancreatic insulitis to restore insulin production and reduce the levels of HbA1c. In conclusion, administering cMDSCs propagated from GM-CSF, IL-6, and IL-1β cytokines provides an alternative immunotherapy protocol for treating diabetic pancreatic insulitis and renal nephropathy.
CdO decorated CdS nanorod for enhanced photocatalytic reduction of CO2 to CO

Solar-driven CO2 reduction into fuels and sustainable energy has attracted increasing attention around the world. However, the photoreduction efficiency remains low due to the low efficiency of separation of electron–hole pairs and high thermal stability of CO2. In this work, we prepared a CdO decorated CdS nanorod for visible light driven CO2 reduction. The introduction of CdO facilitates the photoinduced charge carrier separation and transfer and acts as an active site for adsorption and activation of CO2 molecules. Compared with pristine CdS, CdO/CdS exhibits a nearly 5-fold higher CO generation rate (1.26 mmol g−1 h−1). In situ FT-IR experiments indicated that CO2 reduction on CdO/CdS may follow a COOH* pathway. This study reports the pivotal effect of CdO on photogenerated carrier transfer in photocatalysis and on CO2 adsorption, which provides a facile way to enhance photocatalytic efficiency.
Biogenic Fabrication of Silver Nanoparticles Using Calotropis procera Flower Extract with Enhanced Biomimetics Attributes

There have been some reports demonstrating the biogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Calotropis procera (CP) plant extract; however, detailed in-depth debriefing of the vital synthesis parameter for rapid, facile, efficacious synthesis at varied temperatures with effectual characterization of nanoparticles and biomimetic attribute is lacking. This study presents a comprehensive demarcation of the sustainable fabrication of biogenic C. procera flower extract capped and stabilized silver nanoparticles (CP-AgNPs) synthesis with thorough phytochemical characterization and potential biological application. The results revealed that the successful synthesis of CP-AgNPs was instantaneous with the maximum intensity of the plasmonic peak ~400 nm, while morphological results revealed the cubic shape of nanoparticles. CP-AgNPs were found to present stable, well-dispersed, uniform, high anionic zeta potential, and crystalline nanoparticles with a crystallite size of ~23.8 nm. The FTIR spectra indicated that CP-AgNPs were properly capped by the bioactive of C. procera. Moreover, the synthesized CP-AgNPs exhibited hydrogen peroxide scavenging efficacy. In addition, CP-AgNPs showed antibacterial and antifungal activity against pathogenic bacteria. CP-AgNPs displayed significant in vitro antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory activity. An efficient and convenient approach for synthesizing AgNPs using C. procera flower has been developed with enhanced biomimetic attributes that may be further utilized for water treatment, biosensors, biomedicine, and in allied science.
Self-emulsifying drug delivery systems: A versatile approach to enhance the oral delivery of BCS class III drug via hydrophobic ion pairing

Biopharmaceutical classification systems (BCS) class III drugs belongs to a group of drugs with high solubility in gastrointestinal (GI) fluids and low membrane permeability result in significantly low bioavailability. Self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS) considered a suitable candidate to enhance the bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs by improving their membrane permeability, however, incorporating hydrophilic drugs in to these carriers remained a great challenge. The aim of this study was to develop hydrophobic ion pairs (HIPs) of a model BCS class-III drug tobramycin (TOB) in order to incorporate into SEDDS and improve its bioavailability. HIPs of TOB were formulated using anionic surfactants sodium docusate (DOC) and sodium dodecanoate (DOD). The efficiency of HIPs was estimated by measuring the concentration of formed complexes in water, zeta potential determination and log P value evaluation. Solubility studies of HIPs of TOB with DOC were accomplished to screen the suitable excipients for SEDDS development. Consequently, HIPs of TOB with DOC were loaded into SEDDS and assessed the log DSEDDS/release medium and dissociation of these complexes at different intestinal pH over time. Moreover, cytotoxic potential of HIPs of TOB and HIPs loaded SEDDS formulations was evaluated. HIPs of TOB with DOC exhibited the maximum precipitation efficiency at a stoichiometric ratio of 1:5. Log P of HIPs of TOB improved up to 1500-fold compared to free TOB. Zeta potential of TOB was shifted from positive to negative during hydrophobic ion pairing (HIP). HIPs of TOB with DOC was loaded at a concentration of 1% (w/v) into SEDDS formulations. Log DSEDDS/release medium of loaded complexes in to oily droplets was above 2 and dissociated up to 20% at various pH within 4 h. Finding of this study suggested that improvement of the lipophilic character of BCS class-III drugs followed by incorporation into oily droplets can be deliberated as a promising tool to enhance the permeation across biological membranes.
Radionuclides’ Recovery from Seawater Using FIC and FIC A Sorbents

