Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Use of Ascophyllum nodosum and Bacillus subtilis C-3102 in the Management of Canine Chronic Inflammatory Enteropathy: A Pilot Study

Simple Summary The development of novel, safe and effective therapies is highly desired for managing diseases requiring long-term use of drugs endowed with side effects. In the present investigation, we aimed to assess the impact of gut microbiota modulation strategies, i.e., the brown seaweed Ascophyllum nodosum and/or the probiotic microorganism Bacillus subtilis C-3102, in dogs diagnosed with Canine Chronic Inflammatory Enteropathy. The tested agents were administered on top of a hydrolysed protein diet, in a step-up fashion at 30-day intervals, with faecal collection and clinical evaluation of disease severity being performed before study initiation as well as at the end of each treatment phase. Neither Ascophyllum nodosum, nor its association with Bacillus subtilis C-3102, were able to significantly alleviate clinical signs and augment bacterial richness within the study population. Notwithstanding, increased numbers of beneficial carbohydrate-fermenting bacteria, alongside with higher amounts of faecal acetate were recorded, suggesting a potentially positive effect on gut health. Abstract The aim was to assess the effects of Ascophyllum nodosum (AN) with/without Bacillus subtilis C-3102 as alternative treatments for Chronic Inflammatory Enteropathy (CIE) of dogs. Fourteen CIE patients, which had received the same control (CTR) diet, were enrolled to serially receive three diets: (1) hydrolysed protein (HP) diet; (2) 4.0% AN supplemented HP (HPA) food, (3) HPA diet fortified with 125 billion B. subtilis C-3102 spores/10 kg body weight (HPAB diet). Clinical outcome was assessed by Canine Inflammatory Bowel Disease Activity Index (CIBDAI), whereas gut microbiota compositional variations were investigated via 16S rRNA gene analysis, and faecal fermentation end-products by liquid chromatography. Higher abundances of the Ruminococcaceae and Rikenellaceae families were shown in HPA relative to CTR treatment, with Bacillus genus being differentially abundant on HPAB diet. Concentrations of acetate were higher (p < 0.05) in dogs fed HPA compared to CTR diet, and amounts of isovalerate and isobutyrate were greater (p < 0.05) in HPA compared to HP food. A tendency for higher amounts of faecal butyrate was found for the HPAB treatment (p = 0.06). Comprehensively, while displaying potentially positive effects on faecal fermentations, the tested substances failed to improve CIBDAI scores and microbial richness in CIE dogs.
3D Multi-Track and Multi-Layer Epitaxy Grain Growth Simulations of Selective Laser Melting

An integrated simulation framework consisting of the 3D finite element method and 3D cellular automaton method is presented for simulating the multi-track and multi-layer selective laser melting (SLM) process. The framework takes account of all the major multi-physics phenomena in the SLM process, including the initial grain structure, the growth kinetics, the laser scanning strategy, the laser–powder and laser–matter interactions, the melt flow, and the powder-to-liquid-to-solid transformations. The feasibility of the proposed framework is demonstrated by simulating the evolution of the epitaxy grain structure of Inconel 718 (IN718) during a 15-layer SLM process performed using a bi-directional 67° rotation scanning strategy and various SLM process parameters. The simulation results are found to be in good agreement with the experimental observations obtained in the present study and in the literature. In particular, a strong (001) texture is observed in the final component, which indicates that the grains with a preferred <001> orientation win the competitive epitaxy grain growth process. In addition, the size and shape of the IN718 grains are governed primarily by the cooling rate, where the cooling rate is determined in turn by the SLM parameters and the build height. Overall, the results show that the proposed framework provides an accurate approach for predicting the final microstructures of SLM components, and therefore, it can play an important role in optimizing the SLM processing parameters in such a way as to produce components with the desired mechanical properties.
Sensitivity of DiaRem Scoring System in Predicting Type Two Diabetes Mellitus Resolution After Bariatric Surgery in Qassim Region

