Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Bidens pilosa L. Non-Polar Extract Modulates the Polarization of Human Macrophages and Dendritic Cells into an Anti-Inflammatory Phenotype

Different communities around the world traditionally use Bidens pilosa L. for medicinal purposes, mainly for its anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, and antioxidant properties; it is used as an ingredient in teas or herbal medicines for the treatment of pain, inflammation, and immunological disorders. Several studies have been conducted that prove the immunomodulatory properties of this plant; however, it is not known whether the immunomodulatory properties of B. pilosa are mediated by its ability to modulate antigen-presenting cells (APCs) such as macrophages (MØs) and dendritic cells (DCs) (through polarization or the maturation state, respectively). Different polar and non-polar extracts and fractions were prepared from the aerial part of B. pilosa. Their cytotoxic and immunomodulatory effects were first tested on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated PBMCs, respectively, via an MTT assay. Then, the non-cytotoxic plant extracts and fractions that showed the highest immunomodulatory activity were selected to evaluate their effects on human MØ polarization and DC maturation (cell surface phenotype and cytokine secretion) through multiparametric flow cytometry. Finally, the chemical compounds of the B. pilosa extract that showed the most significant immunomodulatory effects on human APCs were identified using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The petroleum ether extract and the ethyl acetate and hydroalcoholic fractions obtained from B. pilosa showed low cytotoxicity and modulated the PHA-stimulated proliferation of PBMCs. Furthermore, the B. pilosa petroleum ether extract induced M2 polarization or a hybrid M1/M2 phenotype in MØs and a semi-mature status in DCs, regardless of exposure to a maturation stimulus. The immunomodulatory activity of the non-polar (petroleum ether) extract of B. pilosa on human PBMC proliferation, M2 polarization of MØs, and semi-mature status in DCs might be attributed to the low–medium polarity components in the extract, such as phytosterol terpenes and fatty acid esters.
Prevalence of Smoking and Factors Influencing Smoking in the Students of Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd-Iran

Background: The most important step in controlling smoking is to know the factors related to smoking. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of smoking and factors related to smoking among students of Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 250 students of Yazd University of Medical Sciences. In the present study, subjects were selected by simple random sampling. Data were collected through a valid questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using chi-square test, descriptive statistics, and logistic regression in SPSS version 24.0 at a significance level of P<0.05. Results: In the present study, the prevalence of smoking and history of the consumption of narcotics was determined to be 19.2% and 69.2%, respectively. The most important factor related to smoking was unemployment (31.25%) but the main motivation for smoking was entertainment (31.25%). According to the results of logistic regression analysis, it can be said that male gender (OR=9.25), being non-native (OR=13.01), living in a rented house (OR=15.96), Kurdish ethnicity (OR=6.94), having a smoking father (OR=4.42), and having a smoking mother (OR=25.5) were the most important risk factors for smoking among students. Conclusion: Given the high prevalence of smoking and awareness of factors related to smoking among medical sciences students as messengers of health, providing the amenities and comfort, holding workshops on life skills, and establishing consulting centers are necessary to decrease the social and medical burden of smoking.
Impact of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors on kidney outcomes in type 2 diabetes: A tertiary center experience

BACKGROUND: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a complication of chronic hyperglycemia associated with diabetes mellitus (DM). Several studies have demonstrated the positive impact of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors on kidney outcomes. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of dapagliflozin, an SGLT2 inhibitor, on kidney outcomes in Saudi patients with type 2 DM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Study included all Saudi patients with type 2 DM who visited our center from August 1, 2021, to July 31, 2022, and had been on dapagliflozin for at least 3 months. Data was abstracted through chart review for all patients included in the study. Paired t-test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used to compare the results before and after treatment for continuous variables and the McNemar test was used to compare the results for categorical data. RESULTS: Study included 184 Saudi patients with type 2 diabetes with a mean age of 61.32 years (SD=9.37). Dapagliflozin 10 mg/day significantly reduced hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) from a mean (SD) of 9.00 to 8.40 (P < 0.001). Among a subgroup of patients with significant proteinuria (n = 83), dapagliflozin significantly reduced ACR from a median of 93.1 to 64.9 mg/g (P = 0.001). Following treatment, the estimated glomerular filtration rate improved from a mean of 69.83 to 71.68 mL/min and the mean arterial pressure (MAP) fell from 90.03 to 89.06 mmHg, both were not statistically significant. Despite a statistically insignificant increase in the episodes of urinary tract infections (UTIs), the hospitalization rate declined. No episodes of amputations or ketoacidosis occurred during the study period. CONCLUSION: SGLT2 inhibitors had beneficial effects among Saudi patients with type 2 diabetes by improving diabetic control and lowering proteinuria. Dapagliflozin did not result in significant harm, including UTIs, amputations, and ketoacidosis.
Impact-Based Cost-Benefit Analysis model for management of crude oil contaminated agricultural soil

