Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES ON THE MUDSKIPPERS IN THE INTERTIDAL ZONE OF KUWAIT BAY

This work deals with monitoring mudskippers in their natural environment (intertidal zone) along the Kuwait Bay muddy shores in the State of Kuwait. This is to provide information is concerning the environmental factors effecting mudskipper diversity in Kuwait Bay. Kuwait Bay is a large mud-flat with a fascinating associated fauna of mud-skippers and crabs provide rewarding feeding-grounds for many birds. A number of fifty mudskipper samples are collected during the hot summer season (July and August) of the year 2009 and examined for parasites and to evaluate the different environmental factors controlling the biodiversity in this marine environment. The results of the present study indicate the abundance of the mudskippers allover the intertidal mud flat of the Bay and the total absence of either external and/or internal parasites in the mudskipper tissues and organs. Mudskippers are found to be completely amphibious fish that are adapted to live in the intertidal environment. Mudskippers are very active when they are outside the water, feeding and interacting with one another. The mud in the Kuwait Bay environment is very good for burrowing in, since the particles are very sticky, unlike sand. Often, the mudskipper form mixed colonies with digging crabs (Fiddler crabs-Caidae). Specific physiological and behavioural changes in bioindicators are used to detect changes in environmental health, so Mudskippers can be considered as bioindicators of marine pollution in Kuwait Bay, this needs further studies. (Nature and Science. 2010;8(5):79-89). (ISSN: 1545- 0740).
Photodynamic therapy in brain cancer: mechanisms, clinical and preclinical studies and therapeutic challenges

Cancer is a main cause of death and preferred methods of therapy depend on the type of tumor and its location. Gliomas are the most common primary intracranial tumor, accounting for 81% of malignant brain tumors. Although relatively rare, they cause significant mortality. Traditional methods include surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy; they also have significant associated side effects that cause difficulties related to tumor excision and recurrence. Photodynamic therapy has potentially fewer side effects, less toxicity, and is a more selective treatment, and is thus attracting increasing interest as an advanced therapeutic strategy. Photodynamic treatment of malignant glioma is considered to be a promising additional therapeutic option that is currently being extensively investigated in vitro and in vivo. This review describes the application of photodynamic therapy for treatment of brain cancer. The mechanism of photodynamic action is also described in this work as it applies to treatment of brain cancers such as glioblastoma multiforme. The pros and cons of photodynamic therapy for brain cancer are also discussed.
Subscapularis tendon tear detection using axial internal rotation MRI: semiquantitative and quantitative analysis

Background Magnetic resonance image (MRI) of the subscapularis tendon plays an important role in preoperative planning. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value and quantitative measurement of an additional internal rotation sequence in the detection of partial subscapularis tendon tears. Methods The study included 76 patients who underwent arthroscopy and magnetic resonance (MR) shoulder between January 2018 to December 2019. Three different sets of images were evaluated in each case to determine the diagnostic value in the detection of partial subscapularis tendon tears including Set 1: standard axial fat-suppressed proton density (PD/FS) image and sagittal fat-suppressed T2 weight image (T2W/FS) images, Set 2: standard axial PD/FS and internal rotation PD/FS images, and Set 3: standard axial PD/FS, sagittal T2W/FS and axial internal rotation PD/FS images. Subscapularis tendon tear was diagnosed by arthroscopy and patients with or without tears were grouped. The coracohumoral distance (CHD), coracoglenoid angle (CGA), coracohumeral angle (CHA), CHD difference and CHD ratio were evaluated and compared between groups using univariate and multivariate analysis. The interreader agreement was assessed. The cut-off point for the prediction of subscapularis tears was calculated. Results Twenty-nine shoulders revealed partial subscapularis tendon tears (29/76, 38.2%). Imaging Set 3 provided the highest sensitivity and accuracy {79–83% [confidence interval (CI): 0.60–0.95], 75–76% (CI: 0.63–0.85)}, compared to image Set 2 [31–58% (CI: 0.15–0.76), 67–68% (CI: 0.55–0.79)] and Set 1 [17–21% (CI: 0.06–0.40], 61–66% (CI: 0.54–0.76)], and a moderate level of interobserver agreement (Kappa =0.55). Axial CHD [odd ratio (OR) =1.48, P=0.044], internal rotate CHD (OR =0.68, P=0.02), CHD difference (OR =2.58, P<0.001), and CHD ratio (OR =1.34, P<0.001) were associated with subscapularis tears. A CHD difference and CHD ratio of more than 0.04 mm and 1.01 achieved a 90% sensitivity and 72% specificity, both. Conclusions Internal rotation during MRI can increase diagnostic accuracy for subscapularis tendon partial tears. The CHD differences and CHD ratio are useful parameters to indicate subscapularis tears. This technique may improve preoperative management and reduce the consequences of delayed diagnosis and treatment.
Mapping IgA Epitope and Cross-Reactivity between Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Associated Coronavirus 2 and DENV

