Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of HLA-G 14 base-pair Insertion/ Deletion Polymorphism and Soluble HLA-G Level in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis in Mosul City: A Case-Control Study

Background: HLA-G antigens are unconventional “class Ib” entities that are found on human leukocytes; they are essential in immunomodulation and regulation of inflammatory processes. Studies on the effects of the gene variations of HLA-G on rheumatoid arthritis have inconsistent results. Objective: To estimate the potential relationship between soluble HLA-G and the rs66554220 14 base-pair insertion/deletion polymorphism of HLA-G with disease activity parameters of rheumatoid patients in Iraqi patients. Methods: Using a DNA extraction kit, the genomic DNA was retrieved from 190 rheumatoid cases and 190 control individuals. Using primers for the HLA-G gene, the polymerase chain reaction was utilized for the genotyping of HLA-G 14ֺ base-pair insertion/deletion variants. The levels of soluble HLA-G were assessed by means of an ELISA test. Results: The results did not show a link between polymorphic HLA-G 14 base-pair insertion/deletion alleles and the possibility of getting rheumatoid disease. Serum levels of soluble HLA-G were substantially lower than those of controls (median=1.548 vs. median=7.391 U/mL), respectively. sHLA-G has a statistically substantial adverse link with ESR (r= -0.245, p<0.05). Furthermore, there are statistically substantial differences between the DAS-28 activity score and the sHLA-G level. Conclusion: There is no link between the risk of developing RA and polymorphic HLA-G 14 base-pair insertion or deletion in Iraqi patients. However, sHLA-G might serve as a diagnostic predictor of disease activity.
EYE TRACKER AS A TOOL SUPPORTING DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS IN THE STATES OF DISORDES OF CONSCIOUSNESS (DOC)

One of the key parameters in the evaluation of disorders of consciousness (DOC) is visual behavior. In the past, visual potential testing or PET scanning was mainly used to assess these parameters. Recently, Eye Tracker (ET) technology for assessing visual functions has emerged; however, there are only a few publications devoted to the use of this technology in assessing people with disorders of consciousness (DOC). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using ET in the diagnosis of visual functioning in DOC patients.The study group consisted 25 patients (8 women and 17 men) awakened from prolonged post-traumatic coma in the Care and Treatment Facility of the "Light" Foundation in Toruń. The coma occurred as a result of severe brain damage: brain injury, stroke or sudden cardiac arrest. The mean age was 39.83 (SD 11.88) for the entire group, 38.85 (SD 9.99) for women, and 40.23 (SD 12.84) for men. All of these patients were in various states of disorders of consciousness (DOC), which was examined using the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R) (Giaciano et al., 2004). Appropriate inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied based on examinations by an internal medical physician and an ophthalmologist. Important exclusion criteria from the study were infection, elevated temperature, visual impairment and patient agitation. The visual functioning of the patients was measured with the use of the Eye Tracker Tobii X-120 device.A significant difference in visual functioning was demonstrated primarily in the areas of (1) reaction time to first fixation, where the Minimal Consciousness State minus (MCS-) group showed a significantly longer reaction time compared to the Minimal Consciousness State plus (MCS+) and the Emergency of Minimal Consciousness State (EMCS) groups; (2) fixation duration, where the MCS- group showed a longer time compared to patients in the MCS+ and EMCS groups; (3) the number of fixation points on the screen, where the MCS- group showed a significantly lower number of fixation points compared to the MCS+ and EMCS groups.Eye Tracker Tobii X-120 can serve as a valuable tool to aid in the neuropsychological diagnosis of individuals experiencing states of reduced consciousness. Indicators that most differentiate between the different levels of impaired consciousness include the time to the first fixation, the number of fixation points on the screen and the total number of fixations.
Association of Residual Feed Intake to Metrics of Tanganyika Shorthorn Zebu Cattle in Maswa and Misungwi Districts, Tanzania

Increasing competition for feed resources and greenhouse gases pollution have been compelling beef production systems to operate at higher feed utilization. These challenges imply the need to breed cattle for Residual Feed Intake (RFI) to lower feeding costs and enteric methane production per output. To explore relevant indicator traits of RFI, this study investigated the association of RFI to Tanganyika Shorthorn Zebu (TSZ) cattle metrics from the Misungwi and Maswa Districts of Tanzania, where Tarime and Sukuma ecotypes are common. A correlation study involving the fattening of twenty-eight TSZ bulls was conducted at Tanzania Livestock Research Institute -Mabuki. From the animals' body weight and feeding data, regression of daily feed intake on average daily gain and metabolic body weight was analyzed to estimate the animals' RFI. Subsequently, the correlation of RFI to metrics of belly, horn, hip, dewlap and body length was investigated. Residual Feed Intake and Belly Length (BeL) were highly positively correlated, while RFI and Dewlap Depth (DD) were moderately positively correlated. The results indicated prospects for using BeL and DD as indicator traits for RFI. Extensive studies are recommended to analyze the correlation of RFI to hump depth, ear length, muzzle circumference and kidney fat.
THE RIVER OTTER (Lontra canadensis) IN CLARCKE COUNTY (GEORGIA, USA) - SURVEY, FOOD HABITS AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

