Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
In Silico Target Identification and Validation for Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Activity of Selective Phytochemicals.

Phytochemicals present in plant extract include a number of biological active compounds which have shown promising antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities in many animal studies. Present knowledge about the biochemical interactions of these compounds present in phytochemical extracts and target enzymes or proteins responsible for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity is limited. Present work is an attempt to identify and validate possible biological targets as enzymes or proteins involved in these targeted studies using molecular docking as computational method. IMPPAT: Indian HIGHLIGHTS  Phytochemicals from six local grown plants (pomegranate, lemon, wheatgrass, papaya, sheesham leaves, turmeric leaves) were used for the present study.  IMPPAT (a curative database) has been used for retrieving phytochemicals.  Molecular docking is used against three enzymes involved in an antioxidant activity which includes Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and Catalase (CAT).  Cyclooxigenase-2 (COX-2) is tested for the anti-inflammatory activity of these phytochemicals.  Punica Granatum (pomegranate), Citrus Limon (lemon), Triticum Aestivum (wheatgrass) and Carica Papaya (papaya) includes few phytochemicals which have shown promising binding affinities towards target proteins/enzymes. In Silico Target Identification and Validation 2 Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology. Vol.62: e19190048, 2019 www.scielo. br/babt Medicinal Plants, Photochemistry and Therapeutics (a curated database) has been used to retrieve various phytochemicals derived from selected plants which includes Carica papaya, Citrus limon, Curcuma longa, Dalbergia sissoo and Punica granatum. These phytochemicals are further evaluated using molecular docking against three enzymes involved in antioxidant activity which includes Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and Catalase (CAT). Cyclooxigenase-2 (COX-2) has been tested for anti-inflammatory activity of these phytochemicals. Gliadin (Triticum aestivum), Tea Extract (Punica granatum), Hesperidin (Citrus limon), Terrestribisamide (Triticum aestivum), Vitamin P (Carica papaya) and 1,2,6-Trigalloylglucose (Punica granatum) are few phytochemicals which has shown promising binding affinities towards target proteins or enzymes Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and Catalase (CAT) and cyclooxigenase-2 (COX-2).
Consumers’ Perception and Willingness to Pay for Eco-Labeled Seafood in Italian Hypermarkets

The aim of this paper is to discuss eco-labels for fish products, which are a useful tool to improve both seafood markets and strategies for sustainability management. In this study, 560 consumer-surveys were conducted in selected towns in northern and southern Italy. Both probit and linear regression modeling were used to measure consumers’ perception and willingness to pay for anchovy eco-labels. Italian hypermarket consumers demonstrated attention to environmental features as well as to eco-products, at times, independent of income. The results of this study show that willingness to pay relates to gender, family situation, mass communication, environmental features, angler community, and store, along with information from eco-labels. Specifically, females appeared highly responsive to seafood eco-labels, and their preferences were informed by environmental aspects along with a strong intrinsic motivation to protect marine habitats. According to our analysis, seafood eco-labels could increase the consumers’ willingness to pay between 16%–24% more for the product. Given that consumers’ willingness to pay can reveal a new form of an “ecosystem approach to fishery management”, there is a high chance that premium prices could become a tool for sustainable resource management.
Energy Efficiency of Kazakhstan Enterprises: Unexpected Findings

The problems of efficient use of energy costs have been actively explored in recent decades in connection with rising energy prices. During this period, the main models for assessing energy efficiency and energy management were developed, including the models Total Quality Management, Six Sigma and Sustainable Value Stream Mapping. The aim of the research was to study the energy efficiency of the production and services in Kazakhstan based on materials of the large-scale national study on the estimation of production and transaction costs by these methodologies. To assess the data obtained, a statistical analysis of the dependence on the indicators of variation and ranking was used. Electricity costs are among the leading manufacturing costs and affect management models. However, according to the maturity model of energy management, energy efficiency in Kazakhstan is low. Despite the government’s declarations of effective energy policies, the administrative burden for businesses remains high, and legislation does not stimulate a reduction in energy costs.
Dubious Claims about Simplicity and Likelihood: Comment on Pinna and Conti (2019)

Pinna and Conti (Brain Sci., 2019, 9, 149, doi:10.3390/brainsci9060149) presented phenomena concerning the salience and role of contrast polarity in human visual perception, particularly in amodal completion. These phenomena are indeed illustrative thereof, but here, the focus is on their claims (1) that neither simplicity nor likelihood approaches can account for these phenomena; and (2) that simplicity and likelihood are equivalent. I argue that their first claim is based on incorrect assumptions, whereas their second claim is simply untrue.
Numerical Simulation of Temperature and Pressure Changes due to Partial Discharges in Spherical Cavities Within Solid Dielectrics at Different Ageing Conditions

