Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Variation in Glycemic Outcomes in Focal Forms of Congenital Hyperinsulinism—The UK Perspective

Abstract Context In focal congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI), localized clonal expansion of pancreatic β-cells causes excess insulin secretion and severe hypoglycemia. Surgery is curative, but not all lesions are amenable to surgery. Objective We describe surgical and nonsurgical outcomes of focal CHI in a national cohort. Methods Patients with focal CHI were retrospectively reviewed at 2 specialist centers, 2003-2018. Results Of 59 patients with focal CHI, 57 had heterozygous mutations in ABCC8/KCNJ11 (51 paternally inherited, 6 de novo). Fluorine-18 L-3,4 dihydroxyphenylalanine positron emission tomography computed tomography scan identified focal lesions in 51 patients. In 5 patients, imaging was inconclusive; the diagnosis was established by frozen section histopathology in 3 patients, a lesion was not identified in 1 patient, and 1 declined surgery. Most patients (n = 56) were unresponsive to diazoxide, of whom 33 were unresponsive or partially responsive to somatostatin receptor analog (SSRA) therapy. Fifty-five patients underwent surgery: 40 had immediate resolution of CHI, 10 had persistent hypoglycemia and a focus was not identified on biopsy in 5. In the 10 patients with persistent hypoglycemia, 7 underwent further surgery with resolution in 4 and ongoing hypoglycemia requiring SSRA in 3. Nine (15% of cohort) patients (1 complex surgical access; 4 biopsy negative; 4 declined surgery) were managed conservatively; medication was discontinued in 8 children at a median (range) age 2.4 (1.5-7.7) years and 1 remains on SSRA at 16 years with improved fasting tolerance and reduction in SSRA dose. Conclusion Despite a unifying genetic basis of disease, we report inherent heterogeneity in focal CHI patients impacting outcomes of both surgical and medical management.
Late Devonian–early Carboniferous ostracods (Crustacea) from South China: taxonomy, diversity and implications

The impact of the late Devonian Hangenberg Event on ostracods is quantified for the first time from newly acquired data from the Blue Snake section, Guizhou Province, South China. Ninety–eight species belonging to 31 genera are identified and figured. Four new species are described: Clavofabella? lanshella sp. nov., Sansabella gelaohensis sp. nov., Cytherellina caerulea sp. nov., Sulcella baisuzhena sp. nov. The ostracod associations from the Blue Snake section document a significant drop in specific diversity as well as major changes in taxonomic composition through the Hangenberg Event. We here report the reduction of the proportion of Palaeocopida and the increase in that of Podocopida between the latest Famennian and the Tournaisian. The specific extinction and renewal rates are estimated at 44% and 62%, respectively. The main factor of the post–crisis renewal of ostracod faunas in the Blue Snake section appears to be the progressive diversification of the family Bairdiidae and was probably related to palaeoenvironmental changes. The characteristics of associations point to an increase of the water depth over the studied area, from a near–shore shallow environment during the latest Famennian to a deeper and more open offshore environment during the Tournaisian.
The Use of The Celta Frameworks to foster speaking skills in the English language classroom

This study aimed to analyze the effect of CELTA frameworks on the speaking skill development and motivation of students in a 4-month English as a foreign language (EFL) course in their senior year, while preparing for an international English language exam. The study collected data on students' speaking proficiency at pre-test and post-test. The results showed a significant increase in students' pronunciation, fluency, vocabulary, and grammatical accuracy, as well as high motivation to speak, confidence in using the language, and a recognition of the importance of teamwork through interaction with peers. It was concluded that the use of CELTA frameworks is an effective means of fostering language production in the English classroom. Recommendations for future research are included.
Prevalence of Tetracycline Resistance Genes tet (A, B, C, 39) in Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolated from Tehran, Iran

Background and Aim: Klebsiella pneumoniae is one of the three pathogens that has become a global disease control and treatment problem due to its resistance to common antibiotics. For this reason, it is crucial to study the genes that cause antibiotic resistance in it. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the phenotypic and genotypic frequency of tetracycline resistance in clinical isolates of K. pneumoniae in Tehran, Iran. Materials and Methods: In this study, 100 isolates of K. pneumoniae isolated from clinical samples (urine) during 2018-2019 were studied. In addition to microbial and biochemical phenotypic tests, genotypic tests were conducted to determine the frequency of antibiotic resistance genes tet (A, B, C, 39). Results: Out of 100 isolates of K. pneumoniae, 49 isolates were resistant to tetracyclines. The results of multiplex PCR showed that 31 samples were positive for tetA gene, 8 isolates for tetB gene, 21 samples for tetC and, and 8 isolates for tet39. None of the isolates were positive for all four tetracycline genes. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the isolates were positive for at least one gene and at most 2 tetracycline resistance genes. The tetA gene showed the highest frequency and the lowest frequency was demonstrated by tetB. The highest binary combination of genes was tetA-tetC, and the lowest was tetA-tet39.
Study of the Rheological Behaviour and the Curvature Radius Effects on a Non Newtonian Fluid Flow in a Curved Square Duct