The status of the river otter (Lontra canadensis}. was surveyed in and around Clarcke County (Georgia, USA). Although nearly extinct in the nineteen fifties, the otter population appears to be well developed today. Food habits were analyzed through spraint analysis using spraints collected in winter and summer. Sunfish and crayfish were found to be the most important food items. An attempt was made to find out if otters in the study area are affected by environmental pollution. Literature data and heavy metal analysis showed that the exposure to chemical pollution has been relatively low. The siltation of the rivers and creeks does not appear to harm the river otter or change it's food habits.
Gender, justice and livelihoods in the creation and demise of forests in North Western Ethiopia’s Zeghie Peninsula

ii TABLE OF CONTENTS iii LIST OF TABLES v LIST OF FIGURES vi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS vii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ix DEDICATION x CO-AUTHORSHIP STATEMENT xi 1. INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER 1 1.1 Zeghie Peninsula: Power and Politics in a Sacred Space 1 1.2 Research Objectives 3 1.3 Thesis Outline 20 1.4 References 24 2. THE CONTESTED HISTORY OF SHADE COFFEE IN ETHIOPIA’S ZEGHIE PENINSULA . 32 2.
Glacial–interglacial changes in H 2 18 O, HDO and deuterium excess – results from the fully coupled ECHAM5/MPI-OM Earth system model

Abstract. In this study we present the first results of a new isotope-enabled general circulation model set-up. The model consists of the fully coupled ECHAM5/MPI-OM atmosphere–ocean model, enhanced by the JSBACH interactive land surface scheme and an explicit hydrological discharge scheme to close the global water budget. Stable water isotopes H218O and HDO have been incorporated into all relevant model components. Results of two equilibrium simulations under pre-industrial and Last Glacial Maximum conditions are analysed and compared to observational data and paleoclimate records for evaluating the model's performance in simulating spatial and temporal variations in the isotopic composition of the Earth's water cycle. For the pre-industrial climate, many aspects of the simulation results of meteoric waters are in good to very good agreement with both observations and earlier atmosphere-only simulations. The model is capable of adequately simulating the large spread in the isotopic composition of precipitation between low and high latitudes. A comparison to available ocean data also shows a good model–data agreement; however, a strong bias of overly depleted ocean surface waters is detected for the Arctic region. Simulation results under Last Glacial Maximum boundary conditions also fit to the wealth of available isotope records from polar ice cores, speleothems, as well as marine calcite data. Data–model evaluation of the isotopic composition in precipitation reveals a good match of the model results and indicates that the temporal glacial–interglacial isotope–temperature relation was substantially lower than the present spatial gradient for most mid- to high-latitudinal regions. As compared to older atmosphere-only simulations, a remarkable improvement is achieved for the modelling of the deuterium excess signal in Antarctic ice cores. Our simulation results indicate that cool sub-tropical and mid-latitudinal sea surface temperatures are key for this progress. A recently discussed revised interpretation of the deuterium excess record of Antarctic ice cores in terms of marine relative humidity changes on glacial–interglacial timescales is not supported by our model results.
Ecological Restoration Effectively Mitigated pCO2 and CO2 Evasions From Severely Polluted Urban Rivers

Urban rivers are significant hotspots of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere, playing important roles in global carbon emission inventories. However, little is known about the effect of ecological restoration on CO2 dynamics in severely polluted urban rivers, and this strongly hindering our understanding of the positive effects of human activities on CO2 emissions in urbanized aquatic ecosystems. We measured CO2 partial pressure (pCO2) and fluxes in nine severely polluted urban rivers with varying degrees of ecological restoration, and assessed the relationships with water physicochemical parameters, pollution levels and basin environmental investment. Our results indicate that urban rivers with high pollution loadings were indeed hotspots of CO2 evasion. However, fully restored rivers had generally lower pCO2 and CO2 emissions than partially restored rivers and were observably lower than unrestored rivers, suggesting that watershed eco‐restoration could effectively reduce CO2 evasion. In particular, environmental investment per unit basin area had a significant negative correlation with CO2 evasion and could explain 51%–85% and 51% of total variability in pCO2 and CO2 fluxes among nine urban rivers respectively, emphasizing the potential benefits of carbon emission regulation resulting from positive environmental management. Nutrient removal and sewage interception during watershed eco‐restoration were key processes reducing pCO2 and CO2 fluxes in polluted urban rivers. pH alteration kept close correlations with pCO2 and acted as a sensitive regulator of CO2 evasion in the nine rivers. We highlight the importance of considering the coupling effects of pollution and restoration on the spatiotemporal variability of CO2 evasion and the uncertainty of related monitoring methods in urban watersheds.
The Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-Based Hyperspectral Classification of Desert Grassland Plants in Inner Mongolia, China