To solve radioecological and oceanological problems (estimate the vertical transport, flows of particulate organic carbon, phosphorus biodynamics, submarine groundwater discharge, etc.), it is necessary to determine the natural values of the radionuclides’ activity in seawater and particulate matter. For the first time, the radionuclides’ sorption from seawater was studied using sorbents based on activated carbon modified with iron(III) ferrocyanide (FIC) and based on activated carbon modified with iron(III) hydroxide (FIC A—activated FIC) obtained by FIC sorbent treatment with sodium hydroxide solution. The possibility of trace amounts of phosphorus, beryllium, and cesium recovery in laboratory conditions has been investigated. Distribution coefficients, dynamic, and total dynamic exchange capacities were determined. The physicochemical regularities (isotherm and kinetics) of sorption have been studied. The results obtained are characterized via Langmuir, Freindlich, and Dubinin–Radushkevich isotherm equations, as well as pseudo-first and pseudo-second-order kinetic models, intraparticle diffusion, and the Elovich model. Under expeditionary conditions, the sorption efficiency of 137Cs using FIC sorbent, 7Be, 32P, and 33P—using FIC A sorbent with a single-column method by adding a stable tracer, as well as the sorption efficiency of radionuclides 210Pb and 234Th with their natural content by FIC A sorbent in a two-column mode from large volumes of seawater was assessed. High values of efficiency of their recovery by the studied sorbents were achieved.
Vision-Based Recognition of Human Motion Intent during Staircase Approaching

Walking in real-world environments involves constant decision-making, e.g., when approaching a staircase, an individual decides whether to engage (climbing the stairs) or avoid. For the control of assistive robots (e.g., robotic lower-limb prostheses), recognizing such motion intent is an important but challenging task, primarily due to the lack of available information. This paper presents a novel vision-based method to recognize an individual’s motion intent when approaching a staircase before the potential transition of motion mode (walking to stair climbing) occurs. Leveraging the egocentric images from a head-mounted camera, the authors trained a YOLOv5 object detection model to detect staircases. Subsequently, an AdaBoost and gradient boost (GB) classifier was developed to recognize the individual’s intention of engaging or avoiding the upcoming stairway. This novel method has been demonstrated to provide reliable (97.69%) recognition at least 2 steps before the potential mode transition, which is expected to provide ample time for the controller mode transition in an assistive robot in real-world use.
Magnetic Field Distribution and Levitation Force Calculation in Htsc-Pmg Maglev Vehicles

This paper presents a new analytical method for predicting magnetic fleld distribution and levitation force in three conflgurations of high temperature superconducting (HTSC) maglev vehicles. The permanent magnet guideways (PMG) are composed with ferromagnetic materials and NdFeB permanent magnets. The proposed analytical model is based on the resolution in each region of Laplace's and Poisson's equations by using the technique of separation of variables. For the study, we consider the HTSC as a perfect diamagnetic material. The boundary conditions and Fourier series expansion of interfaces conditions between each region are used to flnd the solution of magnetic fleld. The developed analytical method is extended to compute the magnetic fleld distribution generated by the three types of PMGs when removing the HTSC bulk. Magnetic fleld distribution and vertical force obtained analytically are compared with those issued from the flnite element method (FEM).
A dePEGylated Lipopeptide-Based Pan-Coronavirus Fusion Inhibitor Exhibits Potent and Broad-Spectrum Anti-HIV-1 Activity without Eliciting Anti-PEG Antibodies

