Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Baseline Haematological Evaluation in Individuals Prior to Initiating Antiretroviral Therapy for HIV

Introduction: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was discovered in 1983, while acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) was first detected in 1981. Since then, it continues to be a public health problem. The phenomenon of HIV/AIDS is best viewed as a pandemic affecting almost all countries of the world. The first case of HIV/AIDS in Bangladesh was documented in 1989.This study was conducted to evaluate the baseline haematologicalcharacteristic in individuals prior to initiating antiretroviral therapy for HIV. Methods: This study was a cross sectional analytical study conducted among one hundred and fifty-four HIV positive patients attending at ART center, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University. Patients were included as per inclusion and exclusion criteria. Co-morbid conditions were excluded mostly by self-reporting and clinically relevant investigations. Result:The study revealed that HIV infected patients were predominantly middle-aged and young comprising > 70% of the patients with the mean age of the patients being 35.5 ± 9.5 years (range: 20-60 years). A male preponderance was observed in the study with a male-to-female ratio being 3:1. The majority (92.2%) of patients received first-line ART. The red cell indices like Hct, MCV, MCH, and MCHC were also low at the initiation of therapy but changed to normality after treatment. Conclusion: From the findings of the study, it can be concluded that HIV infected individuals are predominantly male, middle-aged, and young. The most common haematological abnormality is anaemia which is significantly reduced in percentage after a mean treatment period of nine and a half months with ART. Bangladesh J Medicine 2024; 35(1): 26-32
Similar Patterns of Dysautonomia in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue and Post-COVID-19 Syndromes

Background: There is a considerable overlap between the clinical presentation of post-COVID-19 condition (PCC) and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Many of their common symptoms can be linked to dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system (dysautonomia). This study aimed to objectively assess autonomic function in a general group of patients with PCC and in a group of patients with ME/CFS whose disease was not related to COVID-19. We hypothesize that the similarity in the chronic symptoms of patients with PCC and ME/CFS extends to objective autonomic nervous system abnormalities. Methods: Synchronous recordings of an electrocardiogram and continuous dynamics of blood pressure in the digital artery using the Penaz method were obtained using the spiroarteriocardiorhythmography method in 34 patients diagnosed with ME/CFS, in whom the onset of the disease was not associated with COVID-19, 29 patients meeting the PCC definition and 32 healthy controls. Heart rate variability (HRV) and systolic and diastolic blood pressure variability (BPV) were assessed at rest and in tests with fixed respiratory rates. Indicators of baroreflex regulation (baroreflex effectiveness index and baroreflex sensitivity) were additionally determined at rest. Results: The total power and power of low-frequency and high-frequency of RR interval variability at rest as well as baroreflex sensitivity were significantly lower both in PCC and ME/CFS patients compared to healthy controls. Several diagnostic prediction models for ME/CFS were developed based on HRV parameters. During slow breathing, the HRV parameters returned to normal in PCC but not in ME/CFS patients. The correlation analysis revealed a close relationship of HRV, BPV parameters and baroreflex sensitivity with fatigue, but not with HADS depressive/anxiety symptoms in the ME/CFS and PCC patients. Conclusions: A similar pattern of HRV and baroreflex failure with signs of a pathological acceleration of age-dependent dysautonomia was identified in the ME/CFS and PCC patients. The clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic implications of these findings are discussed, in light of previously described relationships between inflammation, vascular pathology, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and autonomic dysfunction.
Irrigating Forage Crops with Saline Waters: 2. Modeling Root Uptake and Drainage

The recycling of agricultural drainage water for irrigation is increasingly viewed as a desirable management practice in areas with limited options for drainage disposal. Modeling is potentially a cost‐effective approach to examining design and management options for drainage reuse systems, but questions exist about the accuracy of simulated root water uptake in dynamic, highly saline conditions such as those encountered in reuse operations. This study compares HYDRUS‐1D simulations of root water uptake and drainage with lysimeter data collected during an experiment in which forage crops (alfalfa [Medicago sativa L.] and tall wheatgrass [Agropyron elongatum (Host) P. Beauv. ]) were irrigated with synthetic drainage waters. A trial‐and‐error fitting procedure was used to determine uptake reduction parameters for each crop. Good agreement between the model simulations and data was achieved, a noteworthy result given the broad range of experimental conditions considered: irrigation waters with salinities ranging from 2.5 to 28 dS m−1 and irrigation rates ranging from deficit to luxurious. The approximations required to derive uptake reduction parameters from published salt tolerance data are examined. Simulations are presented that attempt to account for the uncertainty in derived uptake reduction functions. Overall, we concluded that the general modeling approach captures many essential features of root water uptake under stressed conditions and it may be useful in designing and analyzing reuse operations.
Floodplain Geomorphology and Topography in Large Rivers