In recent years, grassland ecosystems have faced increasingly severe desertification, which has caused continuous changes in the vegetation composition in grassland ecosystems. Therefore, effective research on grassland plant taxa is crucial to exploring the process of grassland desertification. This study proposed a solution by constructing a UAV hyperspectral remote sensing system to collect the hyperspectral data of various species in desert grasslands. This approach overcomes the limitations of traditional grassland survey methods such as a low efficiency and insufficient spatial resolution. A streamlined 2D-CNN model with different feature enhancement modules was constructed, and an improved depth-separable convolution approach was used to classify the desert grassland plants. The model was compared with existing hyperspectral classification models, such as ResNet34 and DenseNet121, under the preprocessing condition of data downscaling by combining the variance and F-norm2. The results showed that the model outperformed the other models in terms of the overall classification accuracy, kappa coefficient, and memory occupied, achieving 99.216%, 98.735%, and 16.3 MB, respectively. This model could effectively classify desert grassland species. This method provides a new approach for monitoring grassland ecosystem degradation.
A Cadaveric Case Report of a Double Right Coronary Artery and Its Clinical Implications

A double right coronary artery is one of the rarest variations of the coronary arterial system. This case report presents a unique variation: a right coronary and an accessory coronary artery arise from a single ostium within the right aortic sinus. The two vessels appeared externally to have a common trunk but were partitioned internally by a carina-like septum. This report underscores the importance of understanding the embryological development of coronary arteries and recognizing potential variations. It discusses the specific variation observed in this case and its clinical implications. The aim is to contribute to the limited literature on this condition and highlight the importance of recognizing and managing such anomalies in clinical procedures.
Dietary Supplementation with Lysozyme–Cinnamaldehyde Conjugates Enhances Feed Conversion Efficiency by Improving Intestinal Health and Modulating the Gut Microbiota in Weaned Piglets Infected with Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli

Simple Summary Intestinal health is an important indicator of the healthy growth of piglets. As the agricultural industry eliminates the use of antibiotics in animal feed, alternatives to antibiotics will be needed. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of lysozyme–cinnamaldehyde conjugates (LC) as a potential alternative to antibiotics in treating piglets infected with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC). The result shows that the LC-supplemented diet effectively mitigated the adverse effects of E. coli K88, including intestinal barrier damage and inflammation. Furthermore, it improved the structure of the intestinal flora, ultimately contributing to better growth performance in piglets. LC could be a useful, safe, and natural anti-inflammatory feed additive to prevent the decline in piglets’ intestinal health. Abstract This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of lysozyme–cinnamaldehyde conjugates (LC) as a potential alternative to antibiotics in treating piglets infected with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC). The results demonstrated that piglets fed with the LC diet exhibited lower rectal temperature and fecal scores at 9 h, 24 h, and 48 h post-ETEC challenge. Furthermore, LC supplementation led to significant improvements in the mechanical and immune barriers of the jejunum and ileum, as indicated by an increased villi-height-to-crypt-depth ratio (VCR) and the expression of tight junction proteins, mucin, and β-defensins. Furthermore, the LC diet lowered the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β in the plasma. Further analyses showed that the LC diet downregulated genes (specifically TLR4 and MyD88) linked to the TLRs/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway in the small intestine. Additionally, 16SrDNA sequencing data revealed that LC supplementation increased the α diversity of intestinal microorganisms and the relative abundance of Lactobacillus. In summary, the LC-supplemented diet effectively mitigated the adverse effects of E. coli K88, including intestinal barrier damage and inflammation. Furthermore, it improved the structure of the intestinal flora, ultimately contributing to better growth performance in piglets.
Ownership and Support: Boosting Performance and Well-Being in Safety

