Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Combined System for the Simultaneous Delivery of Levofloxacin and Rifampicin: Structural and Functional Properties and Antibacterial Activity

The therapy of resistant forms of tuberculosis requires the simultaneous use of several drugs, in particular, a combination of rifampicin and levofloxacin. In this paper, we aimed to design a combined system for the simultaneous delivery of these drugs for potential inhalation administration. A feature of this system is the incorporation of rifampicin into optimized liposomal vesicles capable of forming a multipoint non-covalent complex with chitosan-β-cyclodextrin conjugates. Levofloxacin is incorporated into cyclodextrin tori by forming a host–guest complex. Here, a comprehensive study of the physicochemical properties of the obtained systems was carried out and special attention was paid to the kinetics of cargo release for individual drugs and in the combined system. The release of levofloxacin in combined system is slow and is described by the Higuchi model in all cases. The release of rifampicin from liposomes during the formation of complexes with polymeric conjugates is characterized by the change of the Higuchi model to the Korsmeyer–Peppas model with the main type of diffusion against Fick′s law. Microbiological studies in solid and liquid growth media a consistently high antibacterial activity of the obtained systems was shown against B. subtilis and E. coli.
Evaluating the role of Nigerian print media in raising public awareness of the health effects of noise pollution

Abstract This study evaluated the role of Nigerian print media in bringing the health hazards of noise pollution to public awareness through the presentation of stories. The Guardian, Punch, and Vanguard newspapers were content analyzed to ascertain the framing, volume, prominence, frequency, and genre of noise pollution articles published from June 2020 to July 2021. Seven (n = 7) articles on noise pollution were published within the period studied. Solution and effect frames were dominant as five articles mentioned the health effects of noise pollution. The results were inadequate to create public awareness of the health hazards of noise by Nigerian print media.
Evaluation of Optimal Stimuli for SSVEP-Based Augmented Reality Brain-Computer Interfaces

Steady-State Visually Evoked Potentials (SSVEPs) serve as one of the most robust Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) paradigms. Being an exogenous brain response, the properties of elicited SSVEPs are directly related to the properties of the visual stimuli. However, studies on integrating BCI and Augmented Reality (AR), aimed at realising mobile BCI systems, have mainly focused on applications of BCIs and performance comparison with screen-based BCIs. Little work has been done to study the effects of stimulus parameters on BCI performance when stimuli are presented with an AR headset. Here, we compare AR-based SSVEP with 3D and 2D stimuli using three different stimulation strategies: flickering, grow-shrink, and both. Participant feedback on level of fatigue and their subjective preference of stimuli were also collected. Our results did not show significant differences in classification accuracies between the 2D and 3D stimuli. However, for most of the participants, classification accuracy with flickering stimuli was above their average performance and stimuli that changed only in size were below average. The participants were divided in terms of which type of stimulus they felt was the most comfortable.
Micronutrient Gaps and Supplement Use in a Diverse Cohort of Pregnant Women

