Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lymph Node Metastases from Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer of the Head and Neck

Simple Summary Skin cancer, particularly non-melanoma skin cancer, is the most common malignancy in the world. There are both common and uncommon types that receive treatment every day. Despite their commonality, the management of each is not perfectly defined in the scientific literature. Many require surgical removal, but the management of regional metastasis (such as lymph nodes in the neck) may or may not require surgical removal, or even anything beyond observation. Further complicating matters, some may have microscopic regional metastases that cannot be detected with a physical exam or imaging. This article seeks to summarize the current literature on this topic and to offer specific insight on how to manage non-melanoma skin cancer that has migrated away from the primary site to the regional lymph nodes. Abstract Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) represents the most common malignancy in the world, comprising exceedingly common lesions such as basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) and rare lesions such as Merkel cell carcinoma. Risk factors are widely recognized and include ultraviolet (UV) light exposure, radiation exposure, immunosuppression, and many others. As a whole, survival and functional outcomes are favorable, but each histopathological subtype of NMSC behaves differently. Treatment regimens for the primary site usually include wide surgical excision and neck dissection in cases of clinically involved metastatic lymph nodes. The elective management of draining nodal basins, however, is a contested topic. Nearly all subtypes, excluding BCC, have a significant risk of lymphatic metastases, and have been studied with regard to sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) and elective neck dissection. To date, no studies have definitively established a true single standard of care, as exists for melanoma, for any of the NMSCs. As a result, the authors have sought to summarize the current literature and identify indications and management options for the management of the cervical lymphatics for each major subtype of NMSC. Further research remains critically necessary in order to develop complete treatment algorithms.
Designing Instructional Crisis Messages for College Emergency Notification Systems: A Test of the IDEA Model

ABSTRACT The internalization, distribution, explanation, and action (IDEA) model aids message designers in crafting effective instructional risk and crisis messages. This study applies the IDEA model to a new context (emergency notification systems on college campuses) using a different message length (short-written form). An experiment (N = 124) using manipulation checks revealed that internalization, explanation, and action can be successfully manipulated in short-written form. The IDEA message did not result in greater perceived response efficacy at posttest, but trended higher on learning outcomes than the standard and control conditions, although not significantly. Limitations and implications are discussed.
The use of B-scan coupling with A-scan ultrasonography to characterize ocular biometry in canine absolute glaucoma

This study was to investigate intraocular structures of canine absolute glaucomatous eyes using real time B-scan ultrasonography in accordance with the amplitude mode. Ten normal eyes and twenty absolute glaucomatous eyes were included in this study. Ocular biometry via closed-eye technique was performed using the Ultrascan® Imaging System (Alcon Surgical Laboratory, Fort Worth, USA), with a 10 MHz mechanical sector probe. Changes of intraocular structures were descriptively analyzed. Ocular biometry was measured, statistically analyzed and compared between both groups. While mean lens thickness was comparable between normotensive and glaucomatous eyes, mean lens equatorial length was higher in the latter group. Increased hyperechogenicity of lens was ultrasonographically observed in dogs with absolute glaucoma. Axial globe length was significantly greater in the experimental group than the control group (P<0.05). In relation to the appearance of the cone-shaped posterior wall, positive correlation between intraocular pressure and axial globe length with statistical significance was noted (r=0.5, P<0.05). Retinal detachment and lens displacement were also observed in absolute glaucomatous eyes. Not only does ultrasonography, with the 10 MHz frequency transducer, provides ocular biometry to specifically investigate changes of lens and the posterior segment of the canine absolute glaucomatous eyes, it can lead to further selection of appropriate treatment and awareness of post-treatment complications.
Manufacture of titanium alloy materials with bioactive sandblasted surfaces and evaluation of osseointegration properties

