Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
3D-Printed Tubular Scaffolds Decorated with Air-Jet-Spun Fibers for Bone Tissue Applications

The fabrication of instructive materials to engineer bone substitute scaffolds is still a relevant challenge. Current advances in additive manufacturing techniques make possible the fabrication of 3D scaffolds with even more controlled architecture at micro- and submicrometric levels, satisfying the relevant biological and mechanical requirements for tissue engineering. In this view, integrated use of additive manufacturing techniques is proposed, by combining 3D printing and air-jet spinning techniques, to optimize the fabrication of PLA tubes with nanostructured fibrous coatings for long bone defects. The physicochemical characterization of the 3D tubular scaffolds was performed by scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, profilometry, and mechanical properties. In vitro biocompatibility was evaluated in terms of cell adhesion, proliferation, and cell–material interactions, by using human fetal osteoblasts to validate their use as a bone growth guide. The results showed that 3D-printed scaffolds provide a 3D architecture with highly reproducible properties in terms of mechanical and thermal properties. Moreover, nanofibers are collected onto the surface, which allows forming an intricate and interconnected network that provides microretentive cues able to improve adhesion and cell growth response. Therefore, the proposed approach could be suggested to design innovative scaffolds with improved interface properties to support regeneration mechanisms in long bone treatment.
Laboratory biomarker predictors for disease progression and outcome among Egyptian COVID-19 patients

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic resulted in more than five hundred million infected cases worldwide. The current study aimed to screen the correlation of different laboratory findings with disease severity and clinical outcomes of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) among Egyptian patients to obtain prognostic indicators of disease severity and outcome. A total of 112 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patients were examined. According to the severity of the disease, these patients were divided into three main groups: mild, moderate and severe cases. In addition, clinical characteristics and laboratory findings, including Hb, platelet count, white blood cell count, lymphocyte percentage, neutrophil percentage, neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR), D-dimer, highly sensitive C-reactive protein (HS-CRP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatinine, were measured. The presence of hypertension and/or diabetes was found to be a significant risk factor for disease severity and poor outcome. Increased respiratory rate, levels of SpO2, HS-CRP, D-dimer, NLR, ALT, LDH, lymphopenia and neutrophilia, as well as changes in chest computed tomography (CT), were associated with increased disease severity and fatal consequences. Highly sensitive C-reactive protein, D-dimer, NLR and LDH constituted excellent predictors for both disease severity and death. Laboratory biomarkers, such as HS-CRP, D-dimer, NLR and LDH, are excellent predictors for both disease severity and death. They can predict mortality in patients at the time of admission secondary to SARS-CoV-2 infection and can help physicians identify high-risk patients before clinical deterioration.
Research Experiences for Undergraduates in Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automated System Design

Industrial automation makes modern manufacturing possible, and mechatronics and robotics are the building blocks for industrial automation. Even in challenging economic times, U.S. manufacturers are still looking to hire highly skilled workers in industrial automation and control. In addition, it is necessary to invest in research to help maintain America’s leadership in these areas. This paper describes a summer program designed to provide a research environment for undergraduate students to learn about mechatronics, robotics, and automated system design. The goal is to help participants to understand the research process, to acquire laboratory skills, to expand their perspectives on science and engineering research, and to have a lasting influence on their career paths. Participants spent 10 weeks working on a research project with a mentor and a graduate student. Survey data suggests that students learned from the research experience and will build on the experience in pursuing future research careers.
Effectiveness of a worksite lifestyle intervention to reduce BMI among farmworkers in California: a cluster randomised controlled trial

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of PASOS SALUDABLES, a culturally tailored lifestyle intervention to prevent obesity and diabetes among Latino farmworkers, when implemented at large scale in the worksite. Design: This study was a two-arm parallel group, cluster randomised controlled trial, where participants received either a twelve-session lifestyle intervention (intervention) or six-session leadership training (control) at their worksite. The intervention was delivered by Promotoras in Spanish. All sessions were conducted at the worksites (ranches) during meal breaks. Blinded, trained research assistants collected socio-demographic and outcome data (i.e. BMI as primary outcome and waist circumference, glycated Hb (HbA1c), cholesterol and blood pressure as secondary outcomes) at baseline and follow-up assessments (i.e. 3 months, 6 months, 1 year and 1·5 years). Setting: Recruitment and intervention delivery occurred at twelve study ranches in Oxnard, California. Participants: We enrolled farmworkers hired by a large berry grower company, who were ≥18 years old, spoke Spanish and were free of diabetes at screening. Results: A total of 344 workers were enrolled in the intervention and 271 in the control group. The intervention resulted in attenuated increase of BMI over time; however, the difference in trend between groups was not significant (β = −0·01 for slope difference, P = 0·29). No significantly different trend by group was observed in secondary outcomes (P > 0·27). Conclusions: The worksite intervention, implemented during meal breaks, did not reduce BMI or other clinical indicators. Nevertheless, this study supports the feasibility of recruiting and engaging the Latino farmworker population in workplace health promotion interventions.
Prognostic role of controlling nutritional status score in hematological malignancies