Background: Micronutrition in pregnancy is critical to impact not only fetal growth and development but also long-term physical and psychiatric health outcomes. Objective: Estimate micronutrient intake from food and dietary supplements in a diverse cohort of pregnant women and compare intake to the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs). Design: Secondary analysis of women enrolled in a multi-site clinical trial of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation who provided their dietary intake using the diet history questionnaire-II (n = 843) or multiple 24 h recalls (n = 178) at baseline and their intake of nutritional supplements at baseline through 30 days postpartum. Participants/Setting: 1021 participants from the parent trial who had reliable data for dietary intake, supplement intake, or both. Main outcome measures: Micronutrient intake from dietary and supplement sources and percentage of intakes meeting the DRIs for pregnancy. Statistical analyses performed: Percent of participants whose intake was below the estimated average requirement (EAR) or adequate intake (AI) and above the tolerable upper limit (UL). Results: Dietary intakes of choline, folate, iron, vitamin D, zinc, vitamin E, magnesium, and potassium, were below the AI or EAR for 30–91% of the participants; thiamin and vitamin B6 were also below the AI or EAR for non-Hispanic/Latina women. Supplement intake improved the intake for most; however, 80% of the group remained below the AI for choline and 52.5% for potassium while 30% remained below the EAR for magnesium. Folate and iron intakes were above the UL for 80% and 19%, respectively. Conclusions: Dietary supplements, despite their variability, allowed the majority of this cohort of pregnant women to achieve adequate intakes for most micronutrients. Choline, magnesium, and potassium were exceptions. Of interest, folate intake was above the tolerable UL for the majority and iron for 16.8% of the participants. Clinicians have the opportunity to address the most common nutrient deficits and limits with advice on food sources that provide choline, magnesium, and potassium and to ensure folate is not overabundant. More research is needed to determine if these findings are similar in a cross-sectional population.
“Time wasted by health professionals is time not invested in patients”: time management practice and associated factors among health professionals at public hospitals in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia: a multicenter mixed method study

Background Time management is of utmost importance in healthcare facilities since time squandered by health professionals is time not invested in patients, and this affects the quality of care given to patients. This study aimed to assess time management practice and factors affecting it among health professionals at public hospitals in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. Methods Institution-based cross-sectional study supplemented with a qualitative study was conducted from April 21 to May 20, 2022, among health professionals working in public hospitals in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. A simple random sampling technique was used to select 416 study participants. A pretested self-administered questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data, and an interviewer guide was used to collect qualitative data to complement quantitative data. Purposive sampling was used in the qualitative study, and 12 in-depth interviews were carried out till saturation was reached. The quantitative data were entered into Epi Data version 4.0 and analyzed using SPSS 25.0 whereas the qualitative data were analyzed manually using thematic analysis. To identify the associated factors, bi-variable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used. The degree of associations was interpreted using odds ratio and 95% confidence interval at <0.05 p-value. Results Of 416 invited participants, 410 of them participated in the study yielding a 98.5% response rate. The magnitude of time management practice among health professionals was 66.1% (95% CI: 61.5–70%). Age ranges 25–29 (AOR = 3.961, 95% CI: 1.068, 14.682) and 30–34 (AOR = 6.240, 95% CI: 1.640, 23.749), planning (AOR = 6.032, 95% CI: 3.478, 10.463), compensation and benefits packages (AOR = 1.888, 95% CI: 1.077, 3.309), responsible to work (AOR = 2.119, 95% CI: 1.192, 3.768), time waster (AOR = 1.855, 95% CI: 1.058, 3.251) and staff shortage (AOR = 0.535, 95% CI: 0.319, 0.896) were factors associated with time management practice. From the qualitative study, two major themes and five categories have emerged. Conclusion and recommendations Healthcare facilities could improve their time management practices by providing training on planning, being a low time-waster and highly responsible at work, and designing compensation and benefits packages.
Integrated agronomic, physiological, microstructure, and whole-transcriptome analyses reveal the role of biomass accumulation and quality formation during Se biofortification in alfalfa