Titanium alloys are some of the most important orthopedic implant materials currently available. However, their lack of bioactivity and osteoinductivity limits their osseointegration properties, resulting in suboptimal osseointegration between titanium alloy materials and bone interfaces. In this study, we used a novel sandblasting surface modification process to manufacture titanium alloy materials with bioactive sandblasted surfaces and systematically characterized their surface morphology and physicochemical properties. We also analyzed and evaluated the osseointegration between titanium alloy materials with bioactive sandblasted surfaces and bone interfaces by in vitro experiments with co-culture of osteoblasts and in vivo experiments with a rabbit model. In our in vitro experiments, the proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization of the osteoblasts on the surfaces of the materials with bioactive sandblasted surfaces were better than those in the control group. In addition, our in vivo experiments showed that the titanium alloy materials with bioactive sandblasted surfaces were able to promote the growth of trabecular bone on their surfaces compared to controls. These results indicate that the novel titanium alloy material with bioactive sandblasted surface has satisfactory bioactivity and osteoinductivity and exhibit good osseointegration properties, resulting in improved osseointegration between the material and bone interface. This work lays a foundation for subsequent clinical application research into titanium alloy materials with bioactive sandblasted surfaces.
Understanding the impact of sociosexual interactions on sleep using Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism

Sleep is conserved across species, and it is believed that a fixed amount of sleep is needed for normal neurobiological functions. Sleep rebound follows sleep deprivation; however, continuous sleep deprivation for longer durations is believed to be detrimental to the animal’s wellbeing. Under some physiologically demanding situations, such as migration in birds, the birth of new offspring in cetaceans, and sexual interactions in pectoral sandpipers, animals are known to forgo sleep. The mechanisms by which animals forgo sleep without having any obvious negative impact on the proper functioning of their neurobiological processes are yet unknown. Therefore, a simple assay is needed to study how animals forgo sleep. The assay should be ecologically relevant so it can offer insights into the physiology of the organisms. Equally important is that the organism should be genetically amenable, which helps in understanding the cellular and molecular processes that govern such behaviors. This paper presents a simple method of sociosexual interaction to understand the process by which animals forgo sleep. In the case of Drosophila melanogaster, when males and females are in proximity, they are highly active and lose a significant amount of sleep. In addition, there is no sleep rebound afterward, and instead, males engaged in sexual interactions continue to show normal sleep. Thus, sexual drive in the fruit flies is a robust assay to understand the underlying mechanism by which animals forgo sleep.
Can Nettle Extract Affect Insulin Resistance and Metabolic Parameters in Obese Children? A Paralleled- Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Background: Obesity is one of the causes of insulin resistance. Although it has been speculated that nettle is probably a safe treatment for insulin resistance, considering the shortage of evidence on its effects, we aimed to assess the effect of nettle extract on insulin resistance and metabolic parameters in obese children. Methods: In this paralleled-randomized controlled clinical trial, 64 children aged 12-18 years with obesity were randomly divided into two groups. The intervention group received nettle syrup twice a day for 12 weeks in addition to a specific diet, and the control group followed the diet alone. Demographic characteristics and metabolic results, and lipid profile were checked. Data were analyzed by IBM SPSS Statistics Version 24.0, and a P-value < 0.05 indicated statistical significance. Results: The results showed that most patients in the groups were girls. In the inter-group analyses, results showed significant differences in terms of FBS (P = 0.043), LDL (P = 0.023), and Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) (P = 0.025) after eight weeks. Although FBS (P = 0.044) had a significant difference in the 12th week and was higher in the intervention group, it was still in the normal range. Conclusions: This study revealed that administering nettle syrup can be helpful for patients with obesity with no significant adverse effects, and it considerably reduced LDL, T-Chol, and HOMA-IR. Despite our promising results, further multicenter studies with larger sample sizes in this age group can be beneficial to confirm our results.
THE MARKET PRICE OF RISK IN INTEREST RATE SWAPS: THE ROLES OF DEFAULT AND LIQUIDITY RISKS

