Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Outcomes of transcorneal electrical stimulation therapy in the early stages of retinitis pigmentosa

Background/aim To investigate the effect of transcorneal electrical stimulation (TES) therapy in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Materials and methods We performed TES therapy in 21 patients with RP in 12 sessions with 1-week intervals. The following parameters obtained before and after the TES therapy were compared statistically; the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA, logMAR), Ishihara color vision level, multifocal electroretinography (mf-ERG) response, automated visual field (VF) outcome, and the 25-item low vision quality-of-life (LVQOL) questionnaire points. Results The mean age of patients (6 females; 15 males) was 31.67 ± 9.80 years (20–50 years). While increases in BCVA level, color vision level, mf-ERG response in p1 amplitude of ring 1, and LVQOL questionnaire points were statistically significant, changes in VF test and other mf-ERG responses were not. Twenty of the patients (95.24%) stated that they were satisfied with the TES therapy. No considerable side effect was observed in any patient due to the therapy. Conclusion The TES therapy may be an effective and safe treatment modality in slowing the RP progression, especially in the early stages of the disease. Longer-term follow-ups in larger patient populations are warranted.
Study on the Impact of Income Gap on Health Level of Rural Residents in China

With the rapid development of the social economy, health has increasingly become the focus of attention. Therefore, based on the balanced panel data of the China Household Tracking Survey (CFPS) from 2010 to 2018, the Probit model was used to investigate the impact of the income gap in rural areas on residents’ health level, and the relevant influencing mechanism was discussed in this paper. Results: (1) The income gap has a significant negative effect on the health level of rural residents, and the expansion of the income gap will have a more significant impact on the health level of rural residents. (2) The income gap will restrain the health level of rural residents by affecting the family income level and mobility constraints. (3) The restraining effect of the income gap on health formation mainly affects the families of young rural residents, rural male residents, residents with no rental income, and residents with low social capital. This paper analyzes and discusses, from the perspective of income gap, the impact of the income gap on the health status of rural residents in China. Based on the above conclusions, this paper puts forward some feasible suggestions to improve the health level of rural residents.
Experimental assessment of the seismic performance of hospital cabinets using shake table testing

An experimental investigation of hospital building equipment is presented. Dynamic properties and seismic performance of typical ambulatory freestanding cabinets are assessed by unidirectional and bidirectional shake table tests, also considering the presence of internal partitions and cabinet contents. Vulnerability analysis is performed according to the most recent and reliable assessment methods, evaluating the influence of different parameters of the sample cabinets. The performance criteria referred within this research are the limit states reached by the specimens (ie, rocking and overturning) and by their contents (ie, overturning and breaking). Fragility curves are evaluated for the components and the contents, considering both acceleration and velocity intensity measures, and also using dimensionless intensity measures developed in recent studies. The outcomes of the present study confirm the findings of previous laboratory tests and numerical simulations carried out by the same authors and provide a further insight for the reliable seismic performance assessment of hospital cabinets and their contents.
Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of health care waste management among Zambian health care workers

Poor management of health care waste poses a serious threat to the health of health care workers, patients and communities. In developing countries, adequate health care waste management (HCWM) is often a challenge. To address this, the Zambian Health Services Improvement Project with HCWM as a component, was implemented in five Zambian provinces (Luapula, Muchinga, Northern, North-Western and Western Provinces), under which this cross-sectional study was conducted to identify the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of health care workers on HCWM. Fifty government hospitals and health posts from five provinces in Zambia were included in the study. Data was collected using a mixed-methods approach, which included surveys with health care workers (n = 394), in-depth interviews (n = 47) with health officials at the provincial, district, and facility levels, and observational checklists (n = 86). Overall, knowledge of proper waste segregation was average (mean knowledge score 4.7/ 7). HCWM knowledge varied significantly by job position (p = 0.02) and not by facility level, years of service, nor prior training. Only 37.3% of respondents recalled having received any sort of HCWM training. Poor waste segregation practice was found as only 56.9% of the facilities used an infectious waste bag (yellow, red or orange bin liner) and a black bag for general waste. This study revealed that only 43% of facilities had a functional incinerator on site for infectious waste treatment. Needle sticks were alarmingly high with 31.3% of all respondents reporting a prior needle stick. The system of HCWM remains below national and international standards in health facilities in Zambia. It is imperative that all health care workers undergo comprehensive HCWM training and sufficient health care waste commodities are supplied to all health facility levels in Zambia.
Structural equation modeling of office environment quality, sick building syndrome, and musculoskeletal complaints on aggregate satisfaction of office workers

