Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Klotho and lean mass as novel cardiovascular risk factors in hemodialysis patients

ABSTRACT Background Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) present a higher risk of cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality compared with the general population. While there are several well-established traditional CV risk factors, few studies have addressed novel potential risk factors such as α-Klotho, asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and lean mass. Methods This was an observational, prospective, single-center, cohort study that included prevalent hemodialysis (online hemodiafiltration) adult patients. By univariate logistic regression models, univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models, and Kaplan–Meier analysis, we evaluated the association between the levels of α-Klotho, ADMA and lean mass, with the risk of peripheral vascular disease (PVD), CV events and all-cause mortality in these patients. Results A total of 200 HD patients was included. We found that increased levels of log-α-Klotho were significantly associated with decreased odds of both PVD [odds ratio (OR) 0.521, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.270–0.954, P = . 034] and CV events (OR 0.415, 95% CI 0.203–0.790, P = .01), whereas increased levels of log-ADMA were only significantly associated with increased odds of PVD (OR 13.482, 95% CI 5.055–41.606, P < .001). We also found that the levels of log-α-Klotho (HR 0.357, 95% CI 0.140–0.906, P < .05) and lean mass (HR 0.187, 95% CI 0.042–0.829, P < .05), but not log-ADMA, were significantly associated with the risk of all-cause mortality, even after adjusting for possible confounding variables. Conclusions Novel long-term clinical associations were generated that support α-Klotho and lean mass as novel CV risk factors in hemodialysis patients.
Crystallinity and Oscillatory Shear Rheology of Polyethylene Blends

Crystallinity and rheological behavior are significant for processing semi-crystalline polymers with fine mechanical properties. There is always an economical need to create a less expensive new material with better properties. Non-isothermal crystallization and oscillatory shear rheology of different branch-type polyethylene–polyethylene blends were investigated. Samples of high-density and low-density polyethylene (HDPE/LDPE) (20/80, 40/60, 60/40 and 80/20 weight ratios) and two types of high-density and linear low-density polyethylene (HDPE/LLDPE) (40/60 and 60/40 weight ratios) were prepared via extrusion. The materials were tested by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) at several cooling rates (5, 10, 20, 30 and 40°/min) and by oscillation rheometry (ARES G2) at low angular frequency range to prove their miscibility or immiscibility. It was found that the one-peak melting endotherm of the 80–20% HDPE-LDPE blend could indicate miscibility in the solid phase, while the other HDPE-LDPE blends with two-peak curves are partially or not miscible. In contrast, all the HDPE-LLDPE blends indicate co-crystallization, but the 40–60% HDPE-LLDPE butylene blend is probably immiscible. It was revealed that complex viscosity decreases with angular frequency: linearly for HD-LD blends and not linearly for HD-LLDPE blends. The complex viscosity shows linear behavior with composition for HD-LLDPE blends, while there is a positive–negative deviation for HD-LD blends. In the liquid phase, according to rheological measurements, the HDPE-LDPE blends are not or partially miscible, while the HDPE-LLDPE blends are probably miscible.
An analysis of high frequency methane measurements in central New England