Partial Discharges (PD) behavior during ageing of the insulation systems exhibits variations that depend on changes in gas filling characteristics and surface condition. In this article, numerical simulations of temperature and pressure behavior in an air-filled spherical cavity within a homogenous solid dielectric material due to PD activity are presented. An Analytical-Finite Element Analysis simulation approach was implemented in MATLAB and results exhibit reasonable agreement with experimental measurements reported by other authors. Simulation results allow concluding that pressure changes are directly related to variations in the PD behavior. In addition, affectations to cavity surface due to temperature increments can be discarded.
Prevalence, incidence and mortality of diabetes mellitus in adults in Germany – A review in the framework of the Diabetes Surveillance

Continuous monitoring of the key epidemiological indicators of diabetes is necessary for evaluating the magnitude of diabetes as a public health problem, but is currently not being undertaken in Germany. A comprehensive literature review covering the last decades was conducted to give an overview of population-based studies reporting on diabetes prevalence, diabetes incidence, and diabetes-related mortality among adults in Germany. This review differentiates between known and unknown diabetes, but not between individual types of diabetes. Numerous studies have identified a considerable increase in the prevalence of known diabetes among the adult population over time. Until the 1960s, the prevalence of known diabetes remained below 1%. However, current nationwide estimates for Germany are much higher and range between 7.2% (population aged 18 to 79 years) based on health examination surveys of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), 8.9% (population aged 18 years and over) based on RKI telephone health interview surveys and 9.9% (among all age groups) based on statutory health insurance data. Few available estimates point to an increase in the incidence of known diabetes since the 1960s. For example, a comparison of data from the diabetes register of the former German Democratic Republic (GDR) in 1960 with current follow-up data from RKI survey participants shows that incidence rates increased from 1.2 (all age groups) to 6.9 (population aged 18 to 79 years) per 1,000 person-years. Data on diabetes-related mortality are also scarce, but indicate that excess mortality persists among people with known diabetes compared to those in the same age group without the condition, despite the finding of decreasing mortality rates among people with known diabetes. For example, the mortality rate based on early data from the GDR diabetes register was 1.9-fold higher among people with known diabetes than among the general population; current mortality follow-up data of RKI survey participants show a 1.7-fold higher mortality rate among people with known diabetes compared to those without the condition. Given the limited data that are currently available and the considerable variation of diagnostic criteria, it is not possible to estimate time trends in the prevalence, incidence or mortality of unknown diabetes. An extension of available health monitoring approaches and an improved use of existing data sources for secondary analysis are needed for a reliable evaluation of dynamics in diabetes epidemiology in Germany. To achieve these goals, a national diabetes surveillance system is currently being established under the auspices of the RKI.
Machine as One Player in Indian Cowry Board Game: Advanced Playing Strategies

Cowry game, also known as Chowka Bhara, is an ancient board game originated in India. It is a 2-4 player strategic race game which contains an element of chance due to the throw of special dice (cowry shells). This game involves reasoning under uncertainty and stochasticity, and the decisions have to be made based on incomplete knowledge. Therefore, it may be regarded as a suitable domain for exploring various approaches in real- time strategic decision-making. This research investigates the potential for an artificially intelligent Cowry game player, capable of playing on a high-performing level against human opponents. We propose and implement a few advanced playing strategies for the game, and analyze their effectiveness based on different performance measures. We also provide an experimental comparison between the proposed advanced strategies and the basic strategies that we developed in our earlier work. The analysis of playing strategies presented in this paper can be used for evolving more sophisticated strategies, and may eventually lead to the development of an adaptive artificial player for Cowry game and similar race games.
Author's Response

Sir: The emergence of new molecular genetic markers has rejuvenated old arguments about species concepts in Cannabis. We adhere to a broader circumscription of Cannabis sativa than McPartland and others who recognize C. indica as a separate species. While we agree with McPartland’s comments on pedigrees and cannabinoid profiles, we point out that principal components analyses do not provide evidence of speciation. McPartland goes on to support his species concept with a hypothetical single locus with two alleles corresponding to C. sativa and C. indica. Would we follow this logic and regard as separate species two regional, interfertile primate populations exhibiting a difference in skin color determined by alleles at a single locus? Probably not. Instead we favor biological species recognized by reproductive isolation or phylogenetic species recognized by reciprocal monophyly (1) and Cannabis ecotypes exhibit neither. In regard to the article that drew this letter we wish to correct two errors in the list of primer pairs used for the survey of Cannabis genetic variation. EcoRI-ACA–MseI-CAG was not used. The correct pair is EcoRI-ACA–MseI-CAC. Second, EcoRIAGG–MseI-AAC is incorrect. The correct pair is EcoRI-AGG– MseI-CAT. We also belatedly acknowledge the contribution of Zlatko Mehmedic and his laboratory assistants at the University of Mississippi for analysis of cannabinoids. Support for this aspect of the work was provided by the National Institute on Drug Abuse contract number N01DA-5-7746.
Physiological, Pharmacological and Clinical Factors Associated with Thrombosis in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery with Cardiopulmonary Bypass

