Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Low flow anaesthesia : the theory and practice of low flow, minimal flow and closed system anaesthesia

FULL CONTENTS: Introduction 1 Breathing Systems - Technical Concepts and Function: differentiation of breathing systems under the aspect of underlying technical concepts classification of breathing systems in accordance with functional criteria breathing systems under technical and functional aspects the function of breathing systems in relation to fresh gas flow References 2 Rebreathing Systems - The Development of a Technical Concept: the development of breathing systems - looking at history the development of anaesthesia management with semi-closed rebreathing systems - considerations on the current situation References 3 Pharmacokinetics of Anaesthetic Gases: Oxygen Nitrous Oxide volatile anaesthetics total gas uptake References 4 Anaesthetic Methods with Reduced Fresh Gas Flow: Low Flow anaesthesia Minimal Flow anaesthesia Closed System anaesthesia References 5 Control of Inhalational Anaesthesia: computer simulation programs control of inhalational anaesthesia maintenance of anaesthesia characteristics of anaesthesia management as a function of fresh gas flow rules for anaesthesia management References 6 Advantages of Rebreathing: reduced consumption of anaesthetic gases reduced costs reduced environmental pollution improved anaesthetic gas climate extended potentials of patient monitoring and improved knowledge of machine functions References 7 Technical Requirements for Anaesthesia Management with Reduced Fresh Gas Flow: technical regulations and standards technical requirements for the anaesthetic equipment with respect to the extent of fresh gas flow reduction anaesthetic machines with closed breathing system implications for anaesthetic practice References 8 Monitoring: technical regulations - safety facilities of inhalational anaesthesia machines main- and side-stream gas analysers measurement of oxygen concentration measurement of volatile anaesthetic concentration measurement of nitrous oxide concentration measurement of carbon dioxide concentrati
A Review of Bioactive Glass/Natural Polymer Composites: State of the Art

Collagen, gelatin, silk fibroin, hyaluronic acid, chitosan, alginate, and cellulose are biocompatible and non-cytotoxic, being attractive natural polymers for medical devices for both soft and hard tissues. However, such natural polymers have low bioactivity and poor mechanical properties, which limit their applications. To tackle these drawbacks, collagen, gelatin, silk fibroin, hyaluronic acid, chitosan, alginate, and cellulose can be combined with bioactive glass (BG) nanoparticles and microparticles to produce composites. The incorporation of BGs improves the mechanical properties of the final system as well as its bioactivity and regenerative potential. Indeed, several studies have demonstrated that polymer/BG composites may improve angiogenesis, neo-vascularization, cells adhesion, and proliferation. This review presents the state of the art and future perspectives of collagen, gelatin, silk fibroin, hyaluronic acid, chitosan, alginate, and cellulose matrices combined with BG particles to develop composites such as scaffolds, injectable fillers, membranes, hydrogels, and coatings. Emphasis is devoted to the biological potentialities of these hybrid systems, which look rather promising toward a wide spectrum of applications.
Investigation of Basophil Activation Test for Diagnosing Milk and Egg Allergy in Younger Children

In children with concomitant food allergy and atopic dermatitis (AD), uncovering the causative food allergen is more arduous. We evaluated the basophil activation test (BAT) for its diagnostic value in children, including those with AD, for milk or egg allergy. We simultaneously measured serum-specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) levels and performed BATs for cow’s milk and egg white. We compared their overall diagnostic performance using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) with the Delong method and compared them in children with AD. Analyses were completed for 75 children for milk allergy and for 85 children for egg allergy. The sIgE and percentage of basophils with the expression of CD63 were correlated for both milk (r = 0.384, p < 0.001) and egg (r = 0.557, p < 0.001). The AUC of sIgE (0.701) for milk allergy was significantly increased when combined with the BAT (0.805; p = 0.029). In children with AD, the AUC of the BAT (0.924) for milk allergy was significantly larger than that of sIgE (0.701; p = 0.017). The BAT is a potentially useful diagnostic tool for milk allergy in children when combined with sIgE. Moreover, it may be a surrogate marker for milk allergy in children with AD.
The association of parturition scars and pelvic shape: A geometric morphometric study