A unique high resolution ambient air methane data set consisting of approximately 125,000 independently measured data points for the years 1991-1995 has been collected at a site in the northeastern United States. This data base is used to examine the long term trend, seasonal and diurnal cycles, and the frequent pollution events that affect the site on a year round basis. The annual median mixing ratio of methane for all measurements was 1808 ppbv in 1992, increasing at a variable rate to 1837 ppbv in 1995. The lower 10-30% of the data from each month was defined as representative of background air and was compared to the global CMDL data set. The background data exhibit a variable upward trend of 5.5 $\pm$ 2 ppbv/year during the 4-year time period, with most of the increase observed during 1993 and 1994. The seasonal cycle for the background data set is similar to what is observed by CMDL stations and varies from 24 to 35 ppbv. The amplitude of the seasonal cycle for the full data set was larger, ranging from 35 to 44 ppbv. Differences between the full and background mixing ratios vary on a seasonal basis and are largest in the winter and smallest in the summer. These differences appear to be controlled by changes in atmospheric stability and changes in emissions from local and regional sources throughout the year. Wind roses of chemical species are examined for annual and seasonal time periods with enhancements in anthropogenic species corresponding to the location of large cities and landfills. Methane is strongly correlated to species that have an anthropogenic component, including acetylene, propane, ethane, and hexane. The southwest quadrant is subjected to the most severe pollution events and is impacted by outflow from large cities in that sector, including Northampton and Springfield, MA. Emissions from cities in other quadrants, including Boston and Worcester, MA. , Providence, RI. , and the near by town of Petersham, MA, also affect the site, but to a lesser degree. Case studies are used to identify atmospheric conditions that lead to high concentrations of methane and other species. The co-occurrence of a persistent wind direction, light wind speed, and stable atmospheric conditions is the ideal scenario in which emissions from nearby cities and landfills are advected to the site. Emissions from local and regional, rather than distant sources, are the primary cause of elevated events.
Susceptibility of acute myeloid leukemia cells to ferroptosis and evasion strategies

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a highly aggressive hematologic malignancy with a 5-year survival rate of less than 30%. Continuous updating of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies has not been effective in improving the clinical benefit of AML. AML cells are prone to iron metabolism imbalance due to their unique pathological characteristics, and ferroptosis is a novel cell death mode that is dominated by three cellular biological processes: iron metabolism, oxidative stress and lipid metabolism. An in-depth exploration of the unique ferroptosis mechanism in AML can provide new insights for the diagnosis and treatment of this disease. This study summarizes recent studies on ferroptosis in AML cells and suggests that the metabolic characteristics, gene mutation patterns, and dependence on mitochondria of AML cells greatly increase their susceptibility to ferroptosis. In addition, this study suggests that AML cells can establish a variety of strategies to evade ferroptosis to maintain their survival during the process of occurrence and development, and summarizes the related drugs targeting ferroptosis pathway in AML treatment, which provides development directions for the subsequent mechanism research and clinical treatment of AML.
Protective Effect of Alpinia oxyphylla Fructus Polysaccharides Extracted with Different Solvents on Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Ulcerative Colitis in Mice

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a temporary incurable inflammatory bowel disease. Alpinia oxyphylla fructus polysaccharides (AOFPs) have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and other biological activities. In order to explore the therapeutic effect of AOFPs on UC, this study used deionized water, NaCl, HCl, and NaOH to extract AOFPs, and their protective effects on UC were evaluated by dextran sulfate sodium-induced UC mouse model. The results showed that extraction solvents had significant effects on the yield, molecular weights, monosaccharide compositions, total sugar contents, uronic acid contents, protein contents, and surface morphology of AOFPs. Histopathological analysis found that AOFPs could significantly reduce inflammatory cell infiltration and improve crypt morphology. ELISA and real-time PCR results show that AOFPs can downregulate the contents of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 and upregulate the content of IL-10. Western blot results show that AOFPs could enhance the expression of E-cadherin, occludin, claudin 1, and ZO-1. In addition, AOFPs improved the richness and diversity of intestinal flora and reshaped the intestinal flora by increasing the proportion of beneficial bacteria and inhibiting the proportion of harmful bacteria. These results indicate that AOFPs have therapeutic effects on UC. This may be due to the regulatory effect of AOFPs on the intestinal flora, restoring intestinal inflammation and permeability.
Land cover classification accuracy as a function of sensor spatial resolution