Rivers are essential components of the earth surface. The world’s largest rivers have been studied much less than to smaller rivers. They are dominated by meandering channels – whether these are individual km-wide meander bends or ‘accessory’ meandering channels in an anabranching system. Large rivers, specifically ones with laterally migrating bends, can build a variety of floodplain elements that are represented by a complex surface topography, the dynamics and characteristics of which are not yet fully understood. This research brings a greater understanding to, and quantification of, the floodplain topography and geomorphology of large rivers. The project uses remote sensing imagery of the World’s largest rivers, LiDAR datasets of meandering scroll bar topography, and global coverage elevation data. Novel analytical methods are created, involving image manipulation and GIS processing, to quantify these landforms in a way that was not possible until recent technological and computational advancements. A new hierarchical classification schema of meandering floodplain deposits is presented and applied to quantify meandering deposits for two large rivers, the Amazon and the Ob. Both floodplains show similar downstream morphological changes to their floodplains despite their different sizes and locations. The new classification schema works well to describe meandering floodplain deposits. The geomorphology of scroll bars is investigated for the Mississippi River, revealing the heterogeneity of these deposits and that local meander bend conditions are important in determining scroll bar formation and preservation on the floodplain. The periodicity of scroll bars from a range of rivers is investigated and it is shown that scroll bars are intrinsically linked with the width of the adjacent river channel and respond to local planform changes. Floodplains of large rivers have complex overbank sedimentation processes that create spillage sedimentation phenomena. Spillage sedimentation was quantified down a 1700 km reach of the Amazon River and a 1400 km reach for the River Ob, revealing spatial discontinuities in spillage phenomena. Spillage dominance depends on diverse sediment loadings, hydrological sequencing, and morphological opportunity. Understanding spillage dynamics is important in quantifying overbank sedimentation rates and the spatial distribution of fine-grained deposits. The findings of this thesis highlight that despite the incredible complexity and heterogeneity of large river floodplains, order can be inferred via classification schemas and fundamental relationships identified. The thesis uses novel methods and conceptual models to bring a greater understanding and quantification to this complex floodplain geomorphology.
WIP: A Novel Methodology for Assessing Mechanical, Electrical, and Civil Engineering Programs with an Emphasis on Institutional Type

Understanding the current curricular state of undergraduate engineering program curricula is essential to the growth and evolution of engineering as a discipline. By characterizing various institutions that exist in our nation we can better understand how those programs might be uniquely affecting the training of engineering students. Currently little work has been done to explicitly compare engineering degree program curricula in mechanical, electrical, and civil engineering, but the work that has been done is limited in scope and depth. More importantly, no work as of yet has attempted to examine whether there are significant differences in how minority serving universities might be uniquely preparing their students or if there are innate advantages at more “prestigious”, degree programs of some universities. Understanding the differences between degree programs of universities of varying minority serving levels and university types could bring some insight as to how all universities might better serve diverse student populations on their campuses. This work will examine an assortment of university types that provide mechanical, civil, and electrical engineering program options for their students. These universities span a range of institutional types such as the Morrill Act of 1862 Land Grant institutions, Historically Black College and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), and Association of American Universities (AAU) membership universities. This work in progress aims to begin an inquiry into this topic with an ultimate goal of developing a repeatable methodology to assess engineering curricula from the three largest degree granting disciplines of Mechanical, Electrical, and Civil engineering.
Prevalence of Psoriatic Arthritis among Patients with Arthritis: Insights from a Tertiary Rheumatology Clinic in Bangladesh