Abstract Objectives Pelvic features, mostly known as parturition scars, have been extensively studied in the last decades and are frequently investigated in archaeological and forensic contexts. It is still unclear, however, whether they really relate to pregnancy and birth, or whether these features are caused by other biomechanical factors. Because the length and difficulty of labor correlates with the form of the birth canal, we studied the association between the expression of pelvic features and pelvic shape using geometric morphometrics. Materials and Methods We scored the expression of the preauricular sulcus, margo auricularis groove, sacral preauricular extension, dorsal and ventral pubic pitting for 54 individuals from a 19th century collection and 19 individuals from the Bronze Age cemetery of Hainburg‐Teichtal, Austria. Based on photogrammetric surface models, pelvic shape was captured by 331 landmarks and semilandmarks. The multivariate association between pelvic features and pelvic shape was explored by partial least squares analysis. Results Within the female subsample, we detected a significant association of a constrained birth canal with a strong expression of the preauricular sulcus, the margo auricularis groove, and a retroverted position of the acetabulum. No significant association was found among males. Discussion This suggests that difficult or prolonged labor may indeed cause more strongly expressed pelvic features, presumably because of increased strain of the pelvic ligaments during birth. Furthermore, the retroversion of the acetabulum, which is known to cause sacroiliac joint dysfunction, changes the strain on pelvic ligaments and can thus also result in the development of pronounced pelvic features.
Conditional deletion of Wntless in granulosa cells causes impaired corpora lutea formation and subfertility

WNT proteins are widely expressed in the murine ovaries. WNTLESS is a regulator essential for all WNTs secretion. However, the complexity and overlapping expression of WNT signaling cascades have prevented researchers from elucidating their function in the ovary. Therefore, to determine the overall effect of WNT on ovarian development, we depleted the Wntless gene in oocytes and granulosa cells. Our results indicated no apparent defect in fertility in oocyte-specific Wntless knockout mice. However, granulosa cell (GC) specific Wntless deletion mice were subfertile and recurred miscarriages. Further analysis found that GC-specific Wntless knockout mice had noticeably smaller corpus luteum (CL) in the ovaries than control mice, which is consistent with a significant reduction in luteal cell marker gene expression and a noticeable increase in apoptotic gene expression. Also, the deletion of Wntless in GCs led to a significant decrease in ovarian HCGR and β-Catenin protein levels. In conclusion, Wntless deficient oocytes had no discernible impact on mouse fertility. In contrast, the loss of Wntless in GCs caused subfertility and impaired CL formation due to reduced LHCGR and β-Catenin protein levels, triggering GC apoptosis.
INTRA- AND INTER-RATER RELIABILITY OF A BIOPHOTOGRAMMETRIC ASSESSMENT PROTOCOL FOR PRETERM INFANTS

ABSTRACT Objective: To measure the intra- and inter-rater reliability of a biophotogrammetric assessment protocol for thoracoabdominal motion in preterm infants. Methods: This is an analytical cross-sectional study. Footage of 40 preterm infants was made in two views (lateral and anterior). The babies were placed in the supine position, with retroverted pelvis and semiflexed knees. Acrylic markers were positioned on surgical tape in eight predetermined anatomical points. We analyzed 4 variables in lateral view and 11 in anterior view (angular and linear) (ImageJ®), divided into two stages: 1. same frames - three blinded evaluators analyzed frames previously selected by the main researcher (inter-rater analysis 1), reviewing these same frames after 15 days (intra-rater analysis 1); 2. different frames - each evaluator selected the frames from the original video and repeated the protocol (inter-rater analysis 2), with a review after 15 days (intra-rater analysis 2). In stage 2, we tested the reliability of the entire process, from image selection to the analysis of variables. Data agreement and reproducibility were obtained by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results: Agreement was high, particularly in angular variables (ICC 0.82 to 0.99). Linear variables ranged between very good and excellent in analysis 1 (same frames: ICC 0.64 to 0.99) and analysis 2 (different frames: ICC 0.44 to 0.89). Conclusions: The present study suggests that the proposed protocol for the thoracoabdominal motion analysis of preterm neonates has high reliability.
Detoxificant enzymes in pumpkin grown in polluted ambient air

