Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals cell type-specific immune regulation associated with human neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder

Introduction One rare type of autoimmune disease is called neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and the peripheral immune characteristics of NMOSD remain unclear. Methods Here, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) is used to characterize peripheral blood mononuclear cells from individuals with NMOSD. Results The differentiation and activation of lymphocytes, expansion of myeloid cells, and an excessive inflammatory response in innate immunity are observed. Flow cytometry analyses confirm a significant increase in the percentage of plasma cells among B cells in NMOSD. NMOSD patients exhibit an elevated percentage of CD8+ T cells within the T cell population. Oligoclonal expansions of B cell receptors are observed after therapy. Additionally, individuals with NMOSD exhibit elevated expression of CXCL8, IL7, IL18, TNFSF13, IFNG, and NLRP3. Discussion Peripheral immune response high-dimensional single-cell profiling identifies immune cell subsets specific to a certain disease and identifies possible new targets for NMOSD.
Nanostructured Coatings Based on Graphene Oxide for the Management of Periprosthetic Infections

To modulate the bioactivity and boost the therapeutic outcome of implantable metallic devices, biodegradable coatings based on polylactide (PLA) and graphene oxide nanosheets (nGOs) loaded with Zinforo™ (Zin) have been proposed in this study as innovative alternatives for the local management of biofilm-associated periprosthetic infections. Using a modified Hummers protocol, high-purity and ultra-thin nGOs have been obtained, as evidenced by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) investigations. The matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) technique has been successfully employed to obtain the PLA-nGO-Zin coatings. The stoichiometric and uniform transfer was revealed by infrared microscopy (IRM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies. In vitro evaluation, performed on fresh blood samples, has shown the excellent hemocompatibility of PLA-nGO-Zin-coated samples (with a hemolytic index of 1.15%), together with their anti-inflammatory ability. Moreover, the PLA-nGO-Zin coatings significantly inhibited the development of mature bacterial biofilms, inducing important anti-biofilm efficiency in the as-coated samples. The herein-reported results evidence the promising potential of PLA-nGO-Zin coatings to be used for the biocompatible and antimicrobial surface modification of metallic implants.
Managing hypercholesterolaemia

Summary Hypercholesterolaemia is one of the most common conditions treated by clinicians in Australia. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) plays a causal role in the development and progression of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Every 1 mmol/L reduction in LDL-C concentration is associated with a 21 to 25% reduction in the relative risk of prospective atherosclerotic cardiovascular events, and emerging evidence suggests this benefit increases over time. Absolute cardiovascular risk assessment identifies patients likely to derive the most benefit from lowering LDL-C concentration, and helps determine the intensity of their treatment regimens and targets. Optimal management of LDL-C may require combination treatment with multiple classes of drugs.
In the shadow of dissidence: exploring the experiences of descendants of Czechoslovakian dissidents

Introduction The Communist Party’s reign in Czechoslovakia (1948–1989) saw the persecution of thousands of individuals. The State Security campaign “Asanace” (meaning “sanitation”) was conducted to expel critics of the regime from the country using psychological and physical terror. Although stories of dissidents are frequently presented in public spaces, little is known about the experiences of their children. Methods To address this gap, we conducted interpretative phenomenological analyses of semi-structured in-depth interviews with five adult descendants of Czechoslovakian dissidents. Results Our analyses revealed that while participants appreciated and were inspired by their parents’ dissident activities, they tend to distance themselves from it in order not to live in their parents’ shadow. Furthermore, for them, the “Asanace” campaign primarily meant emigration, which in turn affected their sense of self and (national) identity dispersion. Consequently, they experienced feelings of being uprooted and different. Furthermore, they faced challenges acculturating. However, they also recognized their resilience as being rooted in their migration experience and the legacy of their parents’ dissidence. Discussion By highlighting intergenerational differences and the impact of family legacy on individuals’ strengths and weaknesses, this study contributes to our understanding of the psychological consequences of living in, escaping from and adjusting to life beyond oppressive regimes.
A Contrastive Learning Method for Multi-Label Predictors on Hyperspectral Images

