Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Essential Oil from Chenopodium ambrosioides as a Promising Antileishmanial Agent

Chenopodium ambrosioides has been used traditionally against parasitic diseases. The essential oil of the plant is a complex mixture of compounds with a rich structural diversity. This review focuses on recent evaluation of the essential oil from C. ambrosioides as a promising antileishmanial agent. The tested product showed activity against promastigotes and amastigotes of Leishmania amazonensis and L. donovani. An optimal dose of 30 mg/Kg was effective by intraperitoneal and oral routes in experimental cutaneous leishmaniasis. The chenopodium oil had a moderate toxicity against peritoneal macrophages of BALB/c mice and no side effects were detected in animals treated by the oral route. Isolates of L. amazonensis from treated mice were susceptible to the essential oil. Synergic effects were observed when the essential oil was incubated in conjunction with pentamidine on L. amazonensis promastigote cultures. Future studies focusing on formulation, toxicity and mechanism of action may help in the development of chenopodium oil as a new antileishmanial drug.
Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Background: There are few comprehensive reviews of breast cancer outcomes in older women. We synthesize data to describe key findings and gaps in knowledge about the outcomes of breast cancer in this population. Methods: We reviewed research published between 1995 and June 2003 on breast cancer quality of life and outcomes among women aged 65 and older treated for breast cancer. Outcomes included communication, satisfaction, and multiple quality of life domains. Results: Few randomized trials or cohort studies that measured quality of life after treatment focused exclusively on older women. Studies from older women generally noted that, with the exception of axillary dissection, type of surgical treatment generally had no effect on long-term outcomes. In contrast, the processes of care, such as choosing therapy, good patient-physician communication, receiving treatment concordant with preferences about body image, and low perceptions of bias, were associated with better quality of life and satisfaction. Conclusions: With the exception of axillary dissection, the processes of care, and not the therapy itself, seem to be the most important determinants of long-term quality of life in older women. Introduction Breast cancer is an important disease and one where health care services have the potential to improve the quality and quantity of life. Breast cancer is also largely a disease of old age [1,2]. By the year 2030, one in five women in the United States will be 65 years of age or older (hereinafter referred to as "older") [3]. This demographic imperative, coupled with the dramatic increases in rates of breast cancer with advancing age, is expected to translate into a large absolute increase in the number of older women treated for and surviving breast cancer [4]. These older breast cancer survivors are likely to be a physiologically, socially, and racially heterogeneous group with varying numbers of comorbid conditions and varying outcomes following treatment for their disease [4,5]. Older women diagnosed with breast cancer today have many different treatment options from which to choose. While most women will chose treatments that maximize survival, information about quality of life can be an important component in decision-making in several clinical situations. For instance, if a woman is considering two treatments with equivalent survival, such as mastectomy and breast conservation, then quality of life outcomes Published: 17 September 2003 Health and Quality of Life Outcomes 2003, 1:45 Received: 30 July 2003 Accepted: 17 September 2003 This article is available from: http://www.hqlo. com/content/1/1/45 © 2003 Mandelblatt et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article: verbatim copying and redistribution of this article are permitted in all media for any purpose, provided this notice is preserved along with the article's original URL.
Carbon emission disclosure in the agriculture industry in Indonesia: The determinant factors

The agriculture industry in Indonesia, despite its huge contribution to the country’s economy, is responsible for a substantial amount of carbon emissions. Hence, according to the country’s stock exchange regulation, agriculturally listed companies shall annually report their carbon emissions and carbon emission mitigation. The main objective of our research is to analyze the factors that influence the reporting of greenhouse gas emissions by agriculture corporations. The examined factors are environmental performance, which is assessed through environmental performance ratings and environmental management certification, the released sustainability report, ownership structure, and financial characteristics. Using 91 publicly traded agriculture companies from 2019 to 2022 as a sample, the ordinally least squares regression analysis shows that publications of a company’s carbon emissions tend to rise in accordance with both the rating of its environmental performance and the issuance of its sustainability report. Institutional ownership and financial characteristics of a company do not have any relationship with the extent of carbon emission disclosures. This study delivers an understanding to the Financial Service Authority Agency that the environmental performance rating assessment by the KLH and the yearly sustainability report encourage companies to do activities related to environmental sustainability.
Q‐RTS: a real‐time swarm intelligence based on multi‐agent Q‐learning