Introduction: Type two diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remission has been observed as an additional benefit of bariatric surgery for morbidly obese diabetic patients. There are many scoring systems for identifying factors that predict diabetes remission; however, there is as yet no universally applicable scoring system. Aim: This study aims to test the sensitivity of the DiaRem scoring system for predicting the resolution of T2DM in morbidly obese patients who underwent bariatric surgery at King Fahad Specialist Hospital in Buraydah, Saudi Arabia. Methods: This was a non-randomized controlled trial conducted at King Fahd Specialist Hospital in Buraydah, Saudi Arabia. Visiting patients at first screening were enrolled based on eligibility criteria. Data were collected according to the given parameters such as gender, age, body mass index (BMI), duration of diabetes mellitus (DM), medications (insulin, oral antihyperglycemic agents, number of tablets if used, or no medications use), presence of comorbidities, such as hypertension and dyslipidemia, HbA1c level (before surgery and at third, sixth, and 12th months after surgery), and fasting blood glucose (FBG) level (before and after surgery). Results: A total of 96 diabetic patients were enrolled (35 males vs 61 females) with a mean age of 46.5 years. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy was the most commonly performed surgery. The most common associated comorbidities were hypertension (50%) and hypothyroidism (14.6%). Results of the DiaRem scoring system showed 0-2 points in 15.6% patients, 3-7 points in 39.6% patients, 8-12 in 26% patients, 13-17 in 9.4% patients, and 18-22 in 9.4% patients. The lowest DiaRem score was associated with a higher value of BMI, shorter DM duration, and lower mean values of HbA1c and FBG post-surgery. Conclusion: Consistent with the literature, our results indicated that those with an increased BMI, shorter duration of DM, and lower values of HbA1c post-FBG had a greater chance of diabetes remission postoperatively.
Combination Therapy with Nusinersen and Onasemnogene Abeparvovec-xioi in Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type I

Background: Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a neuromuscular progressive disease, characterized by decreased amounts of survival motor neuron (SMN) protein, due to an autosomal recessive genetic defect. Despite recent research, there is still no cure. Nusinersen, an antisense oligonucleotide acting on the SMN2 gene, is intrathecally administered all life long, while onasemnogene abeparvovec-xioi, a gene therapy, is administered intravenously only once. Both therapies have proven efficacy, with best outcomes obtained when administered presymptomatically. In recent years, disease-modifying therapies such as nusinersen and onasemnogene abeparvovec-xioi have changed the natural history of SMA. Methods: We observed seven SMA type I patients, who received both therapies. We compared their motor function trajectories, ventilation hours and cough assist sessions to a control group of patients who received one therapy, in order to investigate whether combination therapy may be more effective than a single intervention alone. Results: Patients who received both therapies, compared to the monotherapy cohort, had the same motor function trajectory. Moreover, it was observed that the evolution of motor function was better in the 6 months following the first therapy than in the first 6 months after adding the second treatment. Conclusions: Our results suggest that early treatment is more important than combined therapy.
Elements of Pregnancy and Parenthood Policies of Importance to Medical Students and Included in a Sample of Medical Schools' Websites and Student Handbooks

Background: Medical students who are parents or considering parenthood often want information about school policies. An earlier survey of 194 medical students from one U.S. school examined seven “elements that [students thought] should be included in a school policy on pregnancy/maternity leave. ” For example, students want to know “how much time a student can take off during medical school and still graduate with their class. ” We performed multivariate and multivariable analyses of the University of South Dakota survey to understand its generalizability and usefulness. Methods: The earlier survey also included 35 demographic variables about individual students. We tested empirically for associations between the demographics and the seven policy items, thereby evaluating generalizability of the survey results to different demographic groups. We then surveyed public websites of a sample of U.S. medical schools to evaluate usefulness of the knowledge of the seven items. For the 33 surveyed schools, we documented if each of the items was present on publicly available webpages and handbooks. Results: The seven items had content validity as a necessary and sufficient set of items. There also were no significant associations of the items with demographic variables. Therefore, there is little chance that differences among medical schools in their average demographic would affect the items needed for their websites and student handbooks. Among the surveyed medical school websites, 1 of 33 had all seven items (upper 95% confidence limit: 14% of schools nationally would be expected to have all seven items shown). Conclusions: These findings show that it is known what information students want to know about in a school policy on pregnancy and parental leave. Adding these items to public websites is a necessary and an easily actionable intervention to help current and future medical students.
Humoral Immune Response to SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination after a Booster Vaccine Dose in Two Kidney Transplant Recipients with Fabry Disease and Variable Secondary Immunosuppressive Regimens

The urgent need to fight the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the development of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 and approval processes. Initial analysis of two-dose regimens with mRNA vaccines reported up to 95% efficacy against the original strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Challenges arose with the appearance of new strains of the virus, and reports that solid organ transplant recipients may have reduced vaccination success rates after a two-dose mRNA vaccination regimen encouraged health authorities to recommend a booster in immunocompromised patients. Fabry disease is an X-linked inherited lysosomal disorder, which may lead to chronic end-stage renal disease. We report on two patients with advanced Fabry disease, renal graft and adjunctive immunosuppressive therapies who exhibited variable humoral vaccination-related immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 after three vaccine doses. The first patient developed mild COVID-19 infection, while the second patient did not seroconvert after three shots of an mRNA vaccine. Both cases emphasize that patients with Fabry disease and renal graft are susceptible to develop a weak response to COVID-19 vaccination and highlight the importance of maintaining barrier protection measures. Vaccination of family members should be encouraged to lower the risk of viral transmission to immunocompromised, transplanted patients, including vaccinated ones.
A Protocol for Standardizing Secchi Disk Measurements, Including Use of a Viewer Box