The benefits obtained from sensor systems for monitoring earth resources will depend on the application and interpretation methods used. A frequently used analysis method is supervised per-pixel multispectral classification with a typical application being land cover classification. An investigation is conducted to evaluate the effect of spatial resolution on the ability to classify land cover types with per-pixel digital image classification techniques. Attention is also given to the documentation of changes in scene noise and the percentage of boundary pixels as a function of spatial resolution, in order to improve the understanding of the interrelationship between classification accuracy and spatial resolution. It is found that scene noise varies considerably between land cover categories. Changes in scene noise with coarsening resolution occur at different rates for different categories.
Behaviour of a Sialo-Oligosaccharide from Glycophorin in Teleost Red Blood Cell Membranes

Glycophorins (GPs) in red blood cell (RBC) membranes of carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) exhibit bacteriostatic activity against various gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria including fish pathogens. This physiological property also exists in the GPs of yellow tail (Seriola quinqueradiata) and red sea bream (Pagrus major). Thus, we concluded that this antimicrobial activity is not confined to these teleost species but can be found in all fish. This bacteriostatic activity is caused by the sialo-oligosaccharide from these teleost GPs. Only the N-glycolylneuraminic acid (NeuGc) form of sialic acid was detected in the carp. Using NMR and GC–MS, we determined that the structure of the bacteriostatic sialo-oligosaccharide from carp was NeuGcα2→6 (Fucα1→4) (Glcα1→3) Galβ1→4GalNAc-ol. The bacteriostatic activity of this monosialyl-oligosaccharide is due to the property of the lectin receptor. It is supposed that some lectin-like proteins exist on the surface of gram-positive bacteria or the flagellum of gram-negative bacteria. Based on the electron microscope observations, teleost GPs containing the sialo-oligosaccharide are released from RBC membranes and then adsorbed onto the surface or the flagellum of invading bacteria in the blood.
Melting experiments on anhydrous peridotite KLB-1: Compositions of magmas in the upper mantle and transition zone

Electron microprobe results are reported for liquid and crystalline phases that were synthesized at 5–22.5 GPa in multianvil experiments on anhydrous peridotite KLB-1 [Zhang and Herzberg, 1994]. The results provide information on the partitioning of TiO2, Al2O3, Cr2O3, FeO, MnO, MgO, Na2O, and NiO among liquid and the crystalline phases olivine, modified spinel, garnet, magnesiowustite, and magnesium perovskite. Uncertainties in these partition coefficients stem from quenching problems and from the effects of thermal migration of liquid in a temperature gradient. We have, however, exploited the temperature gradients by determining how the crystalline phase chemistry varies throughout the melting interval from the liquidus to the solidus. This has permitted new constraints to be obtained on the compositions of liquids along the anhydrous peridotite solidus at low melt fractions and at pressures in the 5–18 GPa range. It is demonstrated that the wide range of Al2O3 and CaO/Al2O3 contents in picrites and komatiites can be explained by melt segregation at upper mantle pressures that ranged from 3 to ∼10 GPa. These magmas could have formed by anhydrous melting in plumes with temperatures that were only 100°–200°C higher than ambient mantle below ridges, demonstrating that unusually hot conditions are not required to form komatiites. Primary igneous MgO contents in excess of 26% should be rare, and those that do exist in some komatiites can be explained by advanced melting during adiabatic or superadiabatic ascent, by low Na2O in the source, or by melting in hot plumes from the transition zone and lower mantle. Evidence for deep melting in hot plumes is rather conjectural, but it may be contained in some 2700 Myr komatiites that have high MgO and mantle-like CaO/Al2O3.
Microstructural Changes in the Spinothalamic Tract of CPSS Patients: Preliminary Results from a Single-Center Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