The authors introduce a novel approach for swarm reinforcement learning that extends the standard Q-learning to multi-agent systems. State-of-the-art methods implement a knowledge sharing mechanism between the agents that is triggered by the episodes succession. This causes an intrinsic limit in the convergence speed of the algorithms. They overcame this issue by developing a Q-learning real-time swarm algorithm (Q-RTS), which is iteration-based and suitable for real-time systems. Q-RTS was tested in different environments and compared to other related methods in the literature. They obtained positive results in terms of learning time and scalability, i.e. achieving a speed-up factor of at least 1.49 with respect to standard Q-learning. Moreover, Q-RTS shows enhanced learning performance as the environments complexity increases.
The effect of COVID‐19 and COVID‐19 vaccination on serum anti‐Mullerian hormone: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Abstract Objective The current study aims to evaluate the impact of COVID‐19 infection and vaccination on ovarian reserve by detecting the anti‐Mullerian hormone (AMH) level. Method PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus has been searched for studies assessing the effect of COVID‐19 infection and/or vaccination on AMH levels up to February 27, 2023. Based on PRISMA 2020 statement criteria, a systematic review and meta‐analysis of included studies were performed. The studies' quality was assessed by the National Institute of Health (NIH) quality assessment tool. The standardized mean difference (MD) of the AMH level was used and the quantitative values of each study were pooled separately by using a random effect model. Results Out of 246 studies screened, 18 were included in the systematic review and 14 in the meta‐analysis. Included studies were published between 2021 and 2022 and were conducted in different countries, including the USA (n = 3), China (n = 2), Russia (n = 2), Turkey (n = 5), Israel (n = 3), Czech (n = 2), and Spain (n = 1). Eight studies investigated the effect of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection on AMH levels, and ten studies investigated the possible effect of COVID‐19 vaccination on AMH levels. The pooled analysis showed a statistically significant decrease in AMH levels after COVID‐19 infection (SMD: −0.24; 95% CI: −0.36 to −0.11; I2 = 0%; p = .0003). Vaccination analysis showed a nonstatistically significant change in AMH levels after COVID‐19 vaccination (SMD: −0.11; 95% CI: −0.25 to 0.04; I2 = 35%; p = .14). Conclusion COVID‐19 infection can result in ovarian reserve injury by reducing the AMH level but getting vaccinated against COVID‐19 has no impact on the AMH level.
New Perspectives in the Management of Chronic Hand Eczema: Lessons from Pathogenesis

Chronic hand eczema (CHE) is a common inflammatory skin condition that significantly impacts the quality of life. From work-related disabilities to social embarrassment, pain, and financial costs, the burden on society is substantial. Managing this condition presents challenges such as long-term treatment, poor patient compliance, therapy side effects, and economic feasibility. As a result, significant efforts have been made in this field in recent years. Specifically, the broader understanding of CHE pathogenesis has led to the development of new drugs, both topical and systemic. The aim of this narrative review is to summarize the current available data on hand eczema pathophysiology and explore the resulting developments in drugs for its treatment. A comprehensive search on PubMed and the other main scientific databases was conducted using keywords related to CHE and its pathogenesis. The most relevant pathways targeted by therapies include the JAK-STAT cascade, IL-4, and IL-13 axis, phosphodiesterase 4 enzyme, and chemo-attractant cytokines. In the near future, physicians will have a plethora of therapeutic alternatives. Consequently, they should be well-trained not only in how to use these alternatives but also how to combine these treatments to address the ongoing challenges related to efficacy, tolerability, and safety.
The Effect of Therapeutic Exercise on Body Weight Distribution, Balance, and Stifle Function in Dogs following Stifle Injury

