Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Healthcare Professionals’ Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Sudan: A Cross-Sectional Survey Assessing Quality of Life, Mental Health, and Work-Life-Balance

Objectives: The main objective of this research was to investigate the Work-life balance (WLB), mental health, and quality of life and their associated factors among Healthcare Professionals (HCPs) in Sudan during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic during 2021. Methods: An observational cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted during August-December 2021 among a sample of 430 HCPs working in the hospitals of four Sudanese states. The study used the WHOQoLBREF scale, Work-Life Balance Scale, and General Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7). Results: HCPs reporting a poor quality of life made up 33.5% (95% CI 29.1–38.0), while those reporting worse WLB made up 52.6% (95% CI 47.8–57.2). HCPs reporting moderate to severe anxiety symptoms accounted for 35.8% (95% CI 31.4–40.5). The Multiple Regression model indicated that an increase in the anxiety scores is associated with a decrease in Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL) (β= 0.831, p < 0.05). Female HCPs exhibited 4.53-fold lower HRQoL scores than their male colleagues (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Approximately one-third of the HCPs in Sudan reported low HRQoL and suffered from moderate to severe anxiety, while a large