Introduction: Chronic pain after spinal surgery (CPSS), formerly known as failed back surgery syndrome, encompasses a variety of highly incapacitating chronic pain syndromes emerging after spinal surgery. The intractability of CPSS makes objective parameters that could aid classification and treatment essential. In this study, we investigated the use of cerebral diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. Methods: Cerebral 3T diffusion-weighted (DW-) MRI data from adult CPSS patients were assessed and compared with those of healthy controls matched by age and gender. Only imaging data without relevant artefacts or significant pathologies were included. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps were calculated from the b0 and b1000 values using nonlinear regression. After skull stripping and affine registration of all imaging data, ADC values for fifteen anatomical regions were calculated and analyzed with independent samples T-tests. Results: A total of 32 subjects were included (sixteen CPSS patients and sixteen controls). The mean ADC value of the spinothalamic tract was found to be significantly higher in CPSS patients compared with in healthy controls (p = 0.013). The other anatomical regions did not show statistically different ADC values between the two groups. Conclusion: Our results suggest that patients suffering from CPSS are subject to microstructural changes, predominantly within the cerebral spinothalamic tract. Additional research could possibly lead to imaging biomarkers derived from ADC values in CPSS patients.
Proteomics Reveals mRNA Regulation and the Action of Annexins in Thyroid Cancer

Differentiated thyroid cancer is the most common malignancy of the endocrine system. Although most thyroid nodules are benign, given the high incidence of thyroid nodules in the population, it is important to understand the differences between benign and malignant thyroid cancer and the molecular alterations associated with malignancy to improve detection and signal potential diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic targets. Proteomics analysis of benign and malignant human thyroid tissue largely revealed changes indicating modifications in RNA regulation, a common cancer characteristic. In addition, changes in the immune system and cell membrane/endocytic processes were also suggested to be involved. Annexin A1 was considered a potential malignancy biomarker and, similarly to other annexins, it was found to increase in the malignant group. Furthermore, a bioinformatics approach points to the transcription factor Sp1 as being potentially involved in most of the alterations seen in the malignant thyroid nodules.
Performance inspection of high gain chopper designed to extract optimum output of photovoltaic source

In recent years, the demand for power consumption has increased rapidly to fulfill the energy needs of households and industries worldwide. Solar electricity has emerged as the most practical form of renewable energy in this context. Due to its distinctive qualities such as being clean, quiet, and sustainable. Here, the study and analysis of a non-isolated high-gain chopper for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are presented, which includes a quadratic cell and voltage doubler circuit (VDC). To ensure the utmost power produced by the solar system, the perturb and observe (P&O)-based maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm is utilized. A quadratic VDC and a DC-DC boost converter are used to raise the PV voltage to a higher level (3.6 times higher with an MPPT controller, and 8 times higher with a battery source). The proposed converter exhibits notable improvements in efficiency, achieving an impressive 94%, which outperforms other state-of-the-art topologies. Additionally, the converter showcases a significant boost in voltage conversion gain, thereby substantiating its efficacy and superiority over other advanced topologies. Furthermore, comparatively less voltage stress on the switch with reduced voltage and current fluctuation increased the conversion effectiveness of the proposed configuration. Performance verification of the proposed topology is obtained by employing PSIM and MATLAB/Simulink.
Responsiveness and Minimal Important Change of the Arabic Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) in Patients with Upper Extremity Musculoskeletal Disorders

The aim of this study was to examine the responsiveness of the Arabic Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) and to quantify its minimal important change (MIC) for improvement. People with upper extremity musculoskeletal problems who were receiving physical therapy were evaluated at baseline and again during a follow-up appointment, with a median time frame of 7 days between the two testing sessions (range of 6 to 72 days). The participants completed the Arabic DASH, Global Assessment of Function (GAF), Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) and Global Rating of Change Scale (GRC). The responsiveness of the Arabic DASH was assessed by examining the pre-specified hypotheses. The MIC for improvement was determined using the receiver operating characteristic method (MICROC) and the predictive modeling method (MICpred). As hypothesized, a change in the Arabic DASH demonstrated a significant positive correlation with changes in the GAF (r = 0.69), NPRS (r = 0.68) and GRC (r = 0.73). Consistent with our hypotheses, the DASH change scores could be used to differentiate between participants who improved and those who did not improve (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.87), and they showed a large magnitude of change (effect size = 1.53, standardized response mean = 1.42) in patients who improved. All the hypotheses specified a priori were supported by the results. The Arabic DASH MICROC and MICpred were estimated to be 14.22 and 14.85. The interaction between the DASH change and baseline score was not a significant predictor of status (improved vs. not improved) (p = 0.75), indicating that the DASH MIC was not baseline-dependent. The Arabic DASH demonstrated sufficient responsiveness, supporting the idea that the Arabic DASH is capable of detecting changes in upper extremity function over time. The value of the Arabic DASH MIC was similar when estimated using the predictive modeling and ROC methods, and the MIC was not dependent on baseline status.
The effects of sand abrasion of a predominantly stable stream bed on periphyton biomass losses