ABSTRACT Background Controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score, based on three indexes including serum albumin (ALB), total cholesterol (CHO), and absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), has been closely associated with the prognosis of cancer patients. Multiple studies revealed the significance of CONUT score in hematological malignancies, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL), multiple myeloma (MM), and leukemia. Objective This review aimed to explore the prognostic role of CONUT score in hematological malignancies. Methods We conducted this review through Pubmed to summarize the published studies on the CONUT score in hematological malignancies, using the terms: Controlling nutritional status, CONUT score, hematological malignancy, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and leukemia. Result CONUT score can reflect not only the nutritional status but also the inflammatory status of patients with hematological malignancies. It can assist in predicting the survival of patients with DLBCL, PTCL, MM, adult T-cell leukemia (ATL), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), and acute myeloid leukemia with myelodysplasia related changes (AML-MRC). Conclusion CONUT score plays an important role in predicting the prognosis of patients with hematological malignancies.
Modified iliotibial band tenodesis versus lateral extracapsular tenodesis, to augment anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a 2‐year randomized controlled trial

Residual instability following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is associated with disruption of the anterolateral complex (ALC). Our goal was to conduct a randomized controlled trial comparing the effectiveness of modified Iliotibial tenodesis (MITBT) versus lateral extracapsular tenodesis (LET) to correct this residual instability.
Previous adverse pregnancy events as a predictor of gestational diabetes mellitus in Southern Ethiopia: a case control study

Abstract Introduction Gestational diabetes mellitus is a type of glucose intolerance that first manifests itself during pregnancy. A pregnant woman and her unborn child are at an increased risk of pregnancy complications and poor neonatal outcomes. Pregnancy diabetes affects one out of every 200 women. Therefore, this study aims to identify the determinants of gestational diabetes mellitus among pregnant women attending an antenatal care service in Gedeo Zone, Ethiopia. Methods A facility-based case-control study design was employed from 25 January 2020 through 25 April 2020. The study included 80 cases and 240 control groups of pregnant women. Face-to-face interviews with structured questionnaires were used to collect data. For analyses, data was entered into Epidata version 3.1 and exported to the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0. Variables with p . 25 or lower in bivariate analysis were fitted to multivariable analysis. A multivariable logistic regression model with a 95% confidence interval and a p-Value of . 05 was used. Results Family history of diabetes mellitus [AOR 1.837; 95% CI (1.06–3.18)], history of spontaneous abortion [AOR 2.39; 95% CI 1.33–4.31), history of still birth [AOR 2.240 (1.222–4.105)], and history of delivery of a macrocosmic baby in the previous pregnancy [AOR 1.99 (1.157–3.43)] were found to be predictors of GDM. Conclusion Previous adverse pregnancy outcomes were found to be the main predictors of GDM. Women with gestational diabetes mellitus should be followed after delivery in order to monitor hyper-glycemic status.
Helicobacter pylori infection in pediatrics with gastrointestinal complaints.

BACKGROUND Helicobacter pylori is one of the most important pathogenic bacteria in gastric mucosa both in adults and pediatrics. Here we aimed to investigate the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in pediatrics with gastrointestinal complaints by the endoscopic method and using pathology reports. METHODS This is a cross-sectional study that was performed in 2019-2020 in Imam Hossein hospital affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences on medical documents of pediatrics that underwent gastric or duodenal biopsy via endoscopy. We collected data regarding patients' age, gender, place of residence, type of gastrointestinal complaints, and prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection from the medical reports. We also investigated the possible correlation between the presence of Helicobacter pylori and the type of complaints among patients. RESULTS A total number of 400 pediatrics entered the study. Abdominal pain was the most common complaint (42%). Helicobacter pylori infection was found in 31 cases (7.8%). The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in boys (10.7%) was significantly higher than in girls (4.6%) (P = 0.02) and was significantly related to the age group of children (P<0.001) in the way that Helicobacter pylori infection was more common in higher ages. There was no significant relationship between the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection and the type of complaint (P = 0.29). CONCLUSION We showed that the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection is low among pediatrics with gastrointestinal complaints and this issue could cast doubt on the high prevalence rates and importance of this infection in children.
Attitudes, Self-Efficacy, and Practices Related to Opioid Risk Assessment and Mitigation: A Comparison of Health Care Professionals in Rural Communities

