Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quantifying Information of Dynamical Biochemical Reaction Networks

A large number of complex biochemical reaction networks are included in the gene expression, cell development, and cell differentiation of in vivo cells, among other processes. Biochemical reaction-underlying processes are the ones transmitting information from cellular internal or external signaling. However, how this information is measured remains an open question. In this paper, we apply the method of information length, based on the combination of Fisher information and information geometry, to study linear and nonlinear biochemical reaction chains, respectively. Through a lot of random simulations, we find that the amount of information does not always increase with the length of the linear reaction chain; instead, the amount of information varies significantly when this length is not very large. When the length of the linear reaction chain reaches a certain value, the amount of information hardly changes. For nonlinear reaction chains, the amount of information changes not only with the length of this chain, but also with reaction coefficients and rates, and this amount also increases with the length of the nonlinear reaction chain. Our results will help to understand the role of the biochemical reaction networks in cells.
Moving beyond language dichotomies in the education of multilingual students: recontextualizing teacher resistance

ABSTRACT Several language dichotomies – particularly the pervasive idea that “academic” language distinctly contrasts with “social” language – have dominated teachers’ thinking and discourse about language-related instructional practices in recent decades. Many researchers now question ramifications that binary thinking about language might have for students, particularly multilingual students and students speaking non-dominant English varieties. Teacher educators are called to challenge dichotomous thinking about language in working with teachers, and our study illuminates some of the difficulties they face in that pursuit. In this practitioner-research study, we present data from online discussions in a graduate-level linguistics in education course, in which 19 in-service teachers seeking ESL endorsements discussed an article critiquing the dichotomy of Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills (BICS) and Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency (CALP). Our question was: How do in-service teachers respond to critiques of dichotomous views of language? We used structural and descriptive qualitative coding to locate teachers’ exploration of these ideas in their discussions and then examined their rationales. Our findings suggest that most teachers rejected the article’s critique and instead defended BICS and CALP alongside other language dichotomies, often linking justifications to their experiences with multilingual students. We offer implications for disrupting this binary thinking through new approaches to recontextualizing teachers’ knowledge.
Enhancing elementary-school mathematics teachers' efficacy beliefs: a qualitative action research

Individuals and societies that can use mathematics effectively in this period of rapid changes will have a voice on increasing the opportunities and potentials which can shape their future. This has brought affective characteristics, such as self-efficacy, that affect mathematics achievement into focus of the research. Teacher efficacy refers to the extent to which a teacher feels capable to help students learn, influence students’ performance and commitment, and thus plays a crucial role in developing the student in all aspects. In this study, we used two sources of efficacy beliefs, mastery experiences and physiological and emotional states, in an interesting and challenging seven month workshop, as tools to foster teacher efficacy for six elementary-school teachers who were frustrated and wanted to leave their job. Our aim was to study the nature of these teachers’ efficacy in order to change it. In this qualitative action research, we used open interviews, non-participant observations and field notes. Results show that these teachers became efficacious, their students’ achievements and motivation were enhanced, and the school climate was changed. Qualitative inquiry of this construct sheds light on efficacy beliefs of mathematics teachers. Nurturing teacher efficacy has borne much fruit in the field of mathematics in school.
Painful Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: Practical Guidance and Challenges for Clinical Management

Abstract Painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (PDPN) is present in nearly a quarter of people with diabetes. It is estimated to affect over 100 million people worldwide. PDPN is associated with impaired daily functioning, depression, sleep disturbance, financial instability, and a decreased quality of life. Despite its high prevalence and significant health burden, it remains an underdiagnosed and undertreated condition. PDPN is a complex pain phenomenon with the experience of pain associated with and exacerbated by poor sleep and low mood. A holistic approach to patient-centred care alongside the pharmacological therapy is required to maximise benefit. A key treatment challenge is managing patient expectation, as a good outcome from treatment is defined as a reduction in pain of 30–50%, with a complete pain-free outcome being rare. The future for the treatment of PDPN holds promise, despite a 20-year void in the licensing of new analgesic agents for neuropathic pain. There are over 50 new molecular entities reaching clinical development and several demonstrating benefit in early-stage clinical trials. We review the current approaches to its diagnosis, the tools, and questionnaires available to clinicians, international guidance on PDPN management, and existing pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment options. We synthesise evidence and the guidance from the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology, American Academy of Neurology, American Diabetes Association, Diabetes Canada, German Diabetes Association, and the International Diabetes Federation into a practical guide to the treatment of PDPN and highlight the need for future research into mechanistic-based treatments in order to prioritise the development of personalised medicine.
Social-Emotional Skills, Behavioural Problems and Learning Outcomes of Elementary School Children