We study how the market prices the default and liquidity risks incorporated into one of the most important credit spreads in the financial markets–interest rate swap spreads. Our approach consists of jointly modeling the Treasury, repo, and swap term structures using a general five-factor affine credit framework and estimating the parameters by maximum likelihood. We find that the credit spread is driven by changes in a persistent liquidity process and a rapidly mean-reverting default intensity process. Although both processes have similar volatilities, we find that the credit premium priced into swap rates is primarily compensation for liquidity risk. The term structure of liquidity premia increases steeply with maturity. In contrast, the term structure of default premia is almost flat. However, both liquidity and default premia vary significantly over time.
Improving the Efficiency of Deep Learning Models Using Supervised Approach for Load Forecasting of Electric Vehicles

This research work proposes an Improved Supervised Learning (ISL)-based Deep Neural Network (DNN) for accurately forecasting the load demand of Electric Vehicles (EVs). This work incorporates Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU), Long Short Term Memory (LSTM), Recurrent Neural Network (RNN), Fully Connected (FC), and Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) architectures. The proposed ISL technique enhances prediction performance by refining the training process with additional features and information. Using a real-world EV charging dataset from Boulder City, USA, the simulations demonstrate consistent improvements in the GRU, LSTM, RNN, FC, and CNN models with the proposed ISL technique. Further, the proposed technique reduces the Normalised Root Mean Square Error (NRMSE) and Normalised Mean Absolute Error (NMAE) values. The accurate load demand predictions facilitated by the proposed models with ISL have significant implications for the planning and management of EV charging stations. This enables stakeholders to optimize resource allocation, effectively plan infrastructure capacity, and ensure the sustainable and reliable operation of grids in the face of increasing EV adoption. By leveraging deep learning architectures and incorporating the ISL technique, this research contributes to advancing load forecasting models for EVs, providing practical solutions for efficient management and planning in the evolving electric mobility landscape.
Properties of Ramie (Boehmeria nivea (L.) Gaudich) Fibers Impregnated with Non-Isocyanate Polyurethane Resins Derived from Lignin

The textile industries need an alternative to cotton since its supply is unable to keep up with the growing global demand. The ramie (Boehmeria nivea (L.) Gaudich) fiber has a lot of potential as a renewable raw material but has low fire-resistance, which should be improved. In this work, the objectives were to investigate the characteristics of lignin derived from black liquor of kraft pulping, as well as the properties of the developed lignin-based non-isocyanate-polyurethane (L-NIPU), and to analyze ramie fiber before and after impregnation with L-NIPU. Two different formulations of L-NIPU were impregnated into ramie fiber for 30, 60, and 90 min at 25 × 2 °C under 50 kPa. The calculation of the Weight Percent Gain (WPG), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR), Rotational Rheometer, Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer (DMA), Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometer (Py–GCMS), Universal Testing Machine (UTM), and hydrolysis test were used to evaluate the properties of ramie fibers. The result showed that ramie fiber impregnated with L-NIPU produced higher mechanical property values and WPG than non-impregnated ramie fiber. There is a tendency that the longer impregnation time results in better WPG values, FTIR intensity of the urethane group, thermomechanical properties, crystallinity, and mechanical properties of ramie fiber. However, the use of DMC and HMT cannot replace the role of isocyanates in the synthesis of L-NIPU because it produces lower heat resistance than ramie impregnated using pMDI. Based on the results obtained, the impregnation of ramie fiber with L-NIPU represents a promising approach to increase its wider industrial application as a functional material.
Microorganism-particle association in water supply systems