Se-biofortified agricultural products receive considerable interest due to the worldwide severity of selenium (Se) deficiency. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), the king of forage, has a large biomass, a high protein content, and a high level of adaptability, making it a good resource for Se biofortification. Analyses of agronomic, quality, physiological, and microstructure results indicated the mechanism of biomass increase and quality development in alfalfa during Se treatment. Se treatment effectively increased Se content, biomass accumulation, and protein levels in alfalfa. The enhancement of antioxidant capacity contributes to the maintenance of low levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which, in turn, serves to increase alfalfa’s stress resistance and the stability of its intracellular environment. An increase in the rate of photosynthesis contributes to the accumulation of biomass in alfalfa. To conduct a more comprehensive investigation of the regulatory networks induced by Se treatment, the transcriptome sequencing of non-coding RNA (ncRNA) was employed to compare 100 mg/kg Se treatment and control groups. The analysis identified 1,414, 62, and 5 genes as DE-long non-coding RNAs (DE-lncRNA), DE-microRNAs (DE-miRNA), and DE-circular RNA (DE-circRNA), respectively. The function of miRNA-related regulatory networks during Se biofortification in alfalfa was investigated. Subsequent enrichment analysis revealed significant involvement of transcription factors, DNA replication and repair mechanisms, photosynthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, and protein processing. The antioxidant capacity and protein accumulation of alfalfa were regulated by the modulation of signal transduction, the glyoxalase pathway, proteostasis, and circRNA/lncRNA-related regulatory networks. The findings offer new perspectives on the regulatory mechanisms of Se in plant growth, biomass accumulation, and stress responses, and propose potential strategies for enhancing its utilization in the agricultural sector.
A protocol for a multicenter randomized and personalized controlled trial using rTMS in patients with disorders of consciousness

Background Improving the functional recovery of patients with DoC remains one of the greatest challenges of the field. Different theories exist about the role of the anterior (prefrontal areas) versus posterior (parietal areas) parts of the brain as hotspots for the recovery of consciousness. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a powerful non-invasive brain stimulation technique for the treatment of DoC. However, a direct comparison of the effect of TMS treatment on the front versus the back of the brain has yet to be performed. In this study, we aim to assess the short- and long-term effects of frontal and parietal rTMS on DoC recovery and characterize responders phenotypically. Methods/design Ninety patients with subacute and prolonged DoC will be included in a two-part multicenter prospective study. In the first phase (randomized controlled trial, RCT), patients will undergo four rTMS sessions in a crossover design over 10 days, targeting (i) the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and (ii) the left angular gyrus (AG), as well as (iii & iv) their sham alternatives. In the second phase (longitudinal personalized trial), patients will receive personalized stimulations for 20 working days targeting the brain area that showed the best results in the RCT and will be randomly assigned to either active or sham intervention. The effects of rTMS on neurobehavioral and neurophysiological functioning in patients with DoC will be evaluated using clinical biomarkers of responsiveness (i.e., the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised; CRS-R), and electrophysiological biomarkers (e.g., power spectra, functional and effective connectivity, perturbational complexity index before and after intervention). Functional long-term outcomes will be assessed at 3 and 6 months post-intervention. Adverse events will be recorded during the treatment phase. Discussion This study seeks to identify which brain region (front or back) is best to stimulate for the treatment of patients with DoC using rTMS, and to characterize the neural correlates of its action regarding recovery of consciousness and functional outcome. In addition, we will define the responders’ profile based on patients’ characteristics and functional impairments; and develop biomarkers of responsiveness using EEG analysis according to the clinical responsiveness to the treatment. Clinical Trial Registration https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04401319, Clinicaltrials.gov, n° NCT04401319.
Characterizing cometary electrons with kappa distributions

The Rosetta spacecraft has escorted comet 67P/Churyumov‐Gerasimenko since 6 August 2014 and has offered an unprecedented opportunity to study plasma physics in the coma. We have used this opportunity to make the first characterization of cometary electrons with kappa distributions. Two three‐dimensional kappa functions were fit to the observations, which we interpret as two populations of dense and warm (density = 10 cm−3, temperature = 2 × 105 K, invariant kappa index = 10−>1000), and rarefied and hot (density = 0.005 cm−3, temperature = 5 × 105 K, invariant kappa index = 1–10) electrons. We fit the observations on 30 October 2014 when Rosetta was 20 km from 67P, and 3 AU from the Sun. We repeated the analysis on 15 August 2015 when Rosetta was 300 km from the comet and 1.3 AU from the Sun. Comparing the measurements on both days gives the first comparison of the cometary electron environment between a nearly inactive comet far from the Sun and an active comet near perihelion. We find that the warm population density increased by a factor of 3, while the temperature cooled by a factor of 2, and the invariant kappa index was unaffected. We find that the hot population density increased by a factor of 10, while the temperature and invariant kappa index were unchanged. We conclude that the hot population is likely the solar wind halo electrons in the coma. The warm population is likely of cometary origin, but its mechanism for production is not known.
Investigating Spatiotemporal Patterns, Spatial Density Dependence and Fruit Quality in a Plant-Bruchine-Parasitoids System