ABSTRACT Despite being used by limnologists and oceanographers for over a century, the use of the Secchi disk for estimating water transparency has no standardized protocol. Because of this lack of uniformity, and the inherent optical problems with most current Secchi depth procedures, an appeal is made for production of a standardized protocol for Secchi observations. A possible protocol, including the use of a closed-ended viewer box on the sunny side of the boat, is suggested here. To assist in protocol development, this paper briefly reviews some aspects of optical physics and examines some recent field measurements made by staff of New York City Department of Environmental Protection. These measurements were made using a closed-ended viewer box and are compared with simultaneous naked-eye measurements. The use of a viewer box increases Secchi depth measurement by removing the interfering effects of water surface glare and glitter. A viewer box also increases between-observer precision. Measurements made both with and without the viewer box are slightly greater on the shady side of the boat than on the sunny side; the latter is the preferred side if Secchi data are to be related to other optical properties. The difference between viewer box and naked eye measurements increases with increasing wave height but not with increasing illuminance.
Forecasting the schedule performance resulting from the adoption of social distancing in construction projects

PurposeThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had major impacts on the performance of construction projects that have adopted social distancing measures. This study examines the effect of social distancing measures on project schedule performance through job reorganization on construction project sites.Design/methodology/approachResponses were obtained through a survey of 154 construction projects and analysed using the partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique.FindingsThe findings established that social distancing has a negative effect on schedule performance, social distancing has a positive effect on job re-organization and job re-organization has a positive effect on schedule performance. Additionally, the results indicate that job re-organization partially mediates the relationship between social distancing and schedule performance, while social distancing moderates the relationship between job re-organization and schedule performance with low social distancing having the stronger positive effect.Originality/valueThis study contributes theoretically to a greater understanding of the impact of adopting COVID-19 safety measures such as social distancing on the schedule performance of construction projects. The study also shows how social distancing could lead to schedule performance through job reorganization.
Longitudinal Assessment of Health and Quality of Life of COVID-19 Patients Requiring Intensive Care—An Observational Study

Long-term health consequences in survivors of severe COVID-19 remain unclear. Eighteen COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit at the University Hospital Rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany, between 14 March and 23 June 2020, were prospectively followed-up at a median of 36, 75.5, 122 and 222 days after discharge. The health-related quality of life (HrQoL) (36-item Short Form Health Survey and St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire, SGRQ), cardiopulmonary function, laboratory parameters and chest imaging were assessed longitudinally. The HrQoL assessment revealed a reduced physical functioning, as well as increased SGRQ impact and symptoms scores that all improved over time but remained markedly impaired compared to the reference groups. The median radiological severity scores significantly declined; persistent abnormalities were found in 33.3% of the patients on follow-up. A reduced diffusion capacity was the most common abnormal pulmonary function parameter. The length of hospitalization correlated with role limitations due to physical problems, the SGRQ symptom and the impact score. In conclusion, in survivors of severe COVID-19, the pulmonary function and symptoms improve over time, but impairments in their physical function and diffusion capacity can persist over months. Longer follow-up studies with larger cohorts will be necessary to comprehensively characterize long-term sequelae upon severe COVID-19 and to identify patients at risk.
The Innovative Response of Cultural and Creative Industries to Major European Societal Challenges: Toward a Knowledge and Competence Base

In this paper we highlight the importance of culture, cultural heritage and creative industries (CCI) in current European policies in relation to a number of societal challenges, and how the CCI are called to innovatively respond to such challenges. We distinguish four main societal challenges to which the CCI can strategically respond and significantly unlock the potential for innovation and smart growth in the EU. These societal challenges are addressed by four main pillars of the CCI, namely: (1) Europeans’ creativity, cultural diversity and values; (2) European identity and cohesion; (3) European employment, economic resilience and smart growth; and (4) Europe’s external relations. We address each societal challenge from the CCI perspective, indicating how the CCI can provide innovative responses to such challenges and enable strategic crossovers through networking and collaboration, but also referring to some criticalities. We further discuss how this CCI capacity needs public support and provide an overview of how this is undertaken via the main EU, national and international policies, with a focus on the latest trends.
Factors affecting the health promoting behaviors of office male workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: Using Pender’s health promotion model