A topical question for teachers and parents is how to improve students’ well-being and success at school, starting from the early stages of their education. Research shows that social-emotional competence is one of the key variables significantly impacting children’s learning outcomes and that social-emotional learning contributes to higher learning outcomes and fewer behavioural problems, even in preschool. It is of great importance to obtain more evidence on the role of social-emotional skills in school adjustment, addressing this issue as early as possible to develop a deeper understanding of how to support children after their transition to elementary school. The current research aims to analyze relationships between social-emotional skills, behaviour problems and learning outcomes in a sample of elementary school students while also addressing gender differences in these relationships. The sample consisted of 590 elementary school students aged 7–11 years (mean age 9.14, SD 1.38), 53.2% (314) of whom were boys and 46.8% (276) were girls. The teachers completed the Social Skills Improvement System Social-Emotional Learning brief scales, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and a three-item questionnaire on their students’ learning outcomes. Higher social-emotional skills in elementary school students had significant associations with lower levels of behavioural problems and higher levels of learning outcomes. Moreover, the results indicated that teachers reported significantly higher levels of social-emotional skills and learning outcomes and fewer behavioural problems amongst girls in contrast to boys. These findings highlight the necessity to develop social-emotional skills in facilitating learning outcomes and behaviour adjustment in elementary school children. Teachers’ role as facilitators of social-emotional development must also be emphasized.
Prevalence of Preeclampsia and Associated Factors among Antenatal Care Attending Mothers at Tirunesh Beijing General Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Background. Hypertensive condition during the pregnancy of the mother that usually occurs after 20 weeks of gestation age is clinically considered preeclampsia. This health problem of pregnant mothers can lead to various complications for both the mother and the baby. But the risk factors for preeclampsia have not been well documented. Therefore, availing up-to-date information on the prevalence and associated factors of preeclampsia is essential for its early identification and management. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of preeclampsia and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care (ANC). Methods. Cross-sectional study design was used from March 1, 2022, to March 30, 2022, among 235 pregnant women attending antenatal care at Tirunesh Beijing General Hospital (TBGH) from March 1, 2022 March 30, 2022, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Systematic random sampling was employed to get study participants from antenatal care attendants. Data were collected by an interviewer-administered questionnaire. The presence of statistical association was determined using an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Variables with P values less than 0.05 were considered statically significant. Result. A total of 235 participants were enrolled in the study with a 99.1% response rate. The prevalence of preeclampsia among the current pregnant women who attended ANC in Tirunesh Beijing General Hospital was 5.5% with 95% CI (AOR = 1.3–10.0). Significant variables such as respondents age >35 years, 2.1 (AOR = 1.3–3.4), history of preeclampsia 8.5 (AOR = 1.2–10.3), history of hypertension 2.9 (AOR = 3.0–7.3), ANC visit <3 times 8.5 (AOR = 3.1–13.4), and family history of hypertension 2.2 (AOR = 1.24.3) were significantly associated with preeclampsia. Conclusion. A considerable proportion of pregnant women were experiencing preeclampsia. History of preeclampsia and hypertension, family history of hypertension, and maternal age were associated factors of preeclampsia. Therefore, health professionals working in health institutions give more attention to controlling hypertension during antenatal service.
An Observational Study of the Role of Penetrating Cumulus in a Marine Stratocumulus-Topped Boundary Layer

Abstract Isolated cumuli penetrating through marine stratocumulus clouds were documented during the Atlantic Stratocumulus Transition Experiment. This paper aims at understanding the role of the penetrating cumulus in regulating stratocumulus and boundary-layer structure through analysis of data from the NCAR Electra aircraft. When penetrating cumulus clouds are present, the boundary layer is generally decoupled from the near-surface air except in the cumulus region. Therefore, air in the cumulus region includes air entrained at the cloud top, as well as air modified by surface processes. In the stratocumulus region, however, entrained inversion air and moist surface air are confined to separate layers. As a result, large horizontal variations are found in scalars, such as ozone and water vapor. Turbulence statistics and conditional sampling of entrainment events in the cumulus and stratocumulus regions indicate that stronger entrainment may occur at the cumulus top compared to the surrounding stratocumul.
Indexing of Speckle Tracking Longitudinal Strain of Right Ventricle to Body Surface Area Does Not Improve Its Efficiency in Diagnosis and Mortality Risk Stratification in Patients with Acute Pulmonary Embolism