Background: Health care professionals (HCPs) play an important role in opioid misuse and opioid use disorder (OUD) screening/identification, mitigation, and referral to treatment. This study compared attitudes, self-efficacy, and practices related to opioid risk assessment and mitigation among pregnancy and non-pregnancy HCPs in rural communities. Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of cross-sectional, self-report survey data of HCPs in two rural counties in southern Utah. Pregnancy HCPs were identified by a question asking whether they provide care to pregnant patients. HCPs’ attitudes toward their patients with opioid misuse/OUD were measured using the Survey of Attitudes and Perceptions questionnaire. Self-efficacy and practices related to opioid risk assessment and mitigation were captured with questions asking about assessment and screening of opioid use, advisement to change opioid use behavior, and referral to treatment for OUD. We used linear regression analyses to estimate associations between HCPs’ attitudes toward patients with opioid misuse/OUD and their self-efficacy and use of opioid risk assessment and mitigation practices. Results: This sample included a total of 132 HCPs, including 82 pregnancy HCPs and 50 non-pregnancy HCPs. Attitudes domains were similar among pregnancy and non-pregnancy HCPs. Among pregnancy HCPs, role adequacy (β = .48, 95% CI = .16–.80), role legitimacy (β = .72, 95% CI = .21–1.22), motivation (β = .68, 95% CI = .14–1.21), and positive task-specific self-esteem (β = 1.52, 95% CI = .70–2.35) were positively associated with more frequent use of opioid risk assessment and mitigation practices, while attitudes were not associated with these practices among non-pregnancy HCPs. Conclusions: Training initiatives that lead to improved HCP attitudes could improve opioid care management among rural pregnancy HCPs. More research is needed to determine approaches to increase the use of opioid risk assessment and mitigation practices among rural non-pregnancy HCPs.
Citellinema (Nematoda: Heligmosomidae) from North America with descriptions of 2 new species from the red squirrel Tamiasciurus hudsonicus and 1 from the Canadian woodchuck, Marmota monax

Abstract Abstract Citellinema Hall, 1918 includes 6 valid species of gastrointestinal nematodes of sciurids. Two species occur in the Palearctic and 4 in the Nearctic, 3 of which occur minimally across Colorado, Idaho and Oregon and 1, Citellinema bifurcatum, has a wide distribution across North America. Members of the genus are didelphic, possess a cephalic vesicle, a terminal spine-like process in females and feature robust spicules, consisting of a proximal end fused and semicylindrical shaft connected to a lamina supported by 2 terminal filiform processes. Typically, the size of the spicules is used to differentiate species. As part of the Beringian Coevolution Project, specimens provisionally identified as C. bifurcatum were collected through intensive field sampling of mammals and associated parasites from across localities spanning the Holarctic. These specimens revealed considerable genetic variability at both mitochondrial and nuclear loci, supporting the identification of deeply divergent clades. Examination of these new specimens, along with the holotypes of C. bifurcatum and Citellinema quadrivittati indicates that Citellinema monacis (previously synonymized with C. bifurcatum) should be resurrected and 3 additional species described. We suggest that the apparent bifurcated nature of the spicule should be considered a generic diagnostic trait, while the proportional length of the lamina relative to that of the spicule is used as a specific character. We demonstrate the critical need for continued inventory of often poorly known assemblages of hosts and parasites, contributing to a growing baseline of archival specimens, collections and information that make explorations of faunal structure and diversity possible.
Molecular basis for avirulence of spontaneous variants of Porphyromonas gingivalis: Genomic analysis of strains W50, BE1 and BR1

Abstract The periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis is genetically heterogeneous. However, the spontaneous generation of phenotypically different sub‐strains has also been reported. McKee et al. (1988) cultured P. gingivalis W50 in a chemostat during investigations into the growth and properties of this bacterium. Cell viability on blood agar plates revealed two types of non‐pigmenting variants, W50 beige (BE1), and W50 brown (BR1), in samples grown in a high‐hemin medium after day 7, and the population of these variants increased to approximately 25% of the total counts by day 21. W50, BE1 and BR1 had phenotypic alterations in pigmentation, reduced protease activity and haemagglutination and susceptibility to complement killing. Furthermore, the variants exhibited significant attenuation in a mouse model of virulence. Other investigators showed that in BE1, the predominant extracellular Arg‐gingipain was RgpB, and no reaction with an A‐lipopolysaccharide‐specific MAb 1B5 (Collinson et al., 1998; Slaney et al., 2006). In order to determine the genetic basis for these phenotypic properties, we performed hybrid DNA sequence long reads using Oxford Nanopore and the short paired‐end DNA sequence reads of Illumina HiSeq platforms to generate closed circular genomes of the parent and variants. Comparative analysis indicated loss of intact kgp in the 20 kb region of the hagA‐kgp locus in the two variants BE1 and BR1. Deletions in hagA led to smaller open reading frames in the variants, and BR1 had incurred a major chromosomal DNA inversion. Additional minor changes to the genomes of both variants were also observed. Given the importance of Kgp and HagA to protease activity and haemagglutination, respectively, in this bacterium, genomic changes at this locus may account for most of the phenotypic alterations of the variants. The homologous and repetitive nature of hagA and kgp and the features at the inverted junctions are indicative of specific and stable homologous recombination events, which may underlie the genetic heterogeneity of this species.
Dexmedetomidine Attenuates Spinal Cord Ischemia-reperfusion Injury in Rabbits by Decreasing Oxidation and Apoptosis.