Pumpkin [Cucurbita pepo (L.) cv. Ambassador] plants were grown under either nonfiltered or filtered ambient air in open-top field chambers (OTCs) near the urban area of Milan, Northern Italy. The effects of ambient air pollution on the enzymatic detoxfication system of the leaves, both in terms of activity and isoform pattern were investigated. The data on air quality showed that ozone was the main phytotoxic pollutant present in ambient air, reaching a 7 h mean of 63 nL L{sup -1} and a maximum hourly peak of 104 nL L{sup -1} The peroxidase and catalase activities increased fourfold and twofold, respectively in the nonfiltered air plants In comparison to the filtered air ones. The peroxidase patterns were very modified in the polluted plants. In contrast no significant changes were found in the activity and isoenzyme pattern of superoxide dismutase. The data reported here suggest that in field-grown pumpkin plants exposed to ambient levels of photooxidants, a stimulation of the peroxddase-catalase detoxification system takes place. 32 refs., 3 figs., 3 tabs.
A selective effect of dopamine on information-seeking

Humans are motivated to seek information from their environment. How the brain motivates this behavior is unknown. One speculation is that the brain employs neuromodulatory systems implicated in primary reward-seeking, in particular dopamine, to instruct information-seeking. However, there has been no causal test for the role of dopamine in information-seeking. Here, we show that administration of a drug that enhances dopamine function (dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine; L-DOPA) reduces the impact of valence on information-seeking. Specifically, while participants under Placebo sought more information about potential gains than losses, under L-DOPA this difference was not observed. The results provide new insight into the neurobiology of information-seeking and generates the prediction that abnormal dopaminergic function (such as in Parkinson’s disease) will result in valence-dependent changes to information-seeking.
Cellular Consequences of Coenzyme Q10 Deficiency in Neurodegeneration of the Retina and Brain

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a ubiquitous cofactor in the body, operating in the inner mitochondrial membrane, where it plays a vital role in the generation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) through the electron transport chain (ETC). In addition to this, CoQ10 serves as an antioxidant, protecting the cell from oxidative stress by reactive oxygen species (ROS) as well as maintaining a proton (H+) gradient across lysosome membranes to facilitate the breakdown of cellular waste products. Through the process of ageing, the body becomes deficient in CoQ10, resulting in several systemic manifestations. On a cellular level, one of the consequences of CoQ10 deficiency is apoptosis, which can be visualised in tissues of the central nervous system (CNS). Diseases affecting the retina and brain such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) have shown defects in cellular biochemical reactions attributed to reduced levels of CoQ10. Through further research into the pathogenesis of such conditions, the effects of CoQ10 deficiency can be counteracted through supplementation, early detection and intervention.
Site specificity determinants for prelamin A cleavage by the zinc metalloprotease ZMPSTE24

The integral membrane zinc metalloprotease ZMPSTE24 is important for human health and longevity. ZMPSTE24 performs a key proteolytic step in maturation of prelamin A, the farnesylated precursor of the nuclear scaffold protein lamin A. Mutations in the genes encoding either prelamin A or ZMPSTE24 that prevent cleavage cause the premature aging disease Hutchinson–Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) and related progeroid disorders. ZMPSTE24 has a novel structure, with seven transmembrane spans that form a large water-filled membrane chamber whose catalytic site faces the chamber interior. Prelamin A is the only known mammalian substrate for ZMPSTE24; however, the basis of this specificity remains unclear. To define the sequence requirements for ZMPSTE24 cleavage, we mutagenized the eight residues flanking the prelamin A scissile bond (TRSY↓LLGN) to all other 19 amino acids, creating a library of 152 variants. We also replaced these eight residues with sequences derived from putative ZMPSTE24 cleavage sites from amphibian, bird, and fish prelamin A. Cleavage of prelamin A variants was assessed using an in vivo yeast assay that provides a sensitive measure of ZMPSTE24 processing efficiency. We found that residues on the C-terminal side of the cleavage site are most sensitive to changes. Consistent with other zinc metalloproteases, including thermolysin, ZMPSTE24 preferred hydrophobic residues at the P1’ position (Leu647), but in addition, showed a similar, albeit muted, pattern at P2’. Our findings begin to define a consensus sequence for ZMPSTE24 that helps to clarify how this physiologically important protease functions and may ultimately lead to identifying additional substrates.
Bartonella osteomyelitis versus vertebral sarcoidosis: A tale of two cases