Abstract. Fluid flows through curved pipes are frequently encountered in various industrial or biomedical applications. These flows, under the effect of the centrifugal force resulting from the curvature of the pipe, causes an instability phenomenon known as Dean instability, which results in the appearance of two or more counter-rotating vortex cells. The objective of this work is to determine numerically the effect of geometric parameters and rheological behavior of the fluid, including the index of behavior on the occurrence and development of the instability of Dean in a 180° curved duct. The governing equations including the full Navier-Stokes, the continuity and the Momentum are solved in three dimensions using the commercial code ANSYS-CFX, under the conditions of laminar, stationary and incompressible flow. In the first part, the results of the flow of a shear thinning fluid and a shear thickening fluid for a Dean number Dn = 125 and a radius of curvature Rc = 15.1 are presented. These calculation results gave a good agreement with the measured values extracted from the literature. The second part concerns the influence of the curvature ratio and the rheological behaviour of the fluid, the presence of two stationary secondary recirculations, as well as the appearance and the development of two additional vortices are highlighted. The main point observed is that the decrease in the curvature radius increases the instability of the flow through the pipe and this increases the number of vortex cells (Dean vortex). The velocity of the flow and its rheological nature are essential parameters for the reduction of instability in the canal.
Talent management practices and work-related outcomes for South African academic staff

This study explored the perception of relationships between talent management practices and work meaningfulness, happiness, and turnover intention among South African academic staff. The participants (n = 160) were from a large South African higher education institution (HEI). For a measure of talent management practices, the participants completed the Human Capital Index. Work-related outcome measures included the General Happiness Scale (GHS), the Meaning of Life Questionnaire (MLQ), and the Employee Retention Scale (ERS). Regression analysis results showed employee perceptions of talent management practices of talent acquisition and development, talent retention, management commitment, performance management, workforce planning, and staffing to predict their happiness and sense of work meaningfulness. Moreover, employee perceptions of talent management practices of acquisition, development, performance management, staffing, retention practices, and workforce planning predicted lower turnover intentions. Higher education management should invest in employee-centric talent retention practices for sustained academic workforce development and retention.
Atmospheric drivers of a winter-to-spring Lagrangian sea-ice drift in the Eastern Antarctic marginal ice zone

Abstract Sea-ice drift in the Antarctic marginal ice zone (MIZ) is discussed using data from a 4-month-long drift of a buoy deployed on a pancake ice floe during the winter sea-ice expansion. We demonstrate increased meandering and drift speeds, and changes in the dynamical regimes of the absolute dispersion during cyclone activity, together with high correlations between drift velocities and wind from atmospheric reanalyses. This indicates a dominant physical control of wind forcing on ice drift and the persistence of free-drift conditions. These conditions occurred despite the buoy remaining largely in >80% ice concentrations and at distances >200 km from the estimated ice edge. The drift is additionally characterised by a strong inertial signature at 13.47 h, which appears initiated by passing cyclones. A wavelet analysis of the buoy's velocity confirms that the momentum transfer from winds at the multi-day frequencies is due to atmospheric forcing, while the initiation of inertial oscillations of sea ice has been identified as the secondary effect. Propagating storm-generated waves may initiate inertial oscillations by increasing the mobility of floes and enhance the drag of the inertial current. This analysis indicates that the Antarctic MIZ in the Indian Ocean sector remains much wider and mobile, during austral winter-to-spring, than defined by sea-ice concentration.
Seroprevalence Pattern of Herpes Simplex Viruses (HSV-1 & 2) among STI Vulnerable Women Population

Background: Genital infections caused by Herpes Simplex viruses are viewed as the indicators of sexual network in the society. Most of the infections caused by these viruses are asymptomatic and underdiagnosed. Aim: To investigate the seroprevalences of HSV-1 and HSV-2 among the STI vulnerable women and correlate them with clinical infections and other co-viral STIs. Study design: A cross sectional retrospective study was conducted on female contacts of HIV / STI positive male partners, who were consulting the STD clinics of NGOs and OP section of STD department of Government hospital in Chennai, India between October 2006 and September 2008. Methodology: The study included 138 STI vulnerable women along with age matched control group from whom socio-demographic and clinical data were collected. Serological screening was performed using ELISA for detection of IgM and IgG antibodies to HSV types 1 and 2 and co-positivities to HIV, HBV, HCV and CMV. Statistical analysis of results was carried out using Chi-square test. Results: Overall seroprevalences of 79.71% and 74.32% were recorded respectively for HSV-1 and HSV-2 among the study group. Proportionate increase in symptomatic cases were observed with individuals showing seropositivities to anti-HSV-1/2 IgM, IgM+IgG (combined) and IgG antibodies, which correlated respectively with primary, reactivated and episodic infections. Observation of symptomatic cases among HSV-1 (48.0% vs. 4.05%) and HSV-2 (68.29% vs. 25.0%) IgG positive study and control groups corroborated the sexual transmission of these viruses. Significant percentages of co-positivities to other viral STIs were recorded with higher preponderance among HSV-2 seropositive individuals than those of HSV-1. Conclusion: Comprehensive serological screening and its correlation with the clinical data would be very helpful in demonstrating the impact of HSV infections. Wide screening of STI vulnerable women is necessary to estimate the actual burden of STIs and to adopt preventive intervention.
Spatial Variability of Radon Production Rates in an Alluvial Aquifer Affects Travel Time Estimates of Groundwater Originating From a Losing Stream