This study aims to analyze the effects of office environment quality (OEQ), sick building syndrome (SBS), and musculoskeletal complaints on aggregate office satisfaction level using the structural equation. A questionnaire survey targeting 483 office workers of 18 public agencies was conducted and surveyed on workers’ characteristics (gender, age, work experience, work hours, and computer time of day), OEQ satisfaction level (temperature and humidity, lighting, noise, and air quality), SBS frequency (eye, noise, throat, skin, and headache), musculoskeletal complaints intensity (neck, shoulder, arm, wrist, waist, and leg), and aggregate office satisfaction level. As a result of the model using the structural equation, the level of OEQ on temperature and humidity, noise, and air quality directly affect the level of SBS frequency. Also, the OEQ level indirectly affects both musculoskeletal complaints’ intensity and aggregate office satisfaction level via the level of SBS frequency. Thus, providing pleasant office environments can be an effective measure to enhance office workers’ satisfaction, because workers’ levels for musculoskeletal complaints and aggregate office satisfaction depend on OEQ and SBS levels.
In Vitro and Ectopic In Vivo Studies toward the Utilization of Rapidly Isolated Human Nasal Chondrocytes for Single-Stage Arthroscopic Cartilage Regeneration Therapy

Nasal chondrocytes (NCs) have a higher and more reproducible chondrogenic capacity than articular chondrocytes, and the engineered cartilage tissue they generate in vitro has been demonstrated to be safe in clinical applications. Here, we aimed at determining the feasibility for a single-stage application of NCs for cartilage regeneration under minimally invasive settings. In particular, we assessed whether NCs isolated using a short collagenase digestion protocol retain their potential to proliferate and chondro-differentiate within an injectable, swiftly cross-linked and matrix-metalloproteinase (MMP)-degradable polyethylene glycol (PEG) gel enriched with human platelet lysate (hPL). NC-hPL-PEG gels were additionally tested for their capacity to generate cartilage tissue in vivo and to integrate into cartilage/bone compartments of human osteochondral plugs upon ectopic subcutaneous implantation into nude mice. NCs isolated with a rapid protocol and embedded in PEG gels with hPL at low cell density were capable of efficiently proliferating and of generating tissue rich in glycosaminoglycans and collagen II. NC-hPL-PEG gels developed into hyaline-like cartilage tissues upon ectopic in vivo implantation and integrated with surrounding native cartilage and bone tissues. The delivery of NCs in PEG gels containing hPL is a feasible strategy for cartilage repair and now requires further validation in orthotopic in vivo models.
Geochemical Negative Emissions Technologies: Part I. Review

Over the previous two decades, a diverse array of geochemical negative emissions technologies (NETs) have been proposed, which use alkaline minerals for removing and permanently storing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). Geochemical NETs include CO2 mineralization (methods which react alkaline minerals with CO2, producing solid carbonate minerals), enhanced weathering (dispersing alkaline minerals in the environment for CO2 drawdown) and ocean alkalinity enhancement (manipulation of ocean chemistry to remove CO2 from air as dissolved inorganic carbon). CO2 mineralization approaches include in situ (CO2 reacts with alkaline minerals in the Earth's subsurface), surficial (high surface area alkaline minerals found at the Earth's surface are reacted with air or CO2-bearing fluids), and ex situ (high surface area alkaline minerals are transported to sites of concentrated CO2 production). Geochemical NETS may also include an approach to direct air capture (DAC) that harnesses surficial mineralization reactions to remove CO2 from air, and produce concentrated CO2. Overall, these technologies are at an early stage of development with just a few subjected to field trials. In Part I of this work we have reviewed the current state of geochemical NETs, highlighting key features (mineral resources; processes; kinetics; storage durability; synergies with other NETs such as DAC, risks; limitations; co-benefits, environmental impacts and life-cycle assessment). The role of organisms and biological mechanisms in enhancing geochemical NETs is also explored. In Part II, a roadmap is presented to help catalyze the research, development, and deployment of geochemical NETs at the gigaton scale over the coming decades.
Exploration of Mobile Device Behavior for Mitigating Advanced Persistent Threats (APT): A Systematic Literature Review and Conceptual Framework