Background Osteomyelitis is an uncommon manifestation of Bartonella henselae. Similarly, bony involvement may occur with sarcoidosis. Even though these are pathologically distinct entities, they can have overlapping imaging manifestations and therefore mimic one another. This is further complicated by the fact that both entities show non-caseating granulomatous inflammation on histopathology. We present two cases with similar imaging findings, with one case eventually diagnosed as Bartonella osteomyelitis, while the other proved to be vertebral sarcoidosis. Both patients exhibited vertebral involvement in common, and improved clinically and radiographically following antibiotics and steroids treatment, respectively. Given the overlapping pathological and imaging manifestations, and the non-specific clinical presentation, these entities may be considered in the differential consideration of each other. The presence of associated findings in such cases may be helpful.
Relating Response Inhibition, Brain Connectivity, and Freezing of Gait in People with Parkinson’s Disease

ABSTRACT Objective: Freezing of gait (FoG) in Parkinson’s disease (PD) has been associated with response inhibition. However, the relationship between response inhibition, neural dysfunction, and PD remains unclear. We assessed response inhibition and microstructural integrity of brain regions involved in response inhibition [right hemisphere inferior frontal cortex (IFC), bilateral pre-supplementary motor areas (preSMA), and subthalamic nuclei (STN)] in PD subjects with and without FoG and elderly controls. Method: Twenty-one people with PD and FoG (PD-FoG), 18 without FoG (PD-noFoG), and 19 age-matched controls (HC) completed a Stop-Signal Task (SST) and MRI scan. Probabilistic fiber tractography assessed structural integrity (fractional anisotropy, FA) among IFC, preSMA, and STN regions. Results: Stop-signal performance did not differ between PD and HC, nor between PD-FoG and PD-noFoG. Differences in white matter integrity were observed across groups (.001 < p < .064), but were restricted to PD versus HC groups; no differences in FA were observed between PD-FoG and PD-noFoG (p > .096). Interestingly, worse FoG was associated with higher (better) mean FA in the r-preSMA, (β = .547, p = .015). Microstructural integrity of the r-IFC, r-preSMA, and r-STN tracts correlated with stop-signal performance in HC (p ≤ .019), but not people with PD. Conclusion: These results do not support inefficient response inhibition in PD-FoG. Those with PD exhibited white matter loss in the response inhibition network, but this was not associated with FoG, nor with response inhibition deficits, suggesting FoG-specific neural changes may occur outside the response inhibition network. As shown previously, white matter loss was associated with response inhibition in elderly controls, suggesting PD may disturb this relationship.
The U94 Gene of Human Herpesvirus 6: A Narrative Review of Its Role and Potential Functions

Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) is a β-herpesvirus that is highly prevalent in the human population. HHV-6 comprises two recognized species (HHV-6A and HHV-6B). Despite different cell tropism and disease association, HHV-6A/B show high genome homology and harbor the conserved U94 gene, which is limited to HHV-6 and absent in all the other human herpesviruses. U94 has key functions in the virus life cycle and associated diseases, having demonstrated or putative roles in virus replication, integration, and reactivation. During natural infection, U94 elicits an immune response, and the prevalence and extent of the anti-U94 response are associated with specific diseases. Notably, U94 can entirely reproduce some virus effects at the cell level, including inhibition of cell migration, induction of cytokines and HLA-G expression, and angiogenesis inhibition, supporting a direct U94 role in the development of HHV-6-associated diseases. Moreover, specific U94 properties, such as the ability to modulate angiogenesis pathways, have been exploited to counteract cancer development. Here, we review the information available on this key HHV-6 gene, highlighting its potential uses.
Towards Real-Time Recognition of Users Mental Workload Using Integrated Physiological Sensors Into a VR HMD