Postoperative thrombosis in children undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is a frequent, under-diagnosed and clinically detrimental complication. The majority of known risk factors for thrombosis in this context are non-modifiable clinical correlates (notably younger age at surgery and cyanosis). We sought to identify modifiable physiological risk factors for post-operative thrombosis after pediatric cardiac surgery to inform the development of thromboprophylaxis strategies. Pediatric patients were prospectively enrolled before cardiac surgery with CPB in an observational cohort study. Children <1 year old and cyanotic patients were oversampled, and all subjects had comprehensive serial laboratory assessment of hemostatic status and standardized vascular ultrasound for surveillance of post-operative thrombosis. Of 250 enrolled patients (248 completed study, 55% <1 year old, 25% cyanotic), post-operative thrombosis was diagnosed in 64 (26%) vs. 10% in 755 control patients (p<0.001). Clinical evaluation alone missed 59% of all post-operative thrombi and 20% of clinically significant thrombi.
Multiple pressures and their combined effects in Europe's seas

This report presents for the first time in Europe an overview of anthropogenic pressures and their combined effects in Europe’s seas. The assessment covers the period of 2011-2016 but also presents how human activities and pressures at sea have changed over a longer time horizon. Practically the entire European marine area is under multiple pressures – such as hazardous substances, fish stock exploitation, climate change, underwater noise, non-indigenous species, seafloor damage, marine litter and nutrient enrichment. Shelf areas and coastal zone are affected by physical disturbance of seabed, eutrophication and non-indigenous species. The highest potential combined effects are found along coastal areas of the North Sea, Southern Baltic Sea, Adriatic and Western Mediterranean. The good news from this assessment is that many of the dangerous trends seem to have reversed. We have shown that the nutrient levels, hazardous substances, northern fish stocks and tuna stocks in the open seas show improvement. However, extensive pressures from several human activities still threaten the marine ecosystem, such as disturbance of seabed, and no trend reversal was seen in this assessment.
A randomized placebo and active controlled trial of AZD8871 a novel dual acting bronchodilator in COPD patients

AZD8871 is an inhaled long acting dual muscarinic antagonist/β 2 adrenoceptor agonist (MABA) under development for treatment of COPD and asthma. This 5-way complete crossover trial was designed to test efficacy, pharmacokinetics, safety and tolerability of AZD8871 in patients with COPD. Moderate to severe COPD patients ≥40 years of age (females of non-childbearing potential and males) were randomized. Patients received single doses of AZD8871 400 or 1800 µg, or placebo in a double blind fashion, or open label indacaterol 150 µg or tiotropium 18 µg, in a randomized order. Each treatment was followed by a wash out period of 7-21 days. 38 patients were randomized and 28 patients completed all treatments. Mean (SD) %predicted FEV 1 at baseline was 52(12.5)% and 20(13.7)% patients were reversible. AZD8871 pharmacokinetics were assessed in subset of 18 patients. AZD8871 demonstrated very quick onset of action, within 5 min of dosing, at both doses. A sustained bronchodilation over 36 hours was observed with both doses of AZD8871. LS mean (SEM) differences in Trough FEV 1 for AZD8871 400 µg & 1800 µg, indacaterol and tiotropium versus placebo were 107(24), 210(24), 153(24), 138(24) mL, respectively. AZD8871 1800 µg showed greater bronchodilation than both indacaterol and tiotropium for both peak and trough FEV 1 . Few adverse events were observed: headache (31.6%) and nasopharyngitis (13.2%) were the most common and there was no dose response observed with any adverse event. Overall, both dose levels of AZD8871 delivered significant and sustained bronchodilation, superior to placebo and at the highest dose superior to both reference agents, with no emerging safety concerns.
Probabilistic Inference of Fault Condition of Cyber-Physical Systems Under Uncertainty