Evaluating the compensation payable to farmers whose farms/farmlands have been rendered unproductive due to oil spill requires adequate scientific research and improved decision-making. This work proposes a bacterial-based mathematical framework as a decision-support system for evaluating crude oil spill impact on agricultural soil. The rate of ‘in situ’ biodegradation of the crude oil predicts the half-life of the spilled crude oil in the soil ecosystem while the inherent toxicity of the spilled oil provided the impact value (E), which was integrated into a version of Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) model referred to as Impact-Based Cost-Benefit Analysis (IBCBA) that can be used for computing the adequate compensation payable. Scientific research initiatives that may engender integrated management of crude oil-contaminated agricultural soil are highlighted.
Instabilités hydrodynamiques dans les écoulements en rotation différentielle

Cette these presente les resultats d'une etude experimentale et theorique sur la stabilite non-lineaire des ecoulements hydrodynamiques en rotation differentielle. Une analyse de mesures anterieures a ce travail effectuees dans des experiences de laboratoire de type Couette-Taylor nous a permis de deriver un critere de stabilite ainsi qu'une prescription du type viscosite turbulente pour le transport du moment cinetique. L'etude experimentale complementaire que nous avons menee nous a permis de mettre en evidence des regimes de rotation instables vis a vis de perturbations aux amplitudes finies, qui demeuraient jusqu'a maintenant inexplores. Nous presentons egalement quelques proprietes des ecoulements moyens turbulents ainsi que des fluctuations de vitesse, en particulier leur evolution en fonction du nombre de Reynolds. Par des arguments physiques simples, nous derivons des parametres de stabilite, des lois d'evolution des fluctuations turbulentes, ainsi qu'une expression de la viscosite turbulente compatible avec notre premiere prescription. Finalement, nous concluons par une application de cette viscosite a un modele simple de disques d'accretion.
Landmark Navigation Studies and Target Characterization in the Hayabusa Encounter with Itokawa

On 12 September 2005, the Japanese Hayabusa spacecraft arrived at the asteroid 25143 Itokawa. Due to Itokawa’s small size (~550 meters) and low gravity, the spacecraft did not orbit, but hovered near each of two stations on a line between the asteroid and Earth. It remained at the “Gate Position” at a range of about 18 km until September 30, and then shifted to the “Home Position” at a range of about 7 km. Between October 8 and 28, it made several excursions to higher phase locations to obtain varying illumination conditions, and away from the equator to obtain polar data. On November 4, 9 and 12, the spacecraft made approaches to the asteroid in preparation for touchdowns on November 20 and 26.
The origin of hotspot traces: Evidence from eastern Australia

Interpretation of available isotopic ages and of published geologic maps of igneous rocks in eastern Australia indicates a north-south time transgressive pattern of cessation of igneous activity along a curvilinear trace, beginning about 35 Ma at 20 /sup 0/S and extending to the present, near 37 /sup 0/S. However, volcanic activity began 70--60 Ma over the length of the Highlands and persisted through the early Cenozoic until progressive cessation began. The latitudinal rate of termination is compatible with that predicted by plate reconstructions relative to the Hawaiian 'hotspot', but the trend of the trace is incompatible with that predicted unless the Hawaiian-Emperor bend is somewhat greater than 50 m.y. in age relative to the LaBrecque et al. (1977) time scale. The volcanic pattern appears to be incompatible with a hotspot or plume hypothesis. Paleostress and contemporary stress indicators as well as the volcanic pattern support a model in which the trace forms due to intraplate extension normal to the trend of the trace, resulting in pressure release and melting at the base of the lithosphere, beginning in the late Cretaceous. This stress field persisted until 35 Ma when progressive reorientation of the stress field occurred. Cessation of igneous activity reflectedmore » onset of compression normal to the trend of the trace. As a consequence, a migrating stress node is recorded in the progressive pattern of extinction of volcanic activity along the trace. Evidence from other 'hotspot' traces, suggests that they too represent intraplate stress controls. It is not necessary to postulate deep sources (mantle plumes) for the origin of hotspot traces; intraplate stress due to drag, plate margin forces, thermal contraction, and nonsphericity of the earth can also reflect 'absolute' motion. « less
Acoustic Reflectometry For Blockages Detection In Pipeline