Background: The newly introduced COVID-19 vaccines have reduced disease severity and hospitalizations. However, they do not significantly prevent infection or transmission. In the same context, measuring IgM and IgG antibody levels is important, but it does not provide information about the status of the mucosal immune response. This article describes a comprehensive mapping of IgA epitopes of the S protein, its cross-reactivity, and the development of an ELISA-peptide assay. Methods: IgA epitope mapping was conducted using SPOT synthesis and sera from RT-qPCR COVID-19-positive patients. Specific and cross-reacting epitopes were identified, and an evolutionary analysis from the early Wuhan strain to the Omicron variant was performed using bioinformatics tools and a microarray of peptides. The selected epitopes were chemically synthesized and evaluated using ELISA-IgA. Results: A total of 40 IgA epitopes were identified with 23 in S1 and 17 in the S2 subunit. Among these, at least 23 epitopes showed cross-reactivity with DENV and other organisms and 24 showed cross-reactivity with other associated coronaviruses. Three MAP4 polypeptides were validated by ELISA, demonstrating a sensitivity of 90–99.96% and a specificity of 100%. Among the six IgA-RBD epitopes, only the SC/18 epitope of the Omicron variants (BA.2 and BA.2.12.1) presented a single IgA epitope. Conclusions: This research unveiled the IgA epitome of the S protein and identified many epitopes that exhibit cross-reactivity with DENV and other coronaviruses. The S protein of variants from Wuhan to Omicron retains many conserved IgA epitopes except for one epitope (#SCov/18). The cross-reactivity with DENV suggests limitations in using the whole S protein or the S1/S2/RBD segment for IgA serological diagnostic tests for COVID-19. The expression of these identified specific epitopes as diagnostic biomarkers could facilitate monitoring mucosal immunity to COVID-19, potentially leading to more accurate diagnoses and alternative mucosal vaccines.
Physical predictors for retention and dismissal of professional soccer head coaches: an analysis of locomotor variables using logistic regression pipeline

Introduction Soccer has enormous global popularity, increasing pressure on clubs to optimize performance. In failure, the tendency is to replace the Head coach (HC). This study aimed to check the physical effects of mid-season replacements of HCs, investigating which external load variables can predict retention or dismissal. Methods The data was collected in training and matches of a professional adult male soccer team during three complete seasons (2020/21-2022/2023). The sample included 6 different HCs (48.8 ± 7.4 years of age; 11.2 ± 3.9 years as a HC). The 4 weeks and 4 games before and after the replacement of HCs were analysed. External load variables were collected with Global Positioning System (GPS) devices. A logistic regression (LR) model was developed to classify the HCs' retention or dismissal. A sensitivity analysis was also conducted to determine the specific locomotive variables that could predict the likelihood of HC retention or dismissal. Results In competition, locomotor performance was better under the dismissed HCs, whereas the new HC had better values during training. The LR model demonstrated a good prediction accuracy of 80% with a recall and precision of 85% and 78%, respectively, amongst other model performance indicators. Meters per minute in games was the only significant variable that could serve as a potential physical marker to signal performance decline and predict the potential dismissal of an HC with an odd ratio of 32.4%. Discussion An in-depth analysis and further studies are needed to understand other factors' effects on HC replacement or retention.
A Novel Switched-Capacitor Enhanced-Boost Quasi Z-Source Network