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the factors influencing the health promoting behavior(s) of office worker males in the COVID-19 pandemic by applying Pender’s health promotion model.Methods: The participants in this study were 149 male office workers at companies located in S, G and S cities. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation coefficient and a stepwise multiple regression using the SPSS Window 25.0 program.Results: The subject’s health promoting behaviors and prior related behaviors (r=.58, p<.001), perceived benefits of action (r=.41, p<.001), self-efficacy (r=.53, p<.001), social support (r=.39, p<.001), self-esteem (r=.47, p<.001) and commitment to a plan of action (r=.67, p<.001) showed a high positive correlation. The factpors affecting the subjects’ health promoting behaviors were the commitment to a plan of action (β=.35, p<.001), self-esteem (β=.27, p=.005), prior related behavior (β=.26, p<.001), health status (good) (β=.20, p=.001) and self-efficacy (β=.14, p=.047). These variables explained 63.0% of the subjects’ health promoting behaviors.Conclusion: During the COVID-19 pandemic, subjects are more likely to be exposed to disease due to reduced outdoor activity time and irregular eating habits due to the strengthening of social distancing. Health promoting behaviors are an important concept that can maintain health and prevent diseases. To improve the health promoting behaviors of men engaged in office work, it is necessary to develop and operate a health promotion behaviors program considering those variables.
Impact of Surface Morphology above Threading Dislocations on Leakage Current in 4H-SiC Diodes

The impact of threading dislocation density on the leakage current of reverse IV characteristics in 1.2 kV Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs), junction barrier Schottky diodes (JBSDs), and PN junction diodes (PNDs) was investigated. The leakage current density and threading dislocation density have different positive correlations in each type of diode. For example, the correlation in SBDs is strong, but weak in PNDs. The threading dislocations were found to be in the same location as the current leakage points in the SBDs, but not in the PNDs. Nano-scale inverted cone pits were observed at the Schottky junction interface in SBDs, and it was found that leakage current increases in these diodes due to the concentration of electric fields at the peaks of the pits. These nano-scale pits were also observed directly above threading dislocations. In addition, this study succeeded in reducing the leakage current variation of 200 A-class JBSDs and SBDs by eliminating the nano-scale pits above the threading dislocations. As a result, a theoretical straight-line waveform was achieved.
SEU resistance in advanced SOI-SRAMs fabricated by commercial technology using a rad-hard circuit design

We fabricate 128 Kbit SRAMs using a rad-hard circuit design based on a mixed-mode three-dimensional simulation in a commercial silicon-on-insulator foundry with 0.2 /spl mu/m design rules. Appropriate design increases the critical linear energy transfer of single-event upset over 164.4 MeV/(mg/cm/sup 2/).
Organizational learning during internationalization: acquiring local institutional knowledge

Organizational learning plays an important role for firms entering new international markets. Acquiring knowledge of a foreign market helps firms to decrease uncertainties, misunderstandings and risks, allowing them to plan and achieve project expectations more accurately. Little is known, however, about how real estate developers, contractors and engineering firms initially collect important local knowledge for their international projects. This study uses qualitative research methods to explore the sources firms use to acquire different types of local knowledge. The results indicate that organizational learning is a complex process, and although similarities exist, different types of firms use different sources to collect needed knowledge. The research contributes to theory by responding to requests for additional research on how firms actually acquire and develop institutional knowledge. In addition, by understanding the sources used to acquire different types of institutional knowledge, company managers can determine the best sources to employ to acquire knowledge that is important for their specific business.
Mapping Knowledge Domain Analysis in Smart Education Research

Smart education is considered an inevitable choice and an important educational trend development in the Information Age. Smart education development can promote learning opportunities to master high-quality education and lifelong learning. It vigorously promotes sustainable development. A bibliometric analysis was performed to better understand smart education research field knowledge structures and help researchers understand smart education research field characteristics. VOSviewer and CiteSpace were used to analyze 2358 Web of Science core collection articles related to smart education. The articles were dated 2000–2021. This study visually presents a systematic overview of smart education literature research, including the publication outputs, main categories, most influential countries, organizations, journals, and authors, important documents, and research academic trends. Using a series of cooperation analyses, this paper looked at research cooperation among countries and regions, organizations, and authors to build a smart education knowledge structure map. A smart education theoretical framework was proposed based on the literature review. A bibliometric analysis of the existing research results provided useful and innovative suggestions for researchers and practitioners in the field of smart education.
In vivo maternal haploid induction in tomato

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicon) is the second largest vegetable crop and the largest fruit crop (Costa and Heuvelink, 2018). Progress in tomato breeding has been achieved by classical breeding, introgression of traits found in related wild Solanum species and exploiting heterosis in F1 hybrid crosses (Lin et al., 2014). These approaches require the development of inbred lines to reduce or largely eliminate heterozygosity. Classically, multiple rounds of selfing or backcrossing are used to generate inbred lines (Gale, 1980), but homozygous lines can also be obtained in a single generation using doubled haploid (DH) technology (Jacquier et al., 2020). However, tomato is highly recalcitrant for haploid induction (HI) (Seguí-Simarro, 2010).