Flow assurance is an important aspect of offshore, particularly deepwater pipeline design and operation, since one of the critical issues is the eventual initiation and growth of hydrate or paraffin blockages under certain conditions. Ideally, operators would benefit from online information regarding position and extent of an eventual blockage in a pipeline.The aim of this work is to apply acoustic technology to design and make a prototype that can be used in a pipe to efficiently identify and measure blockages. The technique uses a short duration sound pulse that is injected into the pipe. When the acoustic pulse encounters an impedance discontinuity, a portion is reflected back towards the acoustic source and microphones or hydrophones. Analysis of the measured signal reflections can provide valuable data related to location and size of the blockages. The experiments were numerically reproduced with good correlation proving the potential of the technique. Keywords—Blockage Detection, Pipeline, Flow Assurance, Hydrate, Acoustic Pulse, Reflectometry, Acoustic Technic
Acid buffering capacity and potential acidification of cotton soils in northern New South Wales

Soil acidity has been of major concern in Australia since European settlement. Acidification processes have been accelerated due to agricultural activities such as N fertiliser application and leguminous N-fixation in farm rotations. In this paper, we measured the acid buffering capacity (pHBC) of Vertosols, soils used predominantly for growing cotton in northern New South Wales. The pHBC values were used to calculate decrease in soil pH assuming net acid input due to agricultural practices. We combined the acidification results with geostatistics to spatially simulate the decline in soil pH of surface soils over time. The results indicate that it would take 10–417 years for soil pH to decrease by 1 unit on an assumed acid input of 5 kmol H+/ha.year. Soil pH will drop by 1 unit within 100 years for 90% of the soils and within 15 years for 10% of the soils. This reflects the variability of the pHBC for the studied soils. In 50 years from present, most of the eastern and north-western parts of the study region may become highly acidic with soil pH declining to 5.5. There may be a potential threat to sustainable agriculture from acidification in the region, although more work needs to be done to corroborate the counter-effects of water fluxes and carbonate dissolution. Sensitivity analysis indicates that even at low levels of acid input, some areas in the study region may experience significant decline in soil pH in the surface layer.
Development of optical remote sensing technique for monitoring of water basins

The range – time optical images [1, 2] of capillary waves using artificial diffuse illumination of water surface like sky illumination was derived in water tank. The software for processing of wave’s images was developed. The technique for recording splashes appearing for strong winds is developed using range – time surface images. The developed method can be used for investigation of free and bounded capillary waves, wave’s breaking, action of internal waves on surface waves [3,4] and scattering of radio and acoustic waves by rough surface in laboratory and natural conditions. The study of gravity-capillary waves in the tank of the IAP RAS was carried out employing the developed optical system with artificial diffuse illumination.
A PSpace-algorithm for ALCQI-satis(cid:12)ability

The description logic ALCQI extends the \standard" description logic ALC by qualifying number restrictions and converse roles. We show that concept satis(cid:12)ability for this DL is still decidable in polynomial space. The presented algorithm combines techniques from [Tob99] to deal with qualifying number restrictions and from [HST99] to deal with converse roles.
Biomimetic Cardiac Tissue Models for In Vitro Arrhythmia Studies

Cardiac arrhythmias are a major cause of cardiovascular mortality worldwide. Many arrhythmias are caused by reentry, a phenomenon where excitation waves circulate in the heart. Optical mapping techniques have revealed the role of reentry in arrhythmia initiation and fibrillation transition, but the underlying biophysical mechanisms are still difficult to investigate in intact hearts. Tissue engineering models of cardiac tissue can mimic the structure and function of native cardiac tissue and enable interactive observation of reentry formation and wave propagation. This review will present various approaches to constructing cardiac tissue models for reentry studies, using the authors’ work as examples. The review will highlight the evolution of tissue engineering designs based on different substrates, cell types, and structural parameters. A new approach using polymer materials and cellular reprogramming to create biomimetic cardiac tissues will be introduced. The review will also show how computational modeling of cardiac tissue can complement experimental data and how such models can be applied in the biomimetics of cardiac tissue.
Revisions to the stratigraphy and biochronology of the Upper Cretaceous Nanaimo Group, British Columbia and Washington State