Periphytic algae are a rich food resource that sustains the upper trophic levels of stream ecosystems. These algae are susceptible to loss through hydraulic shear and abrasion by mobile sediments, but there are few documented linkages between periphyton biomass and sediment transport regimes. In this study, we use both a large set of field observations and an in situ experiment to document the relationship between periphyton biomass and sand transport rate. The in situ experimental design investigates the response of diatom‐dominated periphyton biomass to abrasion from fine and coarse sand in transport over low‐lying and higher protruding host rocks. Our results showed that periphyton biomass decreased with increasing transport rates in a threshold‐type response (transport rates > 0·04–1·8 g m−1 s−1) quantified using classification and regression trees. The in situ experiment revealed that low‐lying rocks lost more biomass for a given transport rate than the higher, protruding ones. Saltating coarse sand abraded surfaces more effectively than fine sand travelling primarily in suspension. The observed pattern of biomass loss was similar to that reported in flume studies of the effects of suspended sediment on periphyton. The negative relationship between sand transport rate and post‐flow event biomass was nearly identical to that found on the Skona River, Norway, for larger flow events. Sand constitutes a large percentage of the bedload of gravel‐bed rivers and is susceptible to transport during frequent flow events. Even small increases in sand loadings to the gravel‐cobble river bed can cause large increases in streambed abrasion. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Identifier les contraintes pour la conservation des dernières girafes de l’Afrique de l’Ouest : déterminants de la dynamique de la population et patron d’occupation spatiale

Le defi de la protection des especes menacees en Afrique est de concilier de facon durable les objectifs de conservation de la nature, et la necessite de developpement economique des populations humaines. Au Niger, survivent aujourd'hui les dernieres girafes d'Afrique de l'Ouest (Giraffa camelopardalis peralta). Ces girafes sont unique a plusieurs titres : (i) elles constituent les seules representantes de la sous espece peralta (ii), elles vivent dans une region fortement anthropisee (iii) elles vivent dans une zone non protegee, (iv) et elles ne cohabitent avec aucun predateur. En 1996, la population etait au bord de l'extinction avec seulement 50 individus. Malgre des signes de restauration observes ces dernieres annees, la sous-espece est inscrite depuis 2008 dans la liste rouge des especes menacees de l'UICN (Union Internationale pour la Conservation de la Nature) avec le statut « en danger ». Quels sont les facteurs qui pourraient limiter le taux de croissance maximum recemment observe dans cette population? Est-ce que les conjonctures favorables a l'augmentation de la population sont durables? Aborder les questions de conservation des populations met en avant le besoin de connaitre les parametres demographiques de la population concernee, et les parametres environnementaux qui conditionnent sa distribution spatiale. Nous avons realise une analyse de l'historique des comptages, puis, nous avons determine les parametres demographiques de la population grâce a une approche par Capture Marquage Recapture. Une analyse spatiale a plusieurs echelles nous a permis de caracteriser la distribution des girafes aux niveaux de la population et du troupeau (a partir d'observations directes), et de mesurer la selection de l'habitat au niveau individuel (a partir d'un suivi par colliers GPS)