Background: Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) is a complex seronegative inflammatory arthritis associated with psoriasis, characterized by a wide range of clinical manifestations. This study aimed to explore the prevalence of PsA in arthritic patients along with associated demographic and clinical characteristics in a tertiary care setting in Bangladesh. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Rheumatology Clinic of Dhaka Medical College Hospital over a period of 6 months from March 2018 to August 2018. A total of 600 arthritis patients underwent screening for PsA, with subsequent evaluations of confirmed cases based on the CASPAR criteria. Demographic and clinical characteristics were documented through face-to-face interviews and physical examination. For data collection, a pre-structured questionnaire was used. Disease activity was assessed using the DAPSA score. The study was conducted according to the ‘Declaration of Helsinki’. The statistical analysis was done with SPSS v-21. Results: The prevalence of PsA in arthritis patients was 5%. Age distribution of PsA showed a majority in between 30-39 years age group with a mean of 36.33±11.86 (SD). Slight female predominance was reported with a percentage of 53.3%. Almost three-fourths of study patients presented with a current diagnosis of psoriasis while the rest had a personal history or family history. A higher incidence (67.7%) of plaque psoriasis was observed followed by sebopsoriasis (20%) and for the rest of the patients, the type of psoriasis was unknown. The disease mostly involved multiple joints (90%), with ankle and metacarpal joints being the most commonly affected at 43.3% and 33.3%, respectively. Disease activity was high in the majority of the patients according to the DAPSA score, representing 53.34% of the patients, with the remainder exhibiting moderate to low disease activity. Conclusion: The study revealed a significant incidence of PsA among the arthritic population which indicates a pressing need for further extensive research on PsA across diverse populations. J MEDICINE 2024; 25: 35-40
Tourism Sector Development and Economic Growth in OIC Countries

This study aims to examine the impact of the tourism sector on economic growth in 53 OIC member countries. This study uses 4 independent variables namely population, open trade, inflation, and international tourism receipts. The data used is annual panel data from 2010 to 2021, obtained from SESRIC OIC. The analysis method applied in this study is static panel data regression. The results showed that all independent variables, such as population, open trade, inflation, and international tourism receipts, have a significant influence both simultaneously and partially on the economic growth variable (GDP). The tourism sector stimulates other industries through direct, indirect, and induced impacts, contributes to job creation, and causes positive economies of scale. In addition, investments in the tourism sector can positively impact tourism performance indicators such as travel and tourism GDP, international tourism receipts, and international tourist arrivals.
Stochastic Excitation-Incorporated Seismic Fragility Assessment Using Monte Carlo Simulations

Structures are susceptible to damage from natural disasters like tornadoes, floods, and seismic events. A resilient structure can withstand such damage and ensure cost-effectiveness. Therefore, accurately assessing the probability of structural failure is imperative for structural designers. This study employs an innovative fragility methodology to assess seismic damage in structures. In comparison to conventional fragility approaches, this method is cost-effective, universally applicable across various seismic sources, and highly precise. Specifically, this method involves the generation of artificial seismic records using the point-source stochastic seismological model and Monte Carlo simulation method. These synthetic seismic records offer distinct advantages when compared to the seismic data collected from real earthquakes at recording stations, such as the ability to adjust the epicentral distance of the synthetic waves as needed. Therefore, this approach enables a comprehensive analysis of structural responses under seismic waves characterized by different attributes. For example, the influence of different seismological parameters such as wave magnitude and epicentral distance are well studied and compared. The advanced finite element software, OpenSees, serves as the computational platform for examining how structures react to diverse seismic waves. The research findings suggest that, compared to traditional methods, utilizing OpenSees can significantly enhance computational efficiency. Furthermore, the methods employed introduce a novel technique for factoring in wave magnitudes and distances during the calculation of structural seismological responses/fragility. This innovation holds significance for the development of next-generation structural resilience designs.
Contribution to a Sustainable Society: Biosorption of Precious Metals Using the Microalga Galdieria

The red microalga Galdieria sp. is an extremophile that inhabits acidic hot sulphur springs and grows heterotrophically to a high cell density. These characteristics make Galdieria suitable for commercial applications as stable mass production is the key to success in the algae business. Galdieria has great potential as a precious metal adsorbent to provide a sustainable, efficient and environmentally benign method for urban mining and artisanal small-scale gold mining. The efficiency and selectivity in capturing precious metals, gold and palladium from metal solutions by a Galdieria-derived adsorbent was assessed relative to commercially used adsorbents, ion exchange resin and activated charcoal. As it is only the surface of Galdieria cells that affect metal adsorption, the cell content was analysed to determine the manner of utilisation of those metabolites. Galdieria was shown to be protein-rich and contain beneficial metabolites, the levels of which could shift depending on the growth conditions. Separating the cell content from the adsorbent could improve the adsorption efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions during the metal collection process. The commercial applications of Galdieria appear promising: growth is quick and dense; the precious metal adsorption capacity is highly efficient and selective in acidic conditions, especially at low metal concentrations; and the cell content is nutrient-rich.
Quality Assessment of FY-4A/AGRI Official Sea Surface Temperature Product