The stratigraphy of the Upper Cretaceous Nanaimo Group of the Vancouver Island region is revised on the bases of new fossil and field data. Previously unrecognized turbidite facies of the Haslam Formation are proposed as the new Cowichan Member of the Haslam Formation. This member either overlies or intertongues with the new Haslam Creek Member of the Haslam Formation. The Extension–Protection Formation is subdivided into three formations: the lower Extension Formation, the middle Pender Formation (new name) and the upper Protection Formation.The macrofossil zonal succession can be revised to include a new local-range zone superjacent to the Schmidti Zone and subjacent to the Vancouverense Zone named the Chicoensis Zone, based on the Nanaimo Group occurrences of Baculites chicoensis Trask and Submortoniceras chicoense (Trask). Another new zone is proposed superjacent to the Vancouverense Zone and subjacent to the Suciaensis Zone, named the Paciflcum Zone. This latter zone is based on the local Nanaimo Gro.
Tree-ring and summer-temperature response to volcanic aerosol forcing at the northern tree-line, Kola Peninsula, Russia

Potential linkages between volcanic activity and a 403-year record of Pinus sylvestris L. (Scots pine) growth and summer temperatures estimated from tree-ring widths are evaluated from an Arctic tree-line site on the Kola Peninsula, northwestern Russia. The joint occurrence of volcanic eruptions and severe negative ring-width values is more than four times that expected by chance. A composite average of temperatures indicates that a 0.72°C temperature reduction is typical for the year immediately following volcanic eruptions, while tree growth is reduced for up to two decades. The Greenland Ice Sheet Project 2 (GISP2) volcanic sulphate record shows a small but significant correlation with summer temperatures. Volcanic aerosols originating at low and middle latitudes appear to cause the greatest ring-width reduction and cooling.
Mortality rates and air pollution levels under different weather conditions: an example from Western Europe

According to results of the World Health Organization (WHO) high PM10 concentrations caused a reduction of the average life expectancy of 10.2 months in Germany. The objectives of this study are to determine the influence of the synoptic scale flow patterns on air pollutants and to quantify effects of air pollution on mortality rates. To describe the synoptic situation two weather type classifications of the German Weather Service are used. Additionally, the "Air Quality Health Impact Assessment Tool AirQ" of the WHO was used to model the effects of air pollution and a model is presented for PM10 forecasts.
Subducting slab structure below the eastern Sunda arc inferred from non-linear seismic tomographic imaging

Abstract Detailed P-wave speed velocity structure beneath the Sunda arc has been successfully imaged by applying a non-linear approach to seismic tomography. Nearly one million compressional phases from events within the Indonesian region have been used. These include the surface-reflected depth phases pP and pwP in order to improve the sampling of the upper-mantle structure, particularly below the back-arc regions. We have combined a high-resolution regional inversion with a low-resolution global inversion to minimize the mapping of distant aspherical mantle structure into the study region. In this paper, we focus our discussion on the upper mantle structure beneath the eastern part of the Sunda arc. The tomographic images confirm previous observations of a hole in the subducted slab in the upper mantle beneath eastern Java. The images also suggest that a tear in the slab exists below the easternmost part of the Sunda arc, where the down-going slab is deflected in the mantle transition zone. In good agreement with previous studies, the properties of the deflected slab show a strong bulk-sound signature.
A Systematic Review on Metabolomics Analysis in Hearing Impairment: Is It a Possible Tool in Understanding Auditory Pathologies?

With more than 466 million people affected, hearing loss represents the most common sensory pathology worldwide. Despite its widespread occurrence, much remains to be explored, particularly concerning the intricate pathogenic mechanisms underlying its diverse phenotypes. In this context, metabolomics emerges as a promising approach. Indeed, lying downstream from molecular biology’s central dogma, the metabolome reflects both genetic traits and environmental influences. Furthermore, its dynamic nature facilitates well-defined changes during disease states, making metabolomic analysis a unique lens into the mechanisms underpinning various hearing impairment forms. Hence, these investigations may pave the way for improved diagnostic strategies, personalized interventions and targeted treatments, ultimately enhancing the clinical management of affected individuals. In this comprehensive review, we discuss findings from 20 original articles, including human and animal studies. Existing literature highlights specific metabolic changes associated with hearing loss and ototoxicity of certain compounds. Nevertheless, numerous critical issues have emerged from the study of the current state of the art, with the lack of standardization of methods, significant heterogeneity in the studies and often small sample sizes being the main limiting factors for the reliability of these findings. Therefore, these results should serve as a stepping stone for future research aimed at addressing the aforementioned challenges.