Assessing water travel times in hyporheic and adjacent alluvial sediments is important to quantify exchange rates, biogeochemical turnover, and pollution dynamics across groundwater‐surface water interfaces and in floodplain aquifers. Heat and 222Rn are useful natural tracers for this purpose. While heat transport is commonly simulated via the convection‐conduction equation, the transport of 222Rn is often simulated assuming purely advective transport and a homogenous distribution of 222Rn production rates across the model domain. In the present study, we explicitly model the production, transport, and radioactive decay of 222Rn after surface water infiltration into an alluvial aquifer with the numerical models MODFLOW‐NWT and MT3D‐USGS. Using field observations, numerical modeling, and laboratory experiments, we show that 222Rn production rates vary substantially in the alluvial aquifer of a lowland river. Distributions of mean river‐to‐groundwater travel time in the alluvial aquifer, estimated via a Bayesian approach, shifted considerably depending on whether 222Rn and time series of groundwater heads and temperature were jointly inverted and whether 222Rn production rates were allowed to vary spatially. With distance to the river, differences between the median river‐to‐groundwater travel time and apparent 222Rn ages increased by factors ranging from 1.4 at 4 m to 11.9 at 59 m, a finding that highlights the need to simulate 222Rn transport explicitly. The joint inversion of 222Rn, groundwater heads, and temperature reduced uncertainty associated with mean travel times, suggesting that the uncertainty introduced by spatially varying 222Rn production rates can at least partly be compensated by using a combination of natural tracers.
Relationship of Diet to Gut Microbiota and Inflammatory Biomarkers in People with HIV

While changes in microbiome composition have been associated with HIV, the effect of diet and its potential impact on inflammation remains unclear. Methods: Twenty-seven people living with HIV (PWH) on antiretroviral therapy (ART) were studied. A comprehensive dietary analysis was performed and two types of dietary patterns were determined. We explored the associations of each dietary pattern with gut microbiota and plasma inflammatory biomarkers. Results: We appreciated two dietary patterns, Mediterranean-like (MEL) and one Western-like (WEL). Compared to participants with the WEL pattern, participants with MEL pattern showed higher abundance of Lachnospira (p-value = 0.02) and lower levels of the inflammatory biomarkers D-dimer (p-value = 0.050) and soluble TNF-alpha receptor 2 (sTNFR2) (p-value = 0.049). Men who have sex with men (MSM) with MEL pattern had lower abundance of Erysipelotrichaceae (p-value < 0.001) and lower levels of D-dimer (p-value = 0.026) than MSM with WEL pattern. Conclusion: MEL pattern favours Lachnospira abundance, and protects against Erysipelotrichaceae abundance and higher levels of the inflammatory biomarkers D-dimer and sTNFR2, precursors of inflammatory processes in HIV-infected patients. Our study contributes to understanding the determinants of a healthier diet and its connections with gut microbiota and inflammation.
Estimation of Charge Transfer During Long Continuing Currents in Natural Downward Flashes Using Single‐Station E‐Field Measurements

The amount of charge transferred to ground during long continuing currents in natural downward flashes can be obtained either through direct current measurements or using remote electromagnetic fields, if direct measurements are not feasible. In this study, measurements of a single‐station E‐field antenna were used to estimate charge transfer during continuing currents. With time‐synchronized high‐speed video recordings serving as ground‐truth data for continuing current occurrence, we estimate transferred charge during long continuing currents in 140 natural downward flashes from electric field changes, assuming a simple monopole charge model. We present average parameters for the duration, transferred charge, amplitude, and the average amplitude on five segments along the channel. Further, we perform a simulation to investigate the estimation performance of the monopole charge model, when the cloud charge is spatially extended. Using an extended charge distribution model, we generate single‐station remote field waveforms and infer the charge with the monopole model. Comparison of the known and inferred charge yields estimation errors depending on the leader orientation, its spatial extension, and the observation distance. A Monte Carlo approach is carried out to statistically evaluate parameter deviations. This novel estimation error analysis sheds light on the limitations of the applied simple techniques for charge transfer estimation of long continuing currents using single‐station electric field measurements.
Ownership, control, group affiliations, and wealth concentration: The case of a developing market