This paper presents a novel switched-capacitor enhanced-boost quasi-Z-source inverter (SCEB-qZSI) for renewable energy applications. The described topology is a novel power electronic converter that uses switched-capacitors to increase the voltage boost. In the meanwhile, a reduced shoot-through condition results in a higher dc-link voltage. Moreover, the proposed concept has the advantages of continuous input current, smaller current ripple, common grounding, and high output voltage gain. The proposed topology is thoroughly examined, and simulation data are used to support the theoretical analysis. The proposed SCEB-qZSI topology has potential uses in electric vehicles, industrial applications, and renewable energy systems which may develop by using the inexpensive components making it an attractive option for applications that have limited funds. D represents the shoot-through duty ratio of the inverter switches which can range from 0<D<0.144. In the proposed topology inductor voltages, inductor currents, capacitor voltages, diode currents, and voltage source inverter outputs are extracted with and without filters and are discussed in brief. The theoretical and simulation evaluation for the above findings is presented in this paper.
The Efficacy and Safety of Intravenous Colistin Plus Aerosolized Colistin Versus Intravenous Colistin Alone in Critically Ill Trauma Patients With Multi-Drug Resistant Gram-Negative Bacilli Infection

Background and aim: Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) with potential multiple drug resistance (MDR) have emerged as a major group of organisms causing ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Higher concentrations are deposited directly in the lungs when antibiotics are given via inhalation, minimizing systemic side effects. This study aims to compare the efficacy and safety of intravenous plus aerosolized colistin versus intravenous (IV) colistin alone in critically ill trauma patients who reported MDR-GNB infection on endotracheal aspirate culture. Methods: A hundred patients were recruited in the Intensive Care Unit, Trauma Centre, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, and randomly assigned to the control (n=50) group, which received IV colistin plus aerosolized colistin and the intervention group (n = 50), which received IV colistin alone. Changes in total leucocyte count (TLC), renal function test (RFT), endotracheal aspirate culture, 24-hour urine output, length of ICU stay, and 28-day ICU mortality were investigated. Results: Patients receiving intravenous plus nebulized colistin therapy had a better outcome compared to IV colistin alone in terms of faster eradication of MDR-GNB infection. A rise in serum urea and creatinine levels was seen in both groups, which were significantly higher, along with a decrease in urine output in the group receiving intravenous colistin alone. No significant difference was observed in serum sodium and potassium levels in the RFT protocol, length of ICU stay, or 28-day ICU mortality. Conclusion: Intravenous nebulized colistin could be considered a better alternative therapy for VAP caused by multi-drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria in the ICU in terms of faster microbiological cure and lesser nephrotoxicity.
Semantic Segmentation of Gastrointestinal Tract in MRI Scans Using PSPNet Model With ResNet34 Feature Encoding Network

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancer is the most common cancer in men and women. GI cancers are increasing every year worldwide. In the biomedical industry, Radiation treatment is a frequent choice for treating cancers of the GI tract in which the oncologist focuses the high range of X-ray beams on the tumor while avoiding the healthy organs. Manual segmentation of healthy organs to focus X-ray beams only on the tumor portion is very tedious and time-consuming, which can lead the treatment from a few minutes to hours. Deep learning techniques can concur with this problem by segmentation of healthy organs. This research article proposes a deep learning-based model Pyramid Scene Parsing Network (PSPNet) for segmenting organs such as the stomach, small bowel, and large bowel in the GI tract. The model has been simulated with five feature encoding networks: ResNext 50, Timm_Gernet_S, ResNet 34, EfficientNet B1, and MobileNet V2. These encoders were used for downsampling the feature map in the PSPNet architecture. The implementations have been performed using the UW Madison GI tract dataset, which contains 38,496 MRI scans of cancer patients. The model was evaluated using validation dice, Jaccard, and validation loss. The results reveal that the PSPNet model combined with ResNet 34 as encoder outperforms the other feature encoding networks with validation dice as 0.8842, validation Jaccard as 0.8531, and validation loss as 0.1365. Radiation oncologists can use the proposed model to speed up radiation therapy for cancer treatment.
Poverty Reduction Through Tourism: Residents' Perspectives