This paper describes an “all-in-one” solution for the real-time recognition of users’ mental workloads in virtual reality through the customization of a commercial HMD with physiological sensors. First, we describe the hardware and software solution employed to build the system. Second, we detail the machine learning methods used for the automatic recognition of the users’ mental workload, which are based on the well-known Random Forest algorithm. In order to gather data to train the system, we conducted an extensive user study with 75 participants using a VR flight simulator to induce different levels of mental workload. In contrast to previous works which label the data based on a standardized task (e.g., n-back task) or on a pre-defined task-difficulty, participants were asked about their perceived mental workload level along the experiment. With the data collected, we were able to train the system in order to classify four different levels of mental workload with an accuracy up to 65%. In addition, we discuss the role of the signal normalization procedures, the contribution of the different physiological signals on the recognition accuracy and compare the results obtained with the sensors embedded in the HMD with commercial grade systems. Preliminary results show our pipeline is able to recognize mental workload in real-time. Taken together, our results suggest that such all-in-one approach, with physiological sensors directly embedded in the HMD, is a promising path for VR applications in which the real-time or off-line estimation of Mental Workload assessment is beneficial.
On the Ergodicity, Bias and Asymptotic Normality of Randomized Midpoint Sampling Method

The randomized midpoint method, proposed by [40], has emerged as an optimal discretization procedure for simulating the continuous time underdamped Langevin diffusion. In this paper, we analyze several probabilistic properties of the randomized midpoint discretization method, considering both overdamped and underdamped Langevin dynamics. We first characterize the stationary distribution of the discrete chain obtained with constant step-size discretization and show that it is biased away from the target distribution. Notably, the step-size needs to go to zero to obtain asymptotic unbiasedness. Next, we establish the asymptotic normality of numerical integration using the randomized midpoint method and highlight the relative advantages and disadvantages over other discretizations. Our results collectively provide several insights into the behavior of the randomized midpoint discretization method, including obtaining confidence intervals for numerical integrations.
Unobtrusive Monitoring of ECG and EEG During Mild Stress Stimuli

This study is part of a research project aiming to build a model for quantifying an individual wellness status through unobtrusive measurements of psychophysical parameters and self-reported data. In particular, we focus on the evaluation of the individual response to mild stress stimuli. The experimental setup included: EG05000 Medlab Five Channel Module, Gigabit Ethernet camera, BioHarness 3 Zephyr chest belt, and Muse 2 Headband. Experimental results show increased heart rate and respiration rate, and changes of the brain activity in the stress condition. This is consistent with a “fight or flight” response in accordance with literature. Therefore, the methodology applied in this study can be used to monitor the individual wellness status in conditions of mild stress stimuli.
Health promotion initiative: A dementia-friendly local community in Sweden

Dementia is a great public health concern worldwide. Despite this, little is known from a health-promoting perspective about dementia in general as a public health issue, in dialog with people living with dementia, applicable at individual, group, and societal levels with regard to policies and practice. This study therefore aims to explore the experiences related to living with dementia in the local community by advancing a health-promoting perspective. Semi-structured individual and group interviews were conducted with participants (n = 22) with lived, professional, and personal experiences of dementia living in a medium-sized municipality in Sweden. Transcripts were analyzed by thematic analysis. Four themes emerged: health promotion through knowledge and public awareness, health promotion through opportunities to be active, health promotion through meaningful meeting places, and health promotion through improvements in the welfare system. We found that more knowledge and public awareness about dementia are needed to advance a health-promoting perspective and increase the prominence of dementia as a public health issue. Further research and policy need to focus more on how professionals in dementia care practice could be involved in promoting health and well-being for people with dementia.