Self-supervised contrastive learning is increasingly acknowledged as an effective approach to mitigate the challenges posed by limited annotated data. We introduce a two-stage methodology that extends current approaches, targeting the downstream task of multi-label classification in hyperspectral remote-sensing imagery. In the initial stage, we employ a contrastive learning approach to train a base encoder and a projection neural network, thereby learning data patterns without relying on annotations. The effectiveness of the encoder is bolstered as it is guided by a contrastive loss function to maximize the similarity between the generated embeddings. In the second stage, we harness the power of the pre-trained encoder to channel its hidden representations into a multi-label classifier. Our empirical validation demonstrate that this method surpasses fully supervised alternatives. The observed improvements are attributed to the strategy of training the encoder alongside the classifier, thereby refining its adaptability to the feature space of the classifier.
Irrigated Wheat Response to Different Tillage Systems, Crop Residue Management Practices and Sowing Dates in Rice­Wheat Cropping System

ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Received: Accepted: Online: Aug 28, 2015 Dec 03, 2015 Dec 14, 2015 The rice-wheat cropping system (RWCS) has been practiced by farmers in SouthAsia for more than 1000 years. To find out the significance of RWCS, field experiments were carried out on silty clay soil at Government seed farm, Ratta Kulachi, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan during the crop season 2010-11 and 2011-12, to study the effect of three sowing dates (early; 20 October, optimum; 15 November and late; 10 December) and six tillage systems on wheat yield in rice wheat cropping system. The tillage methods consisted of zero tillage (ZT) straw retained (ZTsr), ZT straw burnt (ZTsb), reduced tillage (RT) straw incorporated (RTsi), RT straw burnt (RTsb), conventional tillage (CT) straw incorporated (CTsi) and CT straw burnt (CTsb). Sowing dates, tillage systems and their interaction significantly influenced all the tested attributes. Mean values for sowing dates revealed that plant height (97.91 and98.80cm), 1000-grain weight (40.29 and 39.82 g), biological yield (17.47 and19.17 t ha) and grain yield (5.39 and5.44t ha) were significantly higher at early sowing in both the crop seasons. Mean values for tillage systems showed that either ZTsr or RTsi produced maximum grain (5.24 and 5.25 t ha) and biological yields (16.91 and16.20 t ha) with more 1000-grain weight (38.07 and 38.27 g) and plant height (92.74 and 94.07 cm), in both of the crop seasons. In interaction effects, early sowing with RTsi and optimum sowing with ZTsr produced maximum grain yield in both years. The results suggested that early sowing with RTsi and optimum sowing with ZTsr might be an optimum and sustainable approach to increase wheat yield in rice-wheat cropping system.
Rapid Detection of Foodborne ESBL-Producing Enterobacteriaceae Using MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry

: The proliferation of enterobacteria that produce extended spectrum β -lactamases (ESBLs) has become an important public health concern. The objective of this work was to optimize a phenotypic method for straightforward and rapid ESBL detection in strains obtained from food environments, employing MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. A collection of 162 enterobacterial isolates, including ESBL producers, AmpC producers, ESBL-AmpC coproducers and sensitive strains was analyzed using a quick method based on cefotaxime hydrolysis. Statistical analysis showed that although the presence of constitutive AmpC hyperproducers could reduce its specificity, this MALDI-TOF assay is an excellent tool for quickly classifying ESBL-producing strains of foodborne Enterobacteriaceae.
Adölesan Dönem Okul Çocuklarında Beslenme Alışkanlıkları ve Beslenme Durumunun Değerlendirilmesi (Evaluation of Dietary Habits and Nutritional Status in Adolescence Period School Children)