Cyber-physical systems (CPS) are paving new ground with increasing levels of automation and usage in applications with complex environments, posing greater challenges in terms of safety and reliability. The increasing complexity of CPS environments, tasks, and systems leads to more uncertainties. Unless properly managed, these uncertainties may lead to false detection of real fault condition of a system, which in turn may affect decision making and potentially cause fatal consequences. In order to implement safety-critical missions, such as autonomous driving, it is essential to develop a reliable monitoring and assessment service dealing with the complexity and uncertainty issues. In this article, we propose a fault detection function based on Bayesian inference, which combines empirical knowledge with information of the specific system. By considering uncertainties as possible causes for false detection, various uncertainties during the detection process are analyzed, and the ways to quantify and propagate them are explored. As a result, probabilistic inference is achieved for distinguishing system faults from uncertainties, which contributes to more reliable detection results regarding system faults under dynamically changing environments. A case study on an microelectro mechanical system (MEMS) accelerometer is conducted and the result shows that the fault detection function effectively distinguishes system faults and uncertainties arising from the environment.
Empagliflozin: an exciting prospect in the treatment of diabetes

Diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2DM) continues to be a chronic and disabling disease, that is associated with high mortality and morbidity. The epidemic burden of diabetes mellitus has increased in developing countries and Asia is considered as the “diabetic epicentre”. A whopping 9% of adults worldwide are affected by T2DM. Even though several pharmacological treatments, such as sulfonylurea metformin, alpha glucosidase inhibitors and incretin analogues are available for the treatment of diabetes. Each of these drugs have a considerable number of limitations making it imperative that we find better attractive alternatives to improve the glycaemic control of these patients and also reduce drug induced maladies. Sodiumglucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors are a novel class of drugs which reduce blood sugar by inducing glycosuria, a mechanism different from the aforementioned anti-diabetic agents. This review is an attempt to describe the history of SGLT-2 inhibitors, their mechanism of action, efficacy and safety as well as its current status
Artificial Nutrition and Hydration

A 49-year-old male came into the cardiac care unit with an inferior wall myocardial infarction, and shortly thereafter coded. Resuscitation attempts succeeded; however, over the course of a few days he went into multisystem failure. On a respirator, receiving multiple medications to support life, and unable to eat anything by mouth or to tolerate tube feedings, the nursing staff were concerned with his nutritional status. An ongoing debate occurred between the physicians and nurses, with the physicians maintaining that he was not “viable enough” for total parenteral nutrition (TPN) but if his condition were to stabilize he would be a candidate. The nurses argued that without adequate nutrition the patient would never stabilize and heal; they felt that he was being starved to death. The intense emotional response of the nurses led the physicians to rethink their approach to care. After 10 days without food and still in multisystem failure, the patient was started on TPN. Regardless, he died several days later. Artificial nutrition and hydration (ANH) are medical treatments and imply any form of nutrient intake by an individual beyond assisted oral feeding (American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, 2006; Geppert, Andrews, and Druyan, 2010). They may be further defined as nutritional and fluid support of an invasive nature requiring placement of a tube into the gastrointestinal tract (enteral tube feedings), or parenteral via the intravenous (central-TPN or peripheral PPN) routes. On occasion, fluids may be administered via subcutaneous (hypodermoclysis) or rectal means. Food and water are basic human needs, without which we will die. Food and water also symbolize caring and nurturing. To withdraw or withhold food and/or fluids in someone who is at the end of life and is no longer able to spontaneously eat and drink symbolizes for some abandonment and neglect. Because the provision of food and water is so basic to human survival, the role of artificial hydration and nutrition at the end of life remains controversial © 2012 Hospice Foundation of America
CHEMOGENETIC & OPTOGENETIC METHODS FOR STUDYING THE ROLE OF THE NUCLEUS SOLITARY TRACT IN SATIATION

Increased meal size on a western diet is a major contributor to development and maintenance of obesity. This also leads to decreased sensitivity to the satiating effects of the western diet. Excitation of cells during consumption of a meal in the caudal two-thirds of the nucleus solitary tract (cNTS) in the brainstem are thought to produce satiation and inhibit feeding. Currently, it is unknown how excitation of these cells inhibits feeding. A major obstacle has been the inability to selectively manipulate these cells without affecting intermixed cells that mediate other autonomic functions. We propose a novel approach using inducible, activity-dependent chemogenetics or optogenetics to test whether artificial excitation of cells in the caudal two-thirds of the nucleus solitary tract (cNTS) activated during satiation can reduce food intake and could contribute to preventing or reversing obesity in humans.We tested four different mouse models with potential for answering this question: double transgenic mice with cFos-tTA & Tet-O-hM3Dq genes, a single transgenic cFos-tTA mouse with a virally delivered hM3Dq gene injected into the cNTS, a double transgenic mice with the TRAP2- tdTomato genes and double transgenic mice with c-Fos-tTA and ChEF genes. Evidence suggested that clozapine-N-oxide might activate satiation-related cells in the absence of the hM3Dq receptor and this should be taken into consideration for future experiments. All four models had promising aspects for studying feeding as well as serious limitations. These limitations will need to be considered when deciding to use any of these models to study any feeding behaviors, especially satiation.