BACKGROUND In brain ischemia, dexmedetomidine (DEX) prevent glutamate and norepinephrine changes, could increase nerve conduction, and could prevent apoptosis, but the mechanisms are poorly understood. OBJECTIVE To examine the protective effect and function of DEX on spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury (SCIRI) and whether the effect is mediated by oxidative stress and apoptosis (with the involvement of Bcl-2, Bax, mitochondria, and Caspase-3). METHODS Rabbits were randomly divided into the sham group, infusion/reperfusion (I/R) group, and DEX+I/R group. SCIRI was induced by occluding the aorta just caudal to the left renal artery for 40 min, followed by reperfusion. DEX was continuously administered for 60 min before clamping. The animals were evaluated for neuronal functions. Spinal cord tissues were examined for SOD activity and MDA content. Bcl-2, Bax, and Caspase-3 expression were detected by western blotting. TUNEL staining was used for apoptosis. RESULTS With the extension of reperfusion time, the hind limbs' neurological function in the DEX+I/R group gradually improved, but it became worse in the I/R group (all P<0.05 vs. the other time points within the same groups). Compared with I/R, DEX decreased MDA and increased SOD (P<0.01), upregulated Bcl-2 protein expression (P<0.05), downregulated Bax expression (P<0.05), decreased caspase-3 expression (P<0.05), prevented histological changes in neurons and decreased the apoptotic index of the TUNEL labeling (P<0.05). CONCLUSION DEX could attenuate SCIRI in rabbits by improving the oxidative stress status, regulating the expression of apoptosis-related proteins, and decreasing neuronal apoptosis.
The surprising effectiveness of earliest operation due-date sequencing

Abstract In make-to order production, schedule reliability is very important but still not sufficiently accomplished in industrial practice by the vast majority of companies. It has been known for long that processing the orders at a workstation in the order of their operation due-dates can compensate for lateness in the arrival at the workstation within certain boundaries. The paper analyses the effectiveness of earliest operation due date (EODD) sequencing by comparing it to an optimistic theoretical boundary. The surprising result is that EODD can nearly fully exploit the theoretical potential. It should therefore be used in practice whenever schedule reliability is important, with only few exceptions. Its effectiveness though is increasing with the workstation’s WIP level and thus is in conflict with the objective to reduce WIP levels and throughput times. A simple forecasting model allows to assess the extent to which lateness can be compensated by EODD sequencing and which schedule compliance can be achieved.
Identi(cid:977)ication of Bacteria Sample Plaque from Periodontal Disease Among Diabetic Patients

Molecular identi(cid:977)ication of bacteria are very important to develop database gene bank in university. Databases of genes are very important to annotate a collection of nucleotide sequence and protein translation of oral bacteria. This research was conducted to identify bacteria that present in the plaque sample among diabetic patients collected from the Department of Periodontology and Community Oral health Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM). A total of bacteria was successfully isolated on Blood Agar from periodontal patients’ plaques. Colony Forming Unit (CFU/mL) was calcu-lated to estimate the number of viable bacteria in a sample after performed serial dilution. Gram stained was done for all isolated samples to differ-entiate between Gram positive and negative organisms. About 2.07 x 10 7 CFU/mL of bacteria was successfully collected from periodontal plaques on diabetes patient. From the numbers, only 17 were selected to identify the species. Seven from the samples were Gram-positive bacteria, meanwhile ten samples were identi(cid:977)ied as Gram-negative bacteria. PCR products were isolated from the samples by using polymerase chain reaction analysis. Puri(cid:977)ication had been done to all PCR products before sent it for sequencing. Streptococcus mutans , Streptococcus gordonii,Streptococcus oralis,Streptococcus sanguinis,Streptococcus agalactiae,Streptococcus lutetien-sis,Streptococcus downei, , Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Klebsiella pneumoniae,Enterobacter clocae,Salmonella enterica subs enterica , Enterobacter ludwigii , Enterobacter mori, Enterobacter roggen kampii , Enterobacter cloacae , Enterobacter tabaci and Klebsiella pneumoniae were identi(cid:977)ied from all samples via DNA sequencing.