ii chlorination. Particle-mediated resistance decreased with increased concentrations of chlorine and the bacteria-particle combinations examined were susceptible to treatment at values likely to be experienced in a treated drinking water environment. Thus, for the bacterial species and conditions evaluated, surface-mediated resistance to chlorination may be considered a potential risk to the quality of unfiltered drinking water supply, but one that may be controlled through appropriate treatment. The particular characteristics of indigenous bacteria and particles determined here were vital in evaluating this risk and in investigating the relationship between adhesion and resistance. Microorganism Particle Association in Water Supply Systems iii Acknowledgements The author would like to thank Prof. Ian Harding and Assc. Prof. Enzo Palombo in their role as supervisors, for their input to the project itself and overall assistance and support provided. The author is also grateful to Melbourne Water in providing access to facilities, helpful discussions, and generous financial support. Contributions from a number of people within the university have aided in the completion of this work, and the input of: Jane-Lee Ng; Roxanne Vaz; Hans Brinkies; Dr. James Wang; Dr. Kristi Hanson; Dr. Hayden Webb; Dr. Vi Khanh Truong; Dr. Daniel Eldridge; Chris Key; Ngan Nguyen; Soula Mougos; Savitri Galappathie and Shiela Curtis, is greatly appreciated. In particular, the author would like to thank Dr. Steven Tomlinson for his assistance, advice and support. Family and friends, at their own expense, often provide the extra encouragement and understanding necessary to prevail through the more challenging aspects of a Ph.D. candidature. In this regard, the contributions of Dr. Peter Gollan, Dr. Donna Menzies, Paul Pickering, Lisa Tatai, Simone Tatai and Belinda Nincevic have been invaluable. The wonderful Lynchies (Michael and Suzenne, Amy and Clare) and extended family (including the fondly remembered Jim McCormack and Cath Lynch) are gratefully acknowledged for their unwavering faith and continual provision of complete love and
Spatial Patterns of E. Coli and Detergents in the Boeng Cheung Ek Treatment Wetland, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

The city of Phnom Penh, Cambodia (population 1.4 million), relies on a system of naturallyoccurring wetlands to treat approximately 90% of its waste, with the remaining 10% going directly to the Mekong River system. The city is growing rapidly and some of the wetlands have been filled in for new construction, so the capacity to treat waste is being reduced while population is increasing. The objectives of this paper are to examine the spatial patterns of E. coli and detergents levels in an area of the Boeng Cheung Ek wetland near the Trabek pump station and establish dry season treatment efficiency characteristics. This paper is part of a larger project examining the role of Phnom Penh’s wetlands in sustainable sewage treatment. Boeng Cheung Ek is the largest of Phnom Penh’s treatment wetlands, with a surface area of about 2,000 ha in the wet season and 1,300 ha in the dry season (Muong, 2000). During the dry season, sewage enters the wetland primarily from three sewer canals (Iron Bridge, Meanchey, and Trabek) at the north end, but there also are local inputs from communities and industries around the shoreline. The wetland discharges via an outlet channel to the southeast. During the wet season, waste continues to enter the wetland from the three sewer canals, but high flows on the Mekong and Bassac Rivers force flow into the wetland at the outlet channel. As part of the larger project, samples were collected in the sewer canals and Boeng Cheung Ek (Middle and Outlet sites) on dry weather days in the dry seasons of 2007 and 2008. The Middle site is approximately 2,700 m from the Trabek pump station, while the Outlet site is approximately 5,500 m distant and represents water quality as it leaves the wetland. The data suggested that while the wetland was providing treatment, there was little difference in many of the quality parameters between the Middle and Outlet sites (Figure 1). A more intensive spatial sampling on Boeng Cheung Ek (once per month, March, 2007-January, 2008), together with a kriging analysis of the E. coli data, confirmed no significant difference between the Middle and Outlet areas. Rhodamine dye testing conducted in November, 2007 showed that flow preferentially moved through the dense plots of morning glory in the wetland near the Trabek pump station, suggesting high potential for contaminant trapping. As such, we decided to conduct more spatially intensive investigations of water quality near the Trabek discharge. 2. Methods
RANCHING AND STATE SCHOOL LANDIN CIMARRON COUNTY, OKLAHOMA