Increase in the number of people living in poverty in the world has led to an increasing search for strategies to address the situation, and tourism has been identified as one of the relevant tools for reducing poverty. The paper assesses the role that tourism can play in addressing the needs of the residents of the Lake Bosomtwe Basin. A study conducted in a traditional area in Ghana placed “the poor” in the centre of the search for appropriate strategies to tackle poverty. A resident’s survey undertaken in January 2006 reveals that the residents are fully aware of the problems of the area, and also, have an adequate knowledge of how tourism tied in to their needs. The paper confirmed the essential role tourism can play in reducing poverty and realizing other developmental goals. Based on the nature of the needs of the residents (hospital, potable water, good roads and security), it was concluded that their needs were compatible with the goals of sustainable tourism development as these are elements required from any good tourist destination. It was also concluded that “the poor” could be valuable partners in the search for solutions to reduce poverty in the world.
Energy Cost and Stride Pattern Variability of Elite Runners on the Treadmill

Preliminary observations on individual freely chosen stride patterns during running at various velocities demonstrated discrepancies from those reported in the literature. This phenomenon was further investiga­ ted in relation to energy cost in 9 elite runners (X ± s, age: 27 ± 4.5 yr, height: 174.9 ± 2.5 cm, weight: 65.9 ± 6.3 kg and V02max : 67.4 ± 3.7 ml kg-I min~I). All runners had previous treadmill experience and performed a maximal multistage test. Initial treadmill speed of 9 km/h was increased by 1 km/h every 2 min. Measurements of stride frequency (accelerometer) and V02 (Douglas bag method) started at 11 km/h. As with V02 , the average values of stride length and stride frequency increase linearly with running speed, yielding high correlations in all cases (r > 0.99). The freely chosen stride pattern of individual runners however, was not always consistent with the average pattern. Discrepan­ cies were more pronounced at low speeds, although they also occurred at high speeds associated with exhaustion. This study demonstrates that not only the freely chosen stride pattern is well related to the energy demands, but also that the individual variations in stride length and stride frequency, as a function of running speed, counterbalance each other without affecting the linearity of the energy cost of running.
Early Iron Age Herders in Northwestern Botswana: The Faunal Evidence

Faunal remains from Divuyu and Nqoma in the sandveld of north-western Botswana show that herding of sheep and goats had been established by 550 AD. Cattle were present at Divuyu at this date, implying herding or contact with cattle herders. By 800 AD at Nqoma, cattle herding had become more important than sheep and goat herding. At both sites, hunting, snaring and gathering contributed significantly to the Iron Age herding economy. A bimodal distribution of age classes at Nqoma suggests culling of young and old cattle to conserve breeding stock, and may indicate that,the site was not a primary one. Mature breeding ovicaprids were consumed at both sites.
Systematic Description of Three New Mammals (Notoungulata and Rodentia) from the Early Miocene Cerro Bandera Formation, Northern Patagonia, Argentina