We previously identified a lipopeptide, EK1C4, by linking cholesterol to EK1, a pan-CoV fusion inhibitory peptide via a polyethylene glycol (PEG) linker, which showed potent pan-CoV fusion inhibitory activity. However, PEG can elicit antibodies to PEG in vivo, which will attenuate its antiviral activity. Therefore, we designed and synthesized a dePEGylated lipopeptide, EKL1C, by replacing the PEG linker in EK1C4 with a short peptide. Similar to EK1C4, EKL1C displayed potent inhibitory activity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and other coronaviruses. In this study, we found that EKL1C also exhibited broad-spectrum fusion inhibitory activity against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection by interacting with the N-terminal heptad repeat 1 (HR1) of viral gp41 to block six-helix bundle (6-HB) formation. These results suggest that HR1 is a common target for the development of broad-spectrum viral fusion inhibitors and EKL1C has potential clinical application as a candidate therapeutic or preventive agent against infection by coronavirus, HIV-1, and possibly other class I enveloped viruses.
Moringa oleifera Lam. Commercial Beverages: A Multifaceted Investigation of Consumer Perceptions, Sensory Analysis, and Bioactive Properties

This study employs a multidisciplinary approach to evaluate consumers’ perceptions and acceptance of Moringa oleifera Lam. beverages, examining sensory attributes, chemical composition, and bioactivities. High-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) analyses revealed significant chemovariation in phenolic compositions among commercial moringa beverages. A soluble moringa powder drink exhibited the greatest concentrations of phenolic and flavonoid compounds, along with powerful antioxidant capacity powers assessed with ABTS•+, DPPH•, FRAP assays, •NO, and H2O2 scavenging activities. However, this sample was the least preferred and presented high Cd levels, exceeding WHO-acceptable values of 0.3 mg/kg. Sensory testing indicated that sweet and floral flavors contributed to beverages being liked, while green, grass, herbal flavors, sour, bitter, and precipitate presence were considered unfavorable sensory attributes. Health claims positively influenced acceptance, particularly among women. Consumers associated feelings of health, wellness, relaxation, and leisure with moringa beverages. During purchase, the most observed information included the ingredient list, health benefits, and type/flavor. These findings emphasize the importance of consumer awareness in reading labels, verifying product origins, and ensuring the absence of contaminants. By understanding consumer preferences and the impact of health claims, producers can better tailor M. oleifera beverages to meet consumer expectations while maintaining safety and quality standards.
Feasibility of Virtually Delivering Functional Fitness Assessments and a Fitness Training Program in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

The COVID-19 pandemic limited older adults’ access to preventative and diagnostic services and negatively affected accessibility to age-appropriate exercise programs. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of conducting guided virtual functional fitness assessments before and after participation in an 8-week virtual, live fitness program (Vivo) designed for older adults. It was hypothesized there would be no significant difference between in-person and virtual functional fitness assessments and function would improve following the program. Thirteen community-dwelling older adults were recruited, screened, and randomly assigned to in-person-first or virtual-first fitness assessment groups. Validated assessments were delivered using standardized scripts by trained researchers and included Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) balance, a 30 s Chair Stand Test, 8 Foot Up-and-Go Test, 30 s Arm Curl Test, and 2 min Step Test. The eight-week, twice-a-week live virtual fitness program involved cardiovascular, balance, agility, Dual-Task, and strength training. Results showed no significant differences between all but one assessment measures, and several measures improved following the eight-week program. Fidelity checks demonstrated the high fidelity of program delivery. These findings illustrate that virtual assessments can be a feasible method to measure functional fitness in community-dwelling older adults.
A Targeted Mass Spectrometry Approach to Identify Peripheral Changes in Metabolic Pathways of Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a neurodegenerative disorder, is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly population. Since its original description, there has been intense debate regarding the factors that trigger its pathology. It is becoming apparent that AD is more than a brain disease and harms the whole-body metabolism. We analyzed 630 polar and apolar metabolites in the blood of 20 patients with AD and 20 healthy individuals, to determine whether the composition of plasma metabolites could offer additional indicators to evaluate any alterations in the metabolic pathways related to the illness. Multivariate statistical analysis showed that there were at least 25 significantly dysregulated metabolites in patients with AD compared with the controls. Two membrane lipid components, glycerophospholipids and ceramide, were upregulated, whereas glutamic acid, other phospholipids, and sphingolipids were downregulated. The data were analyzed using metabolite set enrichment analysis and pathway analysis using the KEGG library. The results showed that at least five pathways involved in the metabolism of polar compounds were dysregulated in patients with AD. Conversely, the lipid pathways did not show significant alterations. These results support the possibility of using metabolome analysis to understand alterations in the metabolic pathways related to AD pathophysiology.
A Design of a Novel Silicon Photonics Sensor with Ultra-Large Free Spectral Range Based on a Directional Coupler-Assisted Racetrack Resonator (DCARR)