Background: Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is associated with a serious mortality rate. Thus, the rapid diagnosis and identification of patients at high risk of death is pivotal. The search for echocardiographic parameters for this purpose continues. Recent publications reveal correlations between myocardial longitudinal strain (LS) and body surface area (BSA). The aim of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of indexing the right ventricular (RV) speckle tracking LS to BSA in detecting PE and stratifying the risk of 30-day all-cause mortality. Methods: the prospective cross-sectional observational study group consisted of 167 consecutive patients (76 men, 45.5%) aged 69.5 ± 15.3 years, and they were referred for computed tomography pulmonary angiography. Patients underwent a transthoracic echocardiographic examination within 24 h of admission to the hospital ward. RVLS and their derivatives indexed to BSA were included in the analysis. Results: PE was confirmed in 88 patients, while 79 patients had no radiological features of PE. The only echocardiographic parameters that differed between subgroups were pulmonary flow acceleration (Act), McConnell’s sign, LS of the middle segment of the RV free wall, and its derivative indexed to BSA. During the 30-day follow-up of a subgroup of subjects with PE, 12 patients died. The mortality predictors with increasing prediction value included a RV free wall mid-segment LS (cut-off value: −21%, Area Under the Curve—AUC 0.6, p = 0.02) and its derivative indexed to BSA (−14 %/m2, AUC 0.62, p = 0.003), body mass index (24.7 kg/m2, AUC 0.63, p = 0.002), D-dimer serum concentration (3559 pg/mL, AUC 0.66, p < 0.001), Act (67 ms, AUC 0.67, p < 0.001), septal basal LS (−15%, AUC 0.68, p = 0.02), RV free wall basal segment LS (−14%, AUC 0.7, p = 0.015), age (66 years, AUC 0.74, p = 0.004), NT-proBNP (1120 pg/mL, AUC 0.75, p = 0.01), troponin T (66 ng/mL, AUC 0.78, p = 0.005), and the complex score of the Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index (AUC 0.88, p < 0.001). Conclusions: indexing of RVLS to BSA does not improve its prognostic value in patients with acute PE.
The Clinical Characteristics of Bloodstream Infections Due to Candida spp. in Patients Hospitalized in Intensive Care Units during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: The Results of a Multicenter Study

Candidemia is a serious health threat. Whether this infection has a greater incidence and a higher mortality rate in patients with COVID-19 is still debated. In this multicenter, retrospective, observational study, we aimed to identify the clinical characteristics associated with the 30-day mortality in critically ill patients with candidemia and to define the differences in candidemic patients with and without COVID-19. Over a three-year period (2019–2021), we identified 53 critically ill patients with candidemia, 18 of whom (34%) had COVID-19 and were hospitalized in four ICUs. The most frequent comorbidities were cardiovascular (42%), neurological (17%), chronic pulmonary diseases, chronic kidney failure, and solid tumors (13% each). A significantly higher proportion of COVID-19 patients had pneumonia, ARDS, septic shock, and were undergoing an ECMO procedure. On the contrary, non-COVID-19 patients had undergone previous surgeries and had used TPN more frequently. The mortality rate in the overall population was 43%: 39% and 46% in the COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients, respectively. The independent risk factors associated with a higher mortality were CVVH (HR 29.08 [CI 95% 3.37–250]) and a Charlson’s score of > 3 (HR 9.346 [CI 95% 1.054–82.861]). In conclusion, we demonstrated that candidemia still has a high mortality rate in patients admitted to ICUs, irrespective of infection due to SARS-CoV-2.
Immersive Virtual Reality Enabled Interventions for Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction, which can have significant impacts on daily life, education, and work. Limited performance in learning and working, as well as exclusion from social activities, are common challenges faced by individuals with ASD. Virtual reality (VR) technology has emerged as a promising medium for delivering interventions for ASD. To address five major research questions and understand the latest trends and challenges in this area, a systematic review of 21 journal articles published between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2022 was conducted using the PRISMA approach. A meta-analysis of 15 articles was further conducted to assess interventional effectiveness. The results showed that most studies focused on social and affective skill training and relied on existing theories and practices with limited adaptations for VR. Furthermore, the enabling technologies’ affordances for the interventional needs of individuals with ASD were not thoroughly investigated. We suggest that future studies should propose and design interventions with solid theoretical foundations, explore more interventional areas besides social and affective skill training, and employ more rigorous experimental designs to investigate the effectiveness of VR-enabled ASD interventions.
Impact of maternal periodontal health on fetus weight in Iraqi pregnant women: a clinical study