Yaşamın tüm dönemlerinde etkisi olan beslenmenin büyüme ve gelişme süreci üzerinde ayrı bir önemi vardır. Büyüme ve gelişme döneminin sağlıklı bir şekilde tamamlanması ve bir aksamanın olmaması için diyetin yeterli ve dengeli olması önem taşımaktadır. Araştırma Ankara İlinde ilk ve orta öğretim kurumlarında öğrenim gören 10-16 yaş arası 933 adölesan (449 erkek, 484 kız) üzerinde gerçekleştirilmiştir. Adölesanların genel beslenme alışkanlıkları ve beslenme durumu değerlendirilmiş, düşük kiloluluk, fazla kiloluluk ve obezite prevelansı belirlenmiştir. Örneklem genelinin %0.7’sinin çok düşük kilolu, %2.8’inin düşük kilolu, %19.3’ünün fazla kilolu, %10.5’inin obez, %1.2’sinin ise morbid obez olduğu saptanmıştır. Ayrıca adölesanların öğün atladığı ve riskli beslenme alışkanlıklarına sahip oldukları belirlenmiştir. Araştırma sonuçları günümüzde artan fazla kiloluluk ve obeziteye yönelik önlemlerin alınması gerekliliğini ve adölesanların sağlıklı beslenme bilincine sahip olabilmelerini sağlamak amacıyla etkin eğitim programlarının planlanması gerekliliğini ortaya koymaktadır.
Three-dimensional simulation of spontaneous rupture: The effect of nonuniform prestress

We use a finite difference method to study crack propagation in a three-dimensional continuum, for conditions of both uniform and nonuniform prestress. The rupture criterion employed satisfies two fundamental physical requirements: it ensures finite stresses in the continuum and finite energy dissipation in crack extension. The finite stress numerical simulations exhibit abrupt jumps in rupture velocity when sharp changes in prestress are encountered on the crack plane, behavior analogous to that predicted theoretically for two-dimensional, singular cracks. For uniform prestress conditions, the slip velocity function is approximately a low-pass filtered version of that of a singular, constant rupture velocity crack. For nonuniform prestress, spatial variations of peak slip velocity are strongly coupled to spatial variations of rupture velocity. For uniform prestress and low cohesion, rupture velocity is predicted to exceed the S-wave velocity in directions for which mode II (inplane) crack motion dominates. A subshear rupture velocity is predicted for directions of predominantly mode III (antiplane) crack motion. Introduction of stress heterogeneities is sufficient, in each of the three cases studied, to reduce average rupture velocity to less than the S velocity, but local supershear rupture velocities can still occur in regions of high prestress. Rupture models with significant segments of supershear propagation velocities may be consistent with seismic data for some large earthquakes, even where average rupture velocity can be reliably determined to be subshear.
The formation of superdense plasma sheet in association with the IMF turning from northward to southward

We have studied two events in which relatively superdense plasma appeared near geosynchronous orbit after the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) changed from a long period of northward condition to southward condition. We used the magnetosphere MHD model Open Geospace General Circulation Model to simulate these two events and compared the simulation results with observations. The observations and the simulation results show that an extended period of northward IMF caused a cold dense plasma sheet (CDPS) to form in the near tail, and a subsequent southward IMF caused a highly stretched near‐tail dipole field, which enhanced the earthward convection and eventually set off reconnection. Some of the cold dense plasma was thus consequently transported to geosynchronous orbit and formed a superdense plasma sheet (SDPS). CDPS is the main source of SDPS in its early stage after the IMF southward turning.
Evaluation of Bronchoalveolar Lavage Cytology and Comparison with Endobronchial Biopsy