During the last several years, the Internet of Things (IoT), fog computing, computer security, and cyber-attacks have all grown rapidly on a large scale. Examples of IoT include mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones. Attacks can take place that impact the confidentiality, integrity, and availability (CIA) of the information. One attack that occurs is Advanced Persistent Threat (APT). Attackers can manipulate a device’s behavior, applications, and services. Such manipulations lead to signification of a deviation from a known behavioral baseline for smartphones. In this study, the authors present a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) to provide a survey of the existing literature on APT defense mechanisms, find research gaps, and recommend future directions. The scope of this SLR covers a detailed analysis of most cybersecurity defense mechanisms and cutting-edge solutions. In this research, 112 papers published from 2011 until 2022 were analyzed. This review has explored different approaches used in cybersecurity and their effectiveness in defending against APT attacks. In a conclusion, we recommended a Situational Awareness (SA) model known as Observe–Orient–Decide–Act (OODA) to provide a comprehensive solution to monitor the device’s behavior for APT mitigation.
Novice Teachers’ Professional Identity Reconstruction

A transition from pre-service training programs to teaching is a dramatic and somehow painful experience for novice teachers. The question is what difficulties novice teachers face and how they negotiate their professional identity to cope with difficulties and find joys in their career. This study is aimed to investigate novice teachers’ professional identity reconstruction, from their imaged-identities to their practiced identities. The use of semi-structured interviews collected data from four Vietnamese English as a foreign language (EFL) novice teachers. According to the data, cue-based was the most common type of novice teachers’ imagined identity. Regarding the practiced identities, the interviewees reported different professional identity reconstructions in the first five years of teaching practice. The participants’ excerpts enlisted some challenges that the novices faced such as students’ learning attitudes, working environments, or unorganized colleagues. Based on the research findings, some solutions were proposed in order to help novice teachers get through their difficult times at the very beginning of their career.
Comparative Composition Structure and Selected Techno-Functional Elucidation of Flaxseed Protein Fractions

This study aimed to comparatively elucidate the composition structure and techno-functionality of flaxseed protein isolate (FPI), globulin (FG), and albumin (FA) fractions. The results showed that FA possessed smaller particle dimensions and superior protein solubility compared to that of FG (p < 0.05) due to the lower molecular weight and hydrophobicity. FA and FG manifested lamellar structure and nearly spherical morphology, respectively, whereas FPI exhibited small lamellar strip structure packed by the blurring spheres. The Far-UV CD, FTIR spectrum, and intrinsic fluorescence confirmed more flexible conformation of FA than that of FG, followed by FPI. The preferential retention of free phenolic acids was observed for FA, leading to excellent antioxidant activities compared with that of FG in FPI (p < 0.05). FA contributed to the foaming properties of FPI, relying on the earlier interfacial adsorption and higher viscoelastic properties. FA displayed favorable emulsifying capacity but inferior stability due to the limited interfacial adsorption and deformation, as well as loose/porous interface. By comparison, an interlayer anchoring but no direct interface coating was observed for lipid droplets constructed by FG, thereby leading to preferable emulsion stability. However, FPI produced lipid droplets with dense interface owing to the effective migration of FA and FG from bulk phase, concomitant with the easy flocculation and coalescence. Thus, the techno-functionality of flaxseed protein could be tailed by modulating the retention of albumin fraction and specific phenolic acids.
The observed connection between the Quasi‐Biennial Oscillation and the persistence of the North Atlantic Oscillation in boreal winter

This study reveals that the persistence of North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) during boreal winter is closely linked to the phase of the Quasi‐Biennial Oscillation (QBO) at 30 hPa for the period 1958–2020. Our results show that the early winter (i.e., November–December) NAO signal tends to persist into the subsequent January in the easterly phase of the QBO (EQBO). However, in the westerly phase of the QBO (WQBO) there is hardly connection between the early winter and the subsequent January NAO signals. Further analysis suggests that there is stronger stratosphere–troposphere connection and stronger amplitude of the NAO during the early winters of the EQBO compared to those of the WQBO. A stronger NAO in the EQBO tends to induce enhanced positive feedback of air–sea interaction, which may contribute to a prolonged signal of the NAO. Specifically, significant surface heat flux anomalies over the high‐latitude and subtropical regions of North Atlantic induced by a stronger early winter NAO may trigger a tripolar pattern of anomalous sea surface temperature in the North Atlantic in the subsequent January. And this anomalous SST pattern may have a feedback on the atmosphere to strength the anomalous NAO by changing the atmospheric baroclinicity and synoptic eddy activities. In contrast, the NAO in the early winters of the WQBO tends to have a weaker amplitude and be confined to the troposphere. This weaker NAO is shown to induce a weaker air–sea interaction in the North Atlantic, and tends not to favour a prolonged NAO.
Students’ attitude towards online education system: A comparative study between Public and Private Universities in Bangladesh