Sea surface temperature (SST) is an important variable in climate and weather research. We utilize two SST datasets to analyze the performance of the Fengyun-4A (FY-4A)/Advanced Geostationary Radiation Imager (AGRI) SST product retrieved from the nonlinear split-window algorithm. Validation results with the in situ SST Quality monitor (iQuam) (version 2.1) show that the overall bias and root mean square error (RMSE) are −0.38 and 1.04 K, respectively, meeting the demand for numerical weather prediction. There is a good agreement between the AGRI SST and the Advanced Himawari Imager (AHI) SST (version 2.0), with an overall bias of 0.09 and an RMSE of 0.95 K. The significant accuracy decreases in AGRI SST since August 2020 could be attributed to an updated operation calibration. This letter will benefit the scientific disciplines that require an SST as input by highlighting the accuracy and uncertainty of the AGRI SST product.
Alkaline Phosphatase Relieves Colitis in Obese Mice Subjected to Forced Exercise via Its Anti-Inflammatory and Intestinal Microbiota-Shaping Properties

Intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) is an enzyme that plays a protective role in the gut. This study investigated the effect of IAP treatment on experimental colitis in mice subjected to forced exercise on a high-fat diet. C57BL/6 mice with TNBS colitis were fed a high-fat diet and subjected to forced treadmill exercise with or without IAP treatment. Disease activity, oxidative stress, inflammatory cytokines, and gut microbiota were assessed. Forced exercise exacerbated colitis in obese mice, as evidenced by increased disease activity index (DAI), oxidative stress markers, and proinflammatory adipokines and cytokines. IAP treatment significantly reduced these effects and promoted the expression of barrier proteins in the colonic mucosa. Additionally, IAP treatment altered the gut microbiota composition, favoring beneficial Verrucomicrobiota and reducing pathogenic Clostridia and Odoribacter. IAP treatment ameliorates the worsening effect of forced exercise on murine colitis by attenuating oxidative stress, downregulating proinflammatory biomarkers, and modulating the gut microbiota. IAP warrants further investigation as a potential therapeutic strategy for ulcerative colitis.
Bidirectional Relationship between Positive Parenting Behavior and Children’s Self-Regulation: A Three-Wave Longitudinal Study

In this study, we used a cross-lagged design to explore the relationship between children’s self-regulation and positive parenting behaviors. Children aged 3 years (N = 84) were tested individually three times a year for their hot and cool self-regulation, while their parents’ positive parenting behaviors (warmth, structure, and autonomy support) were collected through questionnaires. In the structural equation panel model, bidirectional relations between children’s inhibitory control and parental positive parenting were found. Children’s inhibitory control and positive parenting predicted changes in each other for the first six months. Such a reciprocal relationship also existed between parental autonomy support and children’s inhibitory control. There was a cross-lagged effect between parental warmth and children’ inhibitory control rather than a simultaneous relation. Children’s inhibitory control positively predicted parental structural behaviors rather than vice versa. Children’s delayed waiting and positive parenting (autonomy support) were only positively correlated, rather than having a lagging effect. All the relationships faded over time.
In vitro propagation of Leucadendron laureolum x L. salignum cv. Safari Sunset: ultrastructural and anatomical studies of regenerated plantlets

Leucadendron laureolum L. salignum cv. Safari Sunset is a hybrid of the Proteaceae family and is economically important as an ornamental crop. The economic interest of this species to Madeira Island and the difficulties of cloning it by conventional methods led us to test in vitro techniques to achieve propagation. Axillary shoot proliferation was carried out on a modified MS medium containing ascorbic acid (15 mg l-1) and 2% sucrose. Several combinations of growth regulators were used. Best results were obtained when 2.0 mg l-1 BA and 2.0 mg l-1 GA3 were tested. Under these conditions, an average of seven shoots were produced per explant and shoot length reached 19 mm. Rooting was more efficient when the basal ends of the in vitro propagated shoots were dipped in an IBA solution (1.0 g l-1) for five minutes, followed by their transfer into a jellified MS basal medium with the nutrients reduced at half strength or to “Sorbarod” plugs saturated with the same liquid medium. Under these conditions about 83% of the shoots showed root formation. Anatomical and ultrastructural studies showed some modifications occurring in leaves of micropropagated plants. These modifications included a thin cuticle formation and abnormalities of the vascular bundles that could be responsible for the extremely low levels of success observed during plant acclimatization.