Introduction: Early diagnosis of infective etiology and lung cancer plays a vital role in reducing mortality rate of lower respiratory tract disease. Different modalities can be applied for early diagnosis e.g. bronchoalveolar lavage and endobronchial biopsy. Cytological and histopathological diagnostic techniques are safer, economical and provide appropriate results. Aims: To find out diagnostic yield of bronchoalveolar lavage cytology in diagnosing lung pathology and to determine its sensitivity, and specificity in malignant cases considering endobronchial biopsy as the gold standard. Methods: This hospital based analytical study was carried out in the Department of Pathology at Nepalgunj medical college, Nepalgunj during the period from January 2023 to September 2023 with a total of 50 participants. Results: 29(58%) patients were male and 21(42%) female; the mean age was 53.16 ± 19.9 years. Considering histopathological findings, maximum patients of malignant cases had squamous cell carcinoma 3(6%), then adenocarcinoma 1(2%). The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of bronchoalveolar lavage in malignant cases were 75%, 100%, 100% and 50% respectively. Conclusion: Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cytology is a useful tool for diagnosis of lung cancer. It has good sensitivity, and specificity, and shows nearly identical information as biopsy.
Properties of Lattice Isomorphism as a Cryptographic Group Action

In recent years, the Lattice Isomorphism Problem (LIP) has served as an underlying assumption to construct quantum-resistant cryptographic primitives (Eurocrypt ’22, Asiacrypt ’22, and Eurocrypt ’23). Group action framework has been used earlier for studying the cryptographic properties of computational problems based on difficulty of equivalence between algebraic objects. Prior works (Crypto ’90, TCC ’19, Asiacrypt ’20) focused on studying discrete log problem and isogeny based problems in the group action framework. This study delves into the quadratic form representation of LIP, examining it through the lens of group actions. In this work we, (1) give formal definitions and study the cryptographic properties of this group action ( LIGA ), (2) demonstrate that the LIGA lacks of both weak unpredictability and weak pseudorandomness, and (3) under certain assumptions, establish a theoretical trade-off between time complexity and the required number of samples for breaking weak unpredictability, for large dimensions. We also conduct experiments supporting our analysis. Additionally, we employ our findings to formulate new hard problems on quadratic forms.
A CASE STUDY ON WATER LOGGING PROBLEMS IN AN URBAN AREA OF BANGLADESH AND PROBABLE ANALYTICAL SOLUTIONS

In Bangladesh, located on the extensive flood plains of the Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers flooding is a natural part of life. Thus water logging in the urban area is not a new problem. It's a part of life but the frequency of this problem is increasing. The urban area has been experiencing water logging for the last few years even a little rain causes a serious problem for certain areas. Increased urban development’s not providing sufficient drainage results in water logging leaving parts of urban area inundated for several days. This causes naturally large infrastructural problems for the city. Most of the time during the monsoon, the water level of the river remains higher than the terrain inside the urban area. Hence, standard draining by gravity may not always be possible. It has been identified that improvement of the drainage system is one of the highest priority needs of the urban authority for living environment of its urban population. The urban area suffers from drainage congestions and water logging especially during rainy season. It creates an unhealthy environmental situation and causes inconvenience to the residents of the urban including damages to the infrastructure, loss of business and spreading of diseases. It is observed that there is a lack of planned and adequate drainage network system in the Teknaf, a small urban area of southern part of Bangladesh beside the Bay of Bengal. The developed technology can easily be transferred and applied to catchment areas experiencing similar problems.
Trajectory-resolved Weiss ﬁelds for quantum spin dynamics

We explore the dynamics of quantum spin systems in two and three dimensions using an exact mapping to classical stochastic processes. In recent work, we explored the effectiveness of sampling around the mean-ﬁeld evolution as determined by a stochastically averaged Weiss ﬁeld. Here, we show that this approach can be sig-niﬁcantly extended by sampling around the instantaneous Weiss ﬁeld associated with each stochastic trajectory taken separately. This trajectory-resolved approach incorporates sample to sample ﬂuctuations and allows for longer simulation times. We demonstrate the utility of this approach for quenches in the two-dimensional and three-dimensional quantum Ising model. We show that the method is particularly advantageous in situations where the average Weiss ﬁeld vanishes, but the trajectory-resolved Weiss ﬁelds are nonzero. We discuss the connection to the gauge-P phase-space approach, where the trajectory-resolved Weiss ﬁeld can be interpreted as a gauge degree of freedom.
Identification and validation of a novel glycolysis-related ceRNA network for sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy

Purpose Sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy (SIC) is a major life-threatening condition in critically infected patients. Early diagnosis and intervention are important to improve patient prognosis. Recognizing the pivotal involvement of the glycolytic pathway in SIC, this study aims to establish a glycolysis-related ceRNA network and explore novel diagnostic avenues. Materials and methods SIC-related datasets were carefully filtered from the GEO database. CytoHubba was used to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with glycolysis. A predictive method was then used to construct an lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network. Dual-luciferase reporter assays validated gene interactions, and the specificity of this ceRNA network was confirmed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from SIC patients. Logistic analysis was used to examine the correlation between the ceRNA network and SIC. Diagnostic potential was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and correlation analysis investigated any associations between gene expression and clinical indicators. Results IER3 was identified as glycolysis-related DEG in SIC, and a ceRNA network (SNHG17/miR-214-3p/IER3) was established by prediction. Dual luciferase reporter gene assay confirmed the presence of mutual binding between IER3, miR-214-3p and SNHG17. RT-qPCR verified the specific expression of this ceRNA network in SIC patients. Multivariate logistic analysis established the correlation between the ceRNA network and SIC. ROC analysis demonstrated its high diagnostic specificity (AUC > 0.8). Correlation analysis revealed a negative association between IER3 expression and oxygenation index in SIC patients (p < 0.05). Furthermore, miR-214-3p expression showed a negative correlation with NT-proBNP (p < 0.05). Conclusion In this study, we identified and validated a ceRNA network associated with glycolysis in SIC: SNHG17/miR-214-3p/IER3. This ceRNA network may play a critical role in the onset and development of SIC. This finding is important to further our understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying SIC and to explore potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets for SIC.
Parental Knowledge Toward Meningococcal Disease and Vaccination in Makkah Region, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is a bacterial infection caused by Neisseria meningitidis, which primarily affects the meninges, with a high incidence in young children. The most effective technique for preventing IMD is vaccination, which has been available for over 40 years through meningococcal polysaccharide capsule-containing vaccines. This study aims to assess the parental knowledge of meningococcal disease and vaccination in the Makkah region of Saudi Arabia. Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted between September and December 2023 among 597 parents in the Makkah region using a validated online survey. The collected data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Results The study sample included 597 parents, of which 339 (56.8%) were female and 258 (43.2%) were male. Our research demonstrated that 388 (65%) participants had an insufficient understanding of IMD, while 209 (35%) had a sufficient understanding. There was a significant correlation between the knowledge score and the completion of the routine vaccination and whether vaccinating a child is essential for the protection of other members of society. Conclusions Based on our study, only around one-third of the participants demonstrated a sufficient level of knowledge regarding IMD and its vaccination. To provide a more accurate assessment of the Saudi population, additional research should be conducted in various regions and cities.
Environmental education as a catalyst for changing students' environmental attitudes: A survey of ten universities in the Tokyo Bay and San Francisco Bay Areas

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AS A CATALYST FOR CHANGING STUDENTS’ ENVIRONMENTAL ATTITUDES: A SURVEY OF TEN UNIVERSITIES IN THE TOKYO BAY AND SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREAS by Minako Nishiyama Environmental education has been internationally recognized as a key tool to counter increasing threats to the environment. Previous studies have found that environmental values and beliefs are the fundamental factors that shape various proenvironmental behaviors. This study aimed to increase our understanding of how environmental education during childhood and university periods influence students’ sense of connectedness to nature and ecological worldview. Two measures, the Connectedness to Nature Scale (CNS) and the New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) scale, were used for this purpose. A total of 1,266 students in 10 universities in the San Francisco Bay Area and Tokyo Bay Area participated in the survey. Survey results revealed that university education was more strongly correlated with the CNS and the NEP than childhood education and that experience-based learning was more influential than knowledge-based learning. Demographic variables such as gender, religion, and country, significantly influenced the CNS and the NEP; however, their influence was relatively small compared to environmental education. Teachers and program managers should include more experience-based learning approaches to environmental education and should emphasize the importance of lifelong learning process of environmental education.