ABSTRACT Many of the spatial patterns observed in nature are governed by interactions between species and between species and their environment, providing valuable information about which processes are determinants in shaping ecological communities. In a system composed of Mimosa bimucronata, the bruchine Acanthoscelides schrankie and its parasitoids, we examined the spatial distribution patterns of these insects and fruit quality. We tested the hypothesis that an aggregate pattern of parasitism is predominant, characterizing a direct density-dependent pattern. Because nitrogen, water, and phenols are crucial fruit traits that can affect the fitness of many insects, we also tested the hypothesis that the spatial distribution of A. schrankie and its parasitoids is positively associated with water and nitrogen content in the fruits and negatively associated (i.e., dissociation) with phenols. The distribution of bruchine and its parasitoids varied over time, from random to aggregated. The spatial patterns of parasitism varied between direct density dependence, inverse density dependence, and density independence. Dissociations were found between the abundance of A. schrankiae and the phenolic content, and similar results were found for the parasitoids. Our results suggest that a combination of bottom-up and top-down effects may drive spatiotemporal dynamics between A. schrankiae and its parasitoids. RÉSUMÉ Plusieurs des patrons spatiaux observés dans la nature sont régis par des interactions entre les espéces et entre les espéces et l'environnement, ce qui fournit de l'information utile sur les processus importants dans la structuration des communautés écologiques. Dans un systéme composé de Mimosa bimucronata, de la bruche Acanthoscelides schrankie et de ses parasitoïdes, nous avons étudié les patrons de répartition spatiale des insectes et de la qualité des fruits. Nous avons testé l'hypothése de prédominance d'un patron agrégé de parasitisme indiquant une dépendance directe à la densité. Puisque l'azote, l'eau et les phénols sont d'importants traits des fruits qui peuvent influencer l'aptitude de plusieurs insectes, nous avons aussi testé l'hypothése selon laquelle la répartition de A. schrankie et de ses parasitoïdes est positivement associée au contenu en eau et en azote des fruits, et négativement associée (dissociation) au contenu en phénols. La répartition de la bruche et de ses parasitoïdes variait dans le temps, d'aléatoire à agrégée. Le patron spatial de parasitisme variait entre la dépendance directe à la densité, la dépendance inverse à la densité, et la non-dépendance à la densité. La dissociation a été observée entre l'abondance de A. schrankiae et de ses parasitoïdes et le contenu en phénols. Nos résultats suggérent qu'une combinaison d'effets ascendants et descendants pourrait expliquer la dynamique spatiale de A. schrankiae et de ses parasitoïdes.
Predictability of European winter 2016/2017

Winter 2016/2017 was one of the driest on record for central Europe and the United Kingdom. This was the result of blocked atmospheric circulation with high pressure centred over North‐West Europe dominating the winter mean circulation pattern. Using large ensembles of simulated winters, we find that the observed winter 2016/2017 circulation was very similar in pattern and strength to the circulation associated with the top 10% of driest Central European winters. Here, we explore whether seasonal forecasts were able to predict this circulation pattern. Despite the fact that the observed circulation anomaly did not project on to the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), we find that forecasts starting in November did predict a high‐pressure anomaly over North‐Western Europe. We use two independent data sets, and methods, to probe the drivers of this circulation pattern. We find evidence for a Rossby Wave propagating out of the tropical Atlantic where there were anomalous local rainfall anomalies. This case study is another example of real‐time seasonal forecast skill for Europe and provides evidence for predictability beyond the NAO pattern.
Sources of Variance in the Accuracy of Interviewer Observations