Abstract: Purpose: This study aimed to inquire about the students’ attitude towards the online education system as well as a comparison has been made between public and private university students’ attitudes. Research methodology: The descriptive research methodology was used for this study. Data was collected from 240 students where 120 were public university students and 120 were private university students. A structured and close-ended questionnaire with a seven-point scale had been used to collect data. The sampling method was non-probability. Descriptive statistics analysis, reliability analysis, and multiple regression analysis were measured by SPSS 25.0 version. Results: The result shows that the public university students’ attitude has a positive relation to interaction, internet self-efficacy, and students’ self-determination, but has no relationship with course design and technical support. The private university students’ attitude is influenced by all factors except technical support. Limitations: This study focused only on Bangladeshi students. Contribution: This paper will assist the authority to understand the students’ attitude towards the online education system and take initiatives to make it more acceptable to the students. Keywords: 1. Attitude 2. Education system 3. Internet 4. Online class 5. Students
The Mediating Role of Job Satisfaction in the Relationship between Emotional Intelligence and Life Satisfaction among Teachers during the COVID-19 Pandemic

This study examines the indirect effect of job satisfaction on the relationship between emotional intelligence and life satisfaction among teachers during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland. A sample of 322 teachers aged 23–71 (M = 45.37, SD = 8.99) participated in a cross-sectional online survey. The online survey (Google form) contained some demographic information and standardized psychological questionnaires: the Multivariate Emotional Intelligence Scale (MEIS) for measuring emotional intelligence, the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ)—a short form for job satisfaction assessment, and the Life Satisfaction Scale (SWLS). Emotional intelligence is a significant positive predictor of job satisfaction and life satisfaction, and job satisfaction is a strong positive predictor of life satisfaction. Job satisfaction partly mediates the relationship between emotional intelligence and life satisfaction. To maintain the well-being of teachers during a pandemic, schools should implement training to improve emotional intelligence and increase job satisfaction by supporting distance e-learning among teachers.
Dose-Response Relationship Between Oral Lutein Intake and Plasma Lutein Concentration: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Lutein was shown to provide health benefits for a few diseases. The dose-response relation of oral lutein intake in humans has rarely been reported. The objective is to investigate the dose-response relation between oral lutein intake and plasma lutein concentration in humans. Forty subjects were recruited from Qingdao University, China in 2014. The subjects were randomly divided into four groups: (1–3) consuming 10, 20, or 40 mg lutein by one, two, or four capsules of lutein A, respectively; (4) consuming 20 mg lutein by two capsules of lutein B (containing 280 mg n-3 fatty acid). After a single oral dose, plasma lutein concentrations were measured at 9-time points. The raise of plasma lutein concentration by a 40 mg dose was significantly higher than by a 10 or 20 mg dose. Plasma lutein concentrations were not significantly different between taking 20 mg lutein A and 20 mg lutein B. A dose-response relation was demonstrated between oral lutein administration and plasma lutein concentration. The dose-response relation was more pronounced among men. The current work provides a scientific basis for recommending a dietary intake level of lutein. Future work should validate the results in other ethnic and age groups.
Assessment of serum electrolytes levels among sickle cell patients in South-Eastern Nigeria

Background: Sickle cell disease is a common genetic disorder mainly characterized by vascular occlusion and haemolysis and it constitutes a major public health problem. The aim of this study is to assess the serum electrolyte levels in sickle cell patients attending the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu. Materials and methodology: A total of 66 subjects, ages 18 – 40 years, were recruited for this study with thirty sickle cell subjects (female = 16, Male = 14) as test subjects and thirty non-sickle cell subjects (female = 21, male = 9) as control subjects. A total of 5mls of venous blood was collected from each subject. The serum obtained from each sample was analyzed for serum electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride, and bicarbonate) by potentiometry using a sensacore autoanalyzer. The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22. Results: Anthropometric results obtained from this study showed a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in mean ± SD of systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and body mass index (BMI) in the test subjects compared to the control subjects respectively. The electrolyte analyses showed a significant increase (P < 0.05) in mean ± SD of potassium and chloride in the test subjects compared to the control subjects respectively. The control subjects have a non-significant increase (P > 0.05) mean ± SD of sodium compared to the sickle cell subjects while the sickle cell subject has a non-significant increase (P > 0.05) mean ± SD of bicarbonate compared to the control subjects. There was a positive correlation between sodium and bicarbonate, while in the other parameters; no significant correlation existed. Conclusion: This study concludes that sickle cell anaemia subjects are predisposed to electrolyte variations, hence, the need to check these electrolyte values in sickle cell subjects.