Ranchers in Cimarron County, Oklahoma, have turned to leasing school trust land to sustain and sometimes expand their operations. Changes in the land tenure process have undergone profound transforma- tions in the last 20 years, greatly impacting land use in the region. Coupled with an almost decade-long drought, land managers pursuing seemingly "traditional" agricultural practices call upon increasingly complicated, mixed private and public tenure options in order to make ends meet. Using a political ecology framework, we examine conflicting relationships between school land, the state, and local land managers as well as the sustain - ability of cattle ranching on school trust land in Cimarron County, Oklahoma. We conclude that school trust land needs to be re-envisioned in order to ensure the greatest good for the greatest number of people as well as to uphold traditional rights and livelihoods of those in Cimarron County.
Evaluation of therapeutic potential of Hypericum species from the Himalaya

ABSTRACT The antioxidant, antibacterial, and antidiabetic potential of Himalayan Hypericum species (H. cordifolium, H. elodeoides, H. japonicum, H. podocarpoides, and H. uralum) were examined. The antioxidant activity measured by DPPH radical scavenging assay was the highest for the methanolic extracts of H. cordifolium and the lowest for H. japonicum. The antibacterial activity of methanolic extracts of Hypericum species showed weak or no antibacterial activity against four ATCC bacterial strains compared to standard gentamicin. The inhibition for of α-amylase by plant extracts in all the species was lower than that of Acarbose. In contrast, the inhibition of α-glucosidase by the plant extracts was higher than that of Acarbose for all the species except H. podocarpoides.
Chromium Methionine and Ractopamine Supplementation in Summer Diets for Grower–Finisher Pigs Reared under Heat Stress

Simple Summary This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the dietary supplementation of chromium methionine (CrMet) and ractopamine (RAC) on the productive behavior, blood metabolites, organ weight, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of pigs under heat stress. This study was conducted in the northwest of Mexico, where pig production is considerably affected during summer owing to heat stress. Supplementation with CrMet and RAC reduces the negative effects of heat stress and improves the productive behavior, blood components, and meat quality of livestock. However, the use of RAC has been restricted in several countries due to its potential negative health effects. Our results indicated that RAC supplementation improved the productive behavior and carcass characteristics of pigs compared with the control group. Likewise, dietary supplementation to pigs with 0.8 ppm of chromium from CrMet during the last 34 days of finishing produced a moderate increase, exhibiting similar results to RAC in weight gain, carcass quality, blood components, and meat quality. Thus, CrMet supplementation could be an alternative to use as a growth promoter. Abstract This study aimed to determine the effects of the dietary supplementation of chromium methionine (CrMet) and ractopamine (RAC) on pigs in the growing–finishing stage under heat stress. The parameters evaluated included productive behavior, blood components, carcass characteristics, organ weight, and meat quality. This study was conducted during the summer season in Sonora, Mexico. The treatments included: (1) control diet (CON), a base diet (BD) formulated to satisfy the nutritional requirements of pigs; (2) RAC, BD plus 10 ppm RAC supplemented during the last 34 days of the study; (3) CrMet-S, BD supplemented with 0.8 ppm of Cr from CrMet during the last 34 days; and (4) CrMet-L, BD supplemented with 0.8 ppm of Cr from CrMet for an 81 d period. RAC supplementation improved the productive behavior and main carcass characteristics of the pigs compared with CON. However, RAC and CrMet supplementation during the last 34 days showed similar results in terms of weight gain, carcass quality, blood components, organ weight, and meat quality. The addition of CrMet-S had a moderate (although not significant) increase in productive performance and carcass weight. These findings are encouraging, as they suggest that CrMet may be a potential alternative for growth promotion. However, more research is needed.
Domestic Democracy: At Home in South Africa

List of Figures and Tables List of Abbreviations Historical Chronology 'Overview of South Africa' Figure 'South African Provinces' Figure Acknowledgements Chapter One. South Africa in Transition Chapter Two. The Household as a Political Space Chapter Three. Weaving Content, Context and Self: The Methodological Journey Chapter Four. Resisted Transitions: The Social Landscape of Domestic Work Chapter Five. Intersections at Play: Complexities of Gender Location Chapter Six. "Women Won't Be Free Until Domestic Workers are Free! " Chapter Seven. Bringing Democracy Home Notes Bibliography Index