Objective: the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between periodontal health condition and the weight of fetuses in Iraqi pregnant women in order to magnify the importance of periodontal health maintenance during pregnancy. Material and Methods: fetus weight was determined using ultrasound scanning for 222 pregnant women, accordingly they were divided into two groups: group A: normal fetus weight and group B: below normal fetal weight. Their periodontal condition was examined by means of Plaque index (PI), Gingival index (GI), Bleeding on probing (BOP) and Clinical Attachment loss (CAL) using WHO CPITN periodontal probe. WHO charts of normal fetal weight for each week were considered to determine the normality of fetus weight. Results: significant value p=0.00 was obtained when comparing the examined periodontal parameters between groups A and B, mean of periodontal parameters of PI, GI and BOP were higher in group B (1.1964: 1.4541), (1.1877: 1.4925), (0.3553: 1.3748) respectively. Q2 and IQR of PI, BOP and GI in group A were (1.190:0.3), (0.30:0.5), (1.160:0.3) respectively. And (1.460:0.24) (1.50:0.7) (1.460:0.26) in Group B. There were 4 cases of CAL in group A as opposed to 88 cases in group B, Q2 of CAL in group A=0.00, Q2 in group B=1.00. IQR=0.00 in both groups. Non-significant value p=0. 503(p>0.05) was seen when comparing the incidence of low fetal weight between the three trimesters. Conclusion: it is important to maintain a good periodontal condition and oral Hygiene status in pregnant women for healthier fetal weight and healthier pregnancy with less complications.
MEMS-mirror based trajectory resolution and precision enabled by two different piezoresistive sensor technologies

Two new technological process flows for the piezoresistive position detection of resonant and quasistatic micro scanning mirrors were developed to increase sensitivities by a factor of 3:6 compared to former sensors, improve signal to noise ratio of the sensor signal and to allow controlled feedback loop operation. The sensor types use differently doped and deposited silicon. One is based on single crystal silicon with a pn-junction to isolate the active sensor area from the device layer silicon, the other one is based on a deposited and structured polysilicon. The sensor characteristics are compared including light, temperature dependence and reliability results.
A Mechanism for Large-Amplitude Parallel Electrostatic Waves Observed at the Magnetopause

Large-amplitude electrostatic waves propagating parallel to the background magnetic field have been observed at the Earth’s magnetopause by the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) spacecraft. These waves are observed in the region where there is an intermixing of magnetosheath and magnetospheric plasmas. The plasma in the intermixing region is modeled as a five-component plasma consisting of three types of electrons, namely, two counterstreaming hot electron beams and cold electrons, and two types of ions, namely, cold background protons and a hot proton beam. Sagdeev pseudo-potential technique is used to study the parallel propagating nonlinear electrostatic solitary structures. The model predicts four types of modes, namely, slow ion-acoustic mode, fast ion-acoustic mode, slow electron-acoustic mode and fast electron-acoustic modes. Except the fast ion-acoustic mode, all other modes support solitons. Whereas slow ion-acoustic solitons have positive potentials, both slow and fast electron-acoustic solitons have negative potentials. For the case of 4% cold electron density, the slow ion-acoustic solitons have electric field ∼(40–120) mV m−1. The fast Fourier transforms (FFT) of slow ion-acoustic solitons produce broadband frequency spectra having peaks between ∼100 Hz to 1000 Hz. These theoretical predictions are in good agreement with the observations. The slow and fast electron-acoustic solitons could be relevant in explaining the low-intensity high (>1 kHz) frequency waves which are also observed at the same time.
Lipid Nanoparticles-Based Therapy in Liver Metastasis Management: From Tumor Cell-Directed Strategy to Liver Microenvironment-Directed Strategy

Abstract Metastasis to the liver, as one of the most frequent metastatic patterns, was associated with poor prognosis. Major drawbacks of conventional therapies in liver metastasis were the lack of metastatic-targeting ability, predominant systemic toxicities and incapability of tumor microenvironment modulations. Lipid nanoparticles-based strategies like galactosylated, lyso-thermosensitive or active-targeting chemotherapeutics liposomes have been explored in liver metastasis management. This review aimed to summarize the state-of-art lipid nanoparticles-based therapies in liver metastasis management. Clinical and translational studies on the lipid nanoparticles in treating liver metastasis were searched up to April, 2023 from online databases. This review focused not only on the updates in drug-encapsulated lipid nanoparticles directly targeting metastatic cancer cells in treating liver metastasis, but more importantly on research frontiers in drug-loading lipid nanoparticles targeting nonparenchymal liver tumor microenvironment components in treating liver metastasis, which showed promise for future clinical oncological practice.
Comparison of Maximum–Minimum Resistance and Liquid-in-Glass Thermometer Records

Abstract The replacement of liquid-in-glass (LIG) thermometers with electronic thermometers in the National Weather Service (NWS) cooperative (co-op) network and concern for homogeneous temporal temperature records prompted this comparison study between the two temperature sensors. This study shows that the new National Weather Service maximum-minimum temperature sensors (MMTS) underestimate LIG maximum temperatures by as much as 0.6°C, but are virtually equal to LIG minimum temperatures. The magnitude of differences increases with increasing solar loading and decreased wind speeds, apparently due to better ventilation characteristics of the MMTS shelter compared to those of a cotton-region shelter. Any comparison of MMTS records with the LIG record will therefore require wind and solar observations. Unfortunately, neither wind nor solar is measured at NWS co-op sites, requiring the use of data from the nearest observing station. Obviously, the time of change from LIG sensors to the MMTS is of paramount i.