On the Concentration and Phase-relation Dependence of Seebeck Coefficient and the Contact Angle in Metallic Solutions

The focus of this paper is the deeper understanding of the effect of the change in the electronic structure on the wetting angle and transport properties. For this purpose, using the alloys from the earlier study, the thermopower has been measured and the Seebeck coefficient has also been determined in room temperature (solidified state). During the experiments in both case the modification of the electronic structure were performed by alloying on a way, that the investigated systems are terminal (α) solutions in solid state. The concentration dependence of property changes are interpreted on the bases of free electron model elaborated earlier for this alloy types. This prediction fits well also to the concentration dependence of heat of formation in these alloys. Similar concentration dependence has been also found between the Seebeck coefficient, the resistivity and the heat of mixing in α-phase Fe-Ni alloys. The shift of thermopower were also monitored in order to detect the crystallization (first oreder transformation) starting form amorphous Fe-B alloys.&nbsp

A Cloud-based Machine Learning Pipeline for the Efficient Extraction of Insights from Customer Reviews

The efficiency of natural language processing has improved dramatically with the advent of machine learning models, particularly neural network-based solutions. However, some tasks are still challenging, especially when considering specific domains. In this paper, we present a cloud-based system that can extract insights from customer reviews using machine learning methods integrated into a pipeline. For topic modeling, our composite model uses transformer-based neural networks designed for natural language processing, vector embedding-based keyword extraction, and clustering. The elements of our model have been integrated and further developed to meet better the requirements of efficient information extraction, topic modeling of the extracted information, and user needs. Furthermore, our system can achieve better results than this task's existing topic modeling and keyword extraction solutions. Our approach is validated and compared with other state-of-the-art methods using publicly available datasets for benchmarking

Oxidative Stress-Related Parthanatos of Circulating Mononuclear Leukocytes in Heart Failure

Background: The present study aims to examine the oxidative stress related activation of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP), signs of parthanatos in circulating mononuclear leukocytes of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) that was rarely investigated in the human setting yet. Methods: Patients with CHF (n=20) and age, body mass index matched volunteers (n=15) with normal heart function were enrolled. C-reactive protein, N-terminal pro-brain type natriuretic peptide (pro-BNP), plasma total peroxide level (PRX), plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC), oxidative stress index (OSI), leukocyte lipid peroxidation (4-hydroxynonenal; HNE), protein tyrosine nitration (NT), poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation (PARylation), and apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) translocation were measured in blood samples of fasting subjects. Results: Plasma PRX, leukocyte HNE, NT, PARylation and AIF translocation were significantly higher in the heart failure group. Pro-BNP levels in all study subjects showed significant positive correlation to PRX, OSI, leukocyte HNE, NT, PARylation and AIF translocation. Ejection fraction negatively correlated with same parameters. Among HF patients, positive correlation of pro-BNP with PRX, OSI and PARylation was still present. Conclusions: Markers of oxidative-nitrative stress, PARP activation and AIF translocation in blood components showed correlation to reduced cardiac function and the clinical appearance of CHF. These results may reinforce the consideration of PARP inhibition as a potential therapeutic target in CHF

Cardioprotective mechanisms of Prunus cerasus (sour cherry) seed extract against ischemia-reperfusion-induced damage in isolated rat hearts.

The effects of kernel extract obtained from sour cherry (Prunus cerasus) seed on the postischemic cardiac recovery were studied in isolated working rat hearts. Rats were treated with various daily doses of the extract for 14 days, and hearts were then isolated and subjected to 30 min of global ischemia followed by 120 min of reperfusion. The incidence of ventricular fibrillation (VF) and tachycardia (VT) fell from their control values of 92% and 100% to 50% (not significant) and 58% (not significant), 17% (P<0.05), and 25% (P<0.05) with the doses of 10 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg of the extract, respectively. Lower concentrations of the extract (1 and 5 mg/kg) failed to significantly reduce the incidence of VF and VT during reperfusion. Sour cherry seed kernel extract (10 and 30 mg/kg) significantly improved the postischemic recovery of cardiac function (coronary flow, aortic flow, and left ventricular developed pressure) during reperfusion. We have also demonstrated that the extract-induced protection in cardiac function significantly reflected in a reduction of infarct size. Immunohistochemistry indicates that a reduction in caspase-3 activity and apoptotic cells by the extract, beside other potential action mechanisms of proanthocyanidin, trans-resveratrol, and flavonoid components of the extract, could be responsible for the cardioprotection in ischemic-reperfused myocardium

Neuregulin-1β Improves Uremic Cardiomyopathy and Renal Dysfunction in Rats

Chronic kidney disease is a global health problem affecting 10% to 12% of the population. Uremic cardiomy-opathy is often characterized by left ventricular hypertrophy, fibrosis, and diastolic dysfunction. Dysregulation of neuregulin-10 signaling in the heart is a known contributor to heart failure. The systemically administered recombinant human neuregulin-10 for 10 days in our 5/6 nephrectomy-induced model of chronic kidney disease alleviated the progression of uremic cardiomyopathy and kidney dysfunction in type 4 cardiorenal syndrome. The currently presented positive preclinical data warrant clinical studies to confirm the beneficial effects of recombinant human neuregulin-10 in patients with chronic kidney disease. (J Am Coll Cardiol Basic Trans Science 2023;8:1160-1176) (c) 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier on behalf of the American College of Cardiology Foundation.Peer reviewe