Abstract. The Cerro Bandera Formation is a mostly pyroclastic continental unit exposed in isolated areas of east-central Neuquén Province, northwestern Patagonia. Several mammals from these deposits were previously reported and support a Colhuehuapian age (early Miocene) for these levels. New findings reveal that this unit bears a much more diverse assemblage and calls into question this age assessment. Here we describe three new species. Protypotherium sinclairi sp. nov. (Notoungulata, Interatheriidae) is similar in size to the Santacrucian Protypotherium australe Ameghino, but differs from all the species of the genus by having less reduced p3–p4 talonids. Doryperimys olsacheri gen. et sp. nov. (Rodentia, Neoepiblemidae) has hypselodont, prismatic cheek teeth that combine features of species of Perimys Ameghino and Scotamys antiquus Loomis. The systematic position of Leucokephalos maior sp. nov. within Caviomorpha is still uncertain, but it is definitively allied to the Deseadan Leucokephalos zeffiae Vucetich, Dozo, Arnal, and Pérez in sharing rooted cheek teeth with an almost identical early occlusal simplification that resembles the 8-shaped configuration of some early octodontoids and putative chinchilloids. The three species co-occur at a single fossil locality and stratigraphic level on the northeastern slope of Barda Negra; P. Sinclairi and D. olsacheri are also recorded in other levels exposed in different isolated outcrops of the Cerro Bandera Formation. Doryperimys olsacheri—like other previously described rodents from this unit— is unknown in other presumably coeval mammal associations, but the biochronological and paleobiogeographic meaning of this assemblage is still under study.
The Representation of Women in Saudi Film: The Case of Amra and the Second Marriage

Female representation in film continues to be a new area of research in Gulf countries, particularly Saudi Arabia. Mahmoud Sabbagh, the writer and director of the Netflix film Amra and the Second Marriage, has portrayed Saudi women in various ways. His work was recognized with the Best Film award at the Cinematic Festival of Film Across Three Continents in Milan. The current study examines female stereotypes as portrayed in this film, employing a mixed-method approach of quantitative content analysis and qualitative thematic analysis. The study’s conceptual framework draws on representation theory and feminist theory to explore the depiction of female stereotypes in this digital Saudi film. A total of 20 females were recruited in this study from the online film. The findings revealed that Amra and the Second Marriage represented twenty Saudi female characters, with half of them being mature adults. Approximately 40% of these characters were portrayed as modern, and around 35% were depicted as belonging to the upper class. Less than half of the characters were shown without wearing the hijab. The film also depicted several stereotypes of Saudi women as weak and sacrificial, reinforcing negative stereotypes about Saudi culture as traditional and masculine. Furthermore, the movie showcased both ‘religious’ and ‘gossip’ stereotypes that mirror aspects of Saudi culture. Interestingly, the film also explored the theme of ‘corrupt women,’ a less common portrayal in Saudi culture.
Effect of fourth hourly oropharyngeal suctioning on ventilator-associated events in patients requiring mechanical ventilation in intensive care units of a tertiary care center in South India: a randomized controlled trial

Background Mechanical ventilation (MV) is a necessary life-saving measure for critically ill patients. Ventilator-associated events (VAEs) are potentially avoidable complications associated with MV that can double the rate of death. Oral care and oropharyngeal suctioning, although neglected procedures, play a vital role in the prevention of VAE. Methods A randomized controlled trial was conducted in the intensive care units to compare the effect of fourth hourly oropharyngeal suctioning with the standard oral care protocol on VAE among patients on MV. One hundred twenty mechanically ventilated patients who were freshly intubated and expected to be on ventilator support for the next 72 hours were randomly allocated to the control or intervention groups. The intervention was fourth hourly oropharyngeal suctioning along with the standard oral care procedure. The control group received standard oral care (i.e., thrice a day) and on-demand oral suctioning. On the 3rd and 7th days following the intervention, endotracheal aspirates were sent to rule out ventilator-associated pneumonia. Results Both groups were homogenous at baseline with respect to their clinical characteristics. The intervention group had fewer VAEs (56.7%) than the control group (78.3%) which was significant at P<0.01. A significant reduction in the status of “positive culture” on ET aspirate also been observed following the 3rd day of the intervention (P<0.001). Conclusions One of the most basic preventive strategies is providing oral care. Oropharyngeal suctioning is also an important component of oral care that prevents microaspiration. Hence, fourth-hourly oropharyngeal suctioning with standard oral care significantly reduces the incidence of VAE.