The aim of this paper is to assess ownership and control of Jordanian listed firms by identifying group affiliations, control-enhancing mechanisms, and the wealth of controlling owners. Hand-collected data for 237 firms listed on the Amman Stock Exchange (ASE) is used to identify ultimate owners, construct affiliated groups, and compute the separation between cash flow rights and control rights created by pyramid structures and cross-holdings. The findings indicate that more than one-third of listed firms are group-affiliated, the majority of listed firms are controlled by families then by foreigners and a small number of firms are controlled by the state. They also indicate that family and foreign investors use pyramids to enhance their control of business groups creating a wedge between cash flow and control rights with pronounced use of pyramids among foreign firms. In addition, the top family and foreign owners control at least 22% of corporate assets with half of this control being exercised by foreign investors originating from the Gulf region. The latter finding has important implications regarding the ongoing impact of the Arab Gulf on capital formation in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
Association of Mothers’ Genetic Taste Perception to Eating Habits and Its Influence on Early Childhood Caries in Preschool Children: An Analytical Study

Abstract Aims To examine (1) the association of mothers’ 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) sensitivity with snacking habits and caries experience of both the mother and their 2-5-year-old preschool children and (2) the association of feeding habits with caries prevalence in 2-5-year-old children. Materials and methods In this analytical cross-sectional study, 2-5-year-old preschool children were clinically examined by a single calibrated examiner and divided into two groups of 80 children with early childhood caries (ECC) and 80 without. Mothers of the children were clinically examined and a second blinded investigator determined their genetic taste type using PROP. Data regarding feeding practices of the child and snacking habits of the mother and child were obtained using questionnaires. The data obtained were statistically analyzed. Results Cariogenic snack consumption was more among nontaster mothers and their children (p value < 0.001). More number of children of the nontaster mothers in the ECC group were bottle-fed with sweetened beverages (n = 24) and received sweet snacks as rewards (n = 32). Caries prevalence of 73%, 20%, and 7% was seen in children of nontaster, medium taster, and supertaster mothers, respectively (p value < 0.05). Significant association was found between mother's caries activity, past bottle-feeding, receiving sweet snacks as reward and their child's caries experience. Conclusion Mothers’ PROP sensitivity was significantly associated with snacking habits and caries experience of their children. Mothers’ PROP type could be an important factor that may determine and explain the dental caries experience in their 2-5-year-old preschool children. Clinical significance Early identification of nontaster mothers may prove beneficial in guiding them and consecutively their children toward healthy dietary habits, leading to lesser incidence of caries and their better overall wellbeing. How to cite this article Nellamakkada K, Patil SS, Kakanur M, et al. Association of Mothers’ Genetic Taste Perception to Eating Habits and Its Influence on Early Childhood Caries in Preschool Children: An Analytical Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2022;15(S-2):S135-S139.
Unemployment and COVID-19-related mortality: a historical cohort study of 50,000 COVID-19 patients in Fars, Iran

OBJECTIVES Previous studies have estimated the risk of death associated with unemployment in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, but no studies have examined unemployment before COVID-19 infection as a risk factor for COVID-19-related mortality. Thus, this study aimed to investigate COVID-19 mortality among this population. METHODS Data on 50,038 people aged 25-59 years were collected from 38 agencies in Fars Province, Iran, from February 2020 to July 2021. Follow-up lasted from participants’ diagnosis with COVID-19 based on the results of a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction test to participants’ death or the end of the study period. The association between unemployment and COVID-19-related mortality was estimated using the Poisson regression method, and a sensitivity analysis was conducted to calculate the E-value. RESULTS Unemployment was associated with a 2.41-fold (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.01 to 2.90) higher age-adjusted and sex-adjusted risk of COVID-19-related mortality. The adjusted Poisson regression analysis showed 8.82 (95% CI, 6.42 to 12.11), 2.84 (95% CI, 1.90 to 4.24), and 1.58 (95% CI, 1.24 to 2.01) times higher risks of COVID-19-related mortality among unemployed people aged 25-39 years, 40-49 years, and 50-59 years, respectively, than among their employed counterparts. Unemployment increased the risk of COVID-19 mortality by 3.31 (95% CI, 2.31 to 4.74) and 2.30 (95% CI, 1.86 to 2.84) times in female and male, respectively. The E-value was 3.43, reflecting the minimum strength of confounding required to shift the association between unemployment and COVID-19-related mortality toward the null. CONCLUSIONS Unemployment prior to COVID-19 infection increased the risk of COVID-19-related mortality. COVID-19-related mortality disproportionately impacted unemployed women and younger unemployed people.