A novel refractive index-based sensor implemented within a silicon photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is reported. The design is based on a double-directional coupler (DC) integrated with a racetrack-type resonator (RR) to enhance the optical response to changes in the near-surface refractive index via the optical Vernier effect. Although this approach can give rise to an extremely large ‘envelope’ free spectral range (FSRVernier), we restrict the design geometry to ensure this is within the traditional silicon PIC operating wavelength range of 1400–1700 nm. As a result, the exemplar double DC-assisted RR (DCARR) device demonstrated here, with FSRVernier = 246 nm, has a spectral sensitivity SVernier = 5 × 104 nm/RIU.
Referrals, Symptoms and Treatment of Patients Referred to a Secondary Spine Centre—How Can We Help?

Introduction: Spinal disorders are amongst the conditions with the highest burden of disease. To limit the increase of healthcare-related costs in the ageing population, the selection of different types of care for patients with spinal disorders should be optimized. The first step is to investigate the characteristics of these patients and the relationship with treatment. Research Question: The primary aim of this study was to provide insights in the characteristics, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of patients referred to a specialized spinal health care centre. The secondary aim was to perform an in-depth analysis of resource utilization for a representative subgroup of patients. Methods: This study describes the characteristics of 4855 patients referred to a secondary spine centre. Moreover, an extensive analysis of a representative subgroup of patients (~20%) is performed. Results: The mean age was 58.1, 56% of patients were female, and the mean BMI was 28. In addition, 28% of patients used opioids. Mean self-reported health status was 53.3 (EuroQol 5D Visual Analogue Scale), and pain ranged from 5.8 to 6.7 (Visual Analogue Scale neck/back/arm/leg). Additional imaging was received by 67.7% of patients. Surgical treatment was indicated for 4.9% of patients. The majority (83%) of non-surgically treated patients received out-of-hospital treatment; 25% of patients received no additional imaging or in-hospital treatment. Conclusion: The vast majority of patients received non-surgical treatments. We observed that ~10% of patients did not receive in-hospital imaging or treatment and had acceptable or good questionnaire scores at the time of referral. These findings suggest that there is potential for improvement in efficacy of referral, diagnosis, and treatment. Future studies should aim to develop an evidence base for improved patient selection for clinical pathways. The efficacy of chosen treatments requires investigation of large cohorts.
Advances in Understanding the Links between Metabolism and Autophagy in Acute Myeloid Leukemia: From Biology to Therapeutic Targeting

Autophagy is a highly conserved cellular degradation process that regulates cellular metabolism and homeostasis under normal and pathophysiological conditions. Autophagy and metabolism are linked in the hematopoietic system, playing a fundamental role in the self-renewal, survival, and differentiation of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, and in cell death, particularly affecting the cellular fate of the hematopoietic stem cell pool. In leukemia, autophagy sustains leukemic cell growth, contributes to survival of leukemic stem cells and chemotherapy resistance. The high frequency of disease relapse caused by relapse-initiating leukemic cells resistant to therapy occurs in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and depends on the AML subtypes and treatments used. Targeting autophagy may represent a promising strategy to overcome therapeutic resistance in AML, for which prognosis remains poor. In this review, we illustrate the role of autophagy and the impact of its deregulation on the metabolism of normal and leukemic hematopoietic cells. We report updates on the contribution of autophagy to AML development and relapse, and the latest evidence indicating autophagy-related genes as potential prognostic predictors and drivers of AML. We review the recent advances in autophagy manipulation, combined with various anti-leukemia therapies, for an effective autophagy-targeted therapy for AML.