In face-to-face surveys, interviewer observations are a cost-effective source of paradata for nonresponse adjustment of survey estimates and responsive survey designs. Unfortunately, recent studies have suggested that the accuracy of these observations can vary substantially among interviewers, even after controlling for household-, area-, and interviewer-level characteristics, limiting their utility. No study has identified sources of this unexplained variance in observation accuracy. Motivated by theoretical expectations from the observer bias literature, this study analyzed more than 45,000 open-ended justifications provided by interviewers in the U.S. National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) for their observations on two key features of all sampled NSFG households: presence of children and expected probability of household response. The study finds that variability among interviewers in the cues used to record these observations (evident from the open-ended justifications) explains much of the previously unexplained variance in observation accuracy.
The Genetic Structures and Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Ear Traits in Maize (Zea mays L.)

Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the world’s staple food crops. In order to feed the growing world population, improving maize yield is a top priority for breeding programs. Ear traits are important determinants of maize yield, and are mostly quantitatively inherited. To date, many studies relating to the genetic and molecular dissection of ear traits have been performed; therefore, we explored the genetic loci of the ear traits that were previously discovered in the genome-wide association study (GWAS) and quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping studies, and refined 153 QTL and 85 quantitative trait nucleotide (QTN) clusters. Next, we shortlisted 19 common intervals (CIs) that can be detected simultaneously by both QTL mapping and GWAS, and 40 CIs that have pleiotropic effects on ear traits. Further, we predicted the best possible candidate genes from 71 QTL and 25 QTN clusters that could be valuable for maize yield improvement.
INFLUENCE OF PRINCIPAL’S LEADERSHIP ON TEACHER MOTIVATION AND PARENT’S STUDENTS SATISFACTION TOWARD THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION SERVICE IN PELANGI EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION MEDAN

Abstract: In the level of Elementary School, parents took important role in making decision for their children as students. Parent’s satisfaction is worthy to consider by Educational Institution in an effort to improve quality of educational services. Principal and teacher are important components who involved in an effort to improve student’s parent satisfaction with the quality of educational services. The aim of this study was to find out the effect of principal’s leadership, teacher’motivation and quality of education on parent’s satisfaction by path analysis technique. The result of the study showed if principal’s leadership, teacher’motivation and quality of education significantly did not effect to the parents’s satisfaction by partially and simultaneously. Altough didn’t effect significantly, but quality of education services has positively impact and correlation to student’s parent satisfaction. Keywords: Leadership, Motivation, Service Quality, Customer Satisfaction, Path Analysis. Abstrak: Pada tingkat Sekolah Dasar, orang tua memiliki peranan yang penting dalam pengambilan keputusan bagi anak-anak mereka selaku siswa. Kepuasan orang tua penting untuk dipertimbangkan oleh lembaga pendidikan, sebagai upaya untuk meningkatkan kualitas pelayanan pendidikan. Kepala sekolah dan guru merupakan komponen penting yang terlibat dalam upaya meningkatkan kepuasan orang tua siswa terhadap kualitas layanan pendidikan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh kepemimpinan kepala sekolah, motivasi guru dan kualitas layanan pendidikan terhadap kepuasan orang tua siswa dengan menggunakan tekhnik analisis jalur. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa kepemimpinan kepala sekolah, motivasi guru dan kualitas layanan pendidikan tidak berpenmgaruh secara signifikan terhadap kepuasan orang tua siswa, baik secara parsial maupun simultan. Meskipun tidak berpengaruh secara signifikan, namun kualitas layanan pendidikan memiliki pengaruh dan hubungan yang positif terhadap kepuasan orang tua siswa. Kata Kunci: Kepemimpinan, Motivasi, Kualitas Pelayanan, Kepuasan Pelanggan, Analisis Tujuan.