Aim/Purpose: The aim of this study is to examine the role of psychological ownership for safety in boosting employee performance and the impact of Perceived Organizational Support for Safety (POSS) on workers’ well-being, considering the psychological aspects associated with workplace safety and exploring the mediating effect of employees’ commitment. Background: It is widely recognized that promoting workplace safety goes beyond purely physical measures and must also consider the psychological aspects associated with safety management. However, while some studies have shown the direct effect of POSS and Safety Ownership on safety outcomes, very few studies have explored the underlying mediating mechanism, as well as their impact on distal outcomes, such as well-being and performance. Methodology: The cross-sectional study was conducted on a convenience sample of a metal mechanic enterprise’s employees through an online self-assessment questionnaire. Contribution: This study contributes to understanding the mechanisms through which psychological ownership for safety, organizational support for safety, and psychological factors related to safety collectively influence organizational outcomes. Findings: Two indirect significant effects are described. The first is between POSS and well-being, and the second significant relation is between psychological ownership for safety and job performance. When employees perceive that their organization cares about safety, they will experience a stronger sense of commitment and, in turn, they will be more satisfied in the work context, and they will improve their job performance. Recommendation for Researchers: Researchers should take a transdisciplinary approach to enable the integration of knowledge and perspectives from different fields that are essential to understanding the full range of implications and applications of safety management. Future Research: It could be interesting to investigate a different point of view on safety (e.g., top management or health and safety officers) and explore concerns about how to successfully communicate and transfer safety climate during remote working activities.
Assessment of Drug-Related Problems and Health-Related Quality of Life Domains in Elderly Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Aims of the Study This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and predictors of Drug-related problems (DRPs), as well as to evaluate the impact of DRPs on the health-related quality of life in geriatric patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted over a three-month period. Patients aged 60 years and older visited diabetes clinics from October 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022, were included in the study. Data were collected through structured questionnaires, whereas lab results, medication records, comorbidities, and the consequences of DRPs were collected from electronic medical records. DRPs were identified and classified using the PCNE V501 classification system. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was evaluated using the validated EuroQol criteria. Results A total of 491 patients participated in the study, and the mean age of the patients was 67.51 years (SD = 5.84 years). Female patients represented 52.34% of total subjects. A total of 461 (around 94%) experienced at least one drug-related problem (DRP), ranging from one to nine DRPs per patient, with a total number of DRPs equal to 1625 identified. The most common DRP was the drug choice problem, affecting 52.98% of patients. Factors such as high drug frequency, living conditions, the number of diabetes medications, comorbidities, and smoking were significantly associated with higher numbers of DRPs. Higher numbers of DRPs were found to significantly worsen health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among patients. Conclusion Geriatric individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus encounter a significant prevalence of DRPs, with drug choice problems being the most common followed by dosing problems. Risk factors contributing to these DRPs include high drug frequency, living conditions, high number of diabetes medications, multimorbidity, and smoking. Also, the study concluded that the increased number of DRPs was associated with negative impact on HRQoL domains in geriatric patients with type 2 diabetes.
Complex Effects of a Land-Use Gradient on Pollinators and Natural Enemies: Natural Habitats Mitigate the Effects of Aphid Infestation on Pollination Services

Simple Summary Pollination and biological pest control by insects are crucial ecosystem services for agriculture. The activity of pollinators and natural enemies (natural pest control providers), is influenced by land-use and by interactions among these organisms. However, little is known about the combined effects of such factors on the activity of these beneficial organisms and on their ultimate effects on crop yield. We studied how the characteristics of natural habitats, nearby vegetation and the presence of herbivorous pests affect pollination, natural pest control and seed set by model plants. The study was conducted in a Mediterranean agro-ecosystem, where we placed caged and uncaged potted model plants that were either aphid-infested or aphid-free. We quantified the activity of pollinators on model plant flowers, aphid predation and parasitism by natural enemies, as well as fruit and seed set. Our findings revealed a notably stronger positive effect of natural areas on pollinator activity when plants were infested with aphids compared to aphid-free plants. This suggests a potentially crucial role of natural habitats in lessening the negative impact of aphid infestation on pollination services. These results highlight the complex effects of land-use on pollinators, natural enemies and plant productivity. Abstract Pollinators and natural enemies are essential ecosystem service providers influenced by land-use and by interactions between them. However, the understanding of the combined impacts of these factors on pollinator and natural enemy activities and their ultimate effects on plant productivity remains limited. We investigated the effects of local and landscape vegetation characteristics and the presence of herbivorous pests on pollination and biological control services and their combined influence on phytometer seed set. The study was conducted in a Mediterranean agro-ecosystem, encompassing ten shrubland plots spanning a land-use gradient. Within each plot, we placed caged and uncaged potted phytometer plants that were either aphid-infested or aphid-free. We quantified insect flower visitation, aphid predation and parasitism rates, and fruit and seed set. We found scale-dependent responses of pollinators and natural enemies to land-use characteristics. Flower species richness had a positive impact on aphid parasitism rates but a negative effect on pollinator activity. Notably, we found a more pronounced positive effect of natural areas on pollinator activity in aphid-infested compared to aphid-free plants, indicating a potentially critical role of natural habitats in mitigating the adverse effects of aphid infestation on pollination services. These results highlight the complex and interactive effects of land-use on pollinators and natural enemies, with significant implications for plant productivity.