Simple Summary Stifle injury is common in the companion dog population, often leading to reduced weight bearing due to pain or joint instability, affecting neuromuscular control, balance, and proprioception. Earlier studies have reported the benefits of rehabilitation after stifle injury, though the specific effects of most exercises are unknown and predicting outcomes is challenging. In this randomized and controlled study, we investigated the effects of a 12-week progressive therapeutic home exercise protocol on static body weight distribution between hindlimbs, balance control, pain-related disability, and stifle function in 33 dogs diagnosed with stifle injury after 12 weeks of home exercise. An intervention and a control group both followed a standard rehabilitation protocol for stifle injury, with the intervention group also following a progressive therapeutic exercise protocol. The results indicate that the progressive therapeutic exercise protocol improved static body weight distribution between hindlimbs, pain-related functional disability, and stifle function. The effects were statistically significant, with intermediate to strong effects. There was a small but nonstatistically significant positive effect on balance control with the therapeutic exercise protocol, perhaps due to the rather small sample group and unvalidated method of measurement. We suggest studying balance control in dogs with stifle injuries more thoroughly in future studies. Abstract Stifle injury is common in the companion dog population, affecting weight bearing, neuromuscular control, and balance. Therapeutic exercises after stifle injury seem to be effective, but high-quality research evaluating the effects is lacking. This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effects of a 12-week progressive therapeutic home exercise protocol on three-legged standing, targeting balance and postural- and neuromuscular control and disability in dogs with stifle injury. Thirty-three dogs with stifle injury were randomly allocated to intervention (n = 18) and control groups (n = 15), both receiving a standard rehabilitation protocol. Additionally, the intervention group received a progressive therapeutic exercise protocol. The outcome measures were static body weight distribution between hindlimbs, balance control, the canine brief pain inventory, and the Finnish canine stifle index. Both groups improved after the intervention period, but the group using the progressive therapeutic exercise protocol improved to a greater extent regarding static body weight distribution between the hindlimbs (I: median = 2.5%, IQR = 1.0–4.5; C: median = 5.5%, IQR = 3.0–8.8), pain-related functional disability (I: median = 0.0, IQR = 0.0–0.2; C: median = 0.9, IQR = 0.1–1.8), and stifle function (I: median = 25.0, IQR = 9.4–40.6; C: median = 75.0, IQR = 31.3–87.5), with intermediate to strong effects. These clinically relevant results indicate that this home exercise program can improve hindlimb function and restore neuromuscular control.
Process and effect evaluation of a referral aid for smoking cessation counselling in primary care: Findings of a randomized controlled trial

INTRODUCTION This study explored the use and effects of a smoking cessation referral in: 1) practice nurses (PNs), and 2) smokers. The use of evidence-based smoking cessation interventions (EBSCIs) can double the likelihood of a successful smoking cessation attempt. A referral aid was developed to aid Dutch PNs in primary care in deciding which smokers are the most suitable for EBSCI. METHODS Two different studies were conducted: 1) a randomized controlled trial with a process evaluation (n=82) and effect evaluation (n=285) among smoking patients recruited by PNs (n=73), and 2) a process evaluation among a subgroup of PNs (n=40) from January 2019 to September 2020. RESULTS Overall, the response in both groups was low. PNs found the referral aid materials clear and understandable. Smokers had similar but (slightly) less-positive opinions. The smokers in both groups did not differ in the amount of discussion and use of EBSCIs, nor on smoking abstinence. CONCLUSIONS Further research should assess how to better involve PNs and smokers when recruiting for an RCT and how to foster effective counselling. Additional research should also look deeper into barriers to referral of both PNs and smokers, and how to stimulate referral to EBSCIs best and help smokers to make a decision; for example by implementing a simplified strategy both within the primary care setting and outside, by involving other healthcare professionals or options outside healthcare such as the workplace and social domain. Trial registration The study was registered at the Netherlands Trial Register (NL7020, https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/7020).
Synthesis and Properties of Cationic Core-Shell Fluorinated Polyurethane Acrylate

Vinyl-capped cationic waterborne polyurethane (CWPU) was prepared using isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), polycarbonate diol (PCDL), N-methyldiethanolamine (MDEA), and trimethylolpropane (TMP) as raw materials and hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) as a capping agent. Then, a crosslinked FPUA composite emulsion with polyurethane (PU) as the shell and fluorinated acrylate (PA) as the core was prepared by core-shell emulsion polymerization with CWPU as the seed emulsion, together with dodecafluoroheptyl methacrylate (DFMA), diacetone acrylamide (DAAM), and methyl methacrylate (MMA). The effects of the core-shell ratio of PA/PU on the surface properties, mechanical properties, and heat resistance of FPUA emulsions and films were investigated. The results showed that when w(PA) = 30~50%, the stability of FPUA emulsion was the highest, and the particles showed a core-shell structure with bright and dark intersections under TEM. When w(PA) = 30%, the tensile strength reached 23.35 ± 0.08 MPa. When w(PA) = 50%, the fluorine content on the surface of the coating film was 14.75% and the contact angle was as high as 98.5°, which showed good hydrophobicity; the surface flatness of the film was observed under AFM. It is found that the tensile strength of the film increases and then decreases with the increase in the core-shell ratio and the heat resistance of the FPUA film is gradually increased. The FPUA film has excellent properties such as good impact resistance, high flexibility, high adhesion, and corrosion resistance.
Post-Thaw Storage Temperature Influenced Boar Sperm Quality and Lifespan through Apoptosis and Lipid Peroxidation

Simple Summary Frozen-thawed boar semen has not been widely used due to the deleterious effects of freezing on sperm quality and fertility. Extensive attempts have been made to improve post-thaw sperm quality because the short lifespan of frozen and thawed boar sperm impedes its application in field. The present study aimed to find the best post-thaw storage method (storage time and temperature) to extend sperm survival time without affecting the quality. The results showed that post-thaw storage time and temperature influenced boar sperm survival. Storage of thawed boar semen at 17 °C preserved sperm quality better and maintained sperm quality for up to 6 h. This demonstrated an improvement in the preservation of frozen-thawed boar semen before their use for artificial insemination because it provided enough time to prepare the doses and the transport them from the laboratory to the farm. These findings will help to promote the application of frozen-thawed boar semen doses for artificial insemination in the swine industry. Abstract Cryopreservation deteriorates boar sperm quality and lifespan, which restricts the use of artificial insemination with frozen-thawed boar semen in field conditions. The objective of this study was to test the effects of post-thaw storage time and temperature on boar sperm survival. Semen ejaculates from five Landrace boars (one ejaculate per boar) were collected and frozen following a 0.5 mL-straw protocol. Straws from the five boars were thawed and diluted 1:1 (v:v) in BTS. The frozen-thawed semen samples were aliquoted into three parts and respectively stored at 5 °C, 17 °C, and 37 °C for up to 6 h. At 0.5, 2, and 6 h of storage, sperm motility, viability, mitochondrial membrane potential, and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and apoptotic changes were measured. Antioxidant and oxidant levels were tested in boar sperm (SPZ) and their surrounding environment (SN) at each timepoint. The results showed significant effects of post-thaw storage time and temperature and an impact on boar sperm quality (total and progressive motility, VCL, viability, acrosome integrity), early and late sperm apoptotic changes, and changes in MDA levels in SPZ and SN. Compared to storage at 5 °C and 37 °C, frozen-thawed semen samples stored at 17 °C displayed better sperm quality, less apoptotic levels, and lower levels of SPZ MDA and SN MDA. Notably, post-thaw storage at 17 °C extended boar sperm lifespan up to 6 h without obvious reduction in sperm quality. In conclusion, storage of frozen-thawed boar semen at 17 °C preserves sperm quality for up to 6 h, which facilitates the use of cryopreserved boar semen for field artificial insemination.
Molecular profiling of human substantia nigra identifies diverse neuron types associated with vulnerability in Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is characterized pathologically by the loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra (SN). Whether cell types beyond DA neurons in the SN show vulnerability in PD remains unclear. Through transcriptomic profiling of 315,867 high-quality single nuclei in the SN from individuals with and without PD, we identified cell clusters representing various neuron types, glia, endothelial cells, pericytes, fibroblasts, and T cells and investigated cell type–dependent alterations in gene expression in PD. Notably, a unique neuron cluster marked by the expression of RIT2, a PD risk gene, also displayed vulnerability in PD. We validated RIT2-enriched neurons in midbrain organoids and the mouse SN. Our results demonstrated distinct transcriptomic signatures of the RIT2-enriched neurons in the human SN and implicated reduced RIT2 expression in the pathogenesis of PD. Our study sheds light on the diversity of cell types, including DA neurons, in the SN and the complexity of molecular and cellular changes associated with PD pathogenesis.
Efficacy and Safety of Vedolizumab in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Association with Vedolizumab Drug Levels

Background: Vedolizumab (VDZ) is a well-established and important therapeutic option in the treatment of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, the significance of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) with VDZ remains a contradictory field in daily clinical practice. Our study aims to clarify the predictive impact of VDZ drug levels in long-term clinical outcomes in a real-world cohort. Methods: Patients with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD) from a tertiary IBD referral center at the University Hospital Augsburg, Germany, were enrolled in this single-center retrospective data analysis. Clinical and endoscopic data were collected at month 6, month 12, and at the last time of follow-up, and outcomes were correlated with VDZ levels at week 6. Results: This study included 95 patients, 68.4% (n = 65) with UC, 24.2% (n = 23) with CD, and 7.4% (n = 7) with indeterminate colitis (CI). Patients with a mean VDZ treatment time of 17.83 months ± 14.56 showed clinical response in 29.5% (n = 28) and clinical remission in 45.3% (n = 43) at the end of the study. Endoscopic response occurred in 20.0% (n = 19) and endoscopic remission in 29.5% (n = 28) at the end of the study. The sustained beneficial effect of VDZ was also reflected in a significant change in biomarker levels. VDZ trough level at week 6 was determined in 48.4% (n = 46) with a mean of 41.79 µg/mL ± 24.58. A significant association between VDZ level at week 6 and both short and long-term outcomes could not be demonstrated. However, numerically higher VDZ levels were seen in patients with endoscopic and clinical improvement at month 6 and at the time of last follow-up. Conclusions: This study demonstrated efficacy and safety for VDZ in a real-world cohort. Although, for some parameters, a clear trend for higher VDZ levels at week 6 was seen, the efficacy of VDZ was not significantly correlated to VDZ level at week 6, which questions the predictive value of VDZ levels in the real world.
Alpha-Synuclein Contribution to Neuronal and Glial Damage in Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a complex neurodegenerative disease characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and the widespread accumulation of alpha-synuclein (αSyn) protein aggregates. αSyn aggregation disrupts critical cellular processes, including synaptic function, mitochondrial integrity, and proteostasis, which culminate in neuronal cell death. Importantly, αSyn pathology extends beyond neurons—it also encompasses spreading throughout the neuronal environment and internalization by microglia and astrocytes. Once internalized, glia can act as neuroprotective scavengers, which limit the spread of αSyn. However, they can also become reactive, thereby contributing to neuroinflammation and the progression of PD. Recent advances in αSyn research have enabled the molecular diagnosis of PD and accelerated the development of targeted therapies. Nevertheless, despite more than two decades of research, the cellular function, aggregation mechanisms, and induction of cellular damage by αSyn remain incompletely understood. Unraveling the interplay between αSyn, neurons, and glia may provide insights into disease initiation and progression, which may bring us closer to exploring new effective therapeutic strategies. Herein, we provide an overview of recent studies emphasizing the multifaceted nature of αSyn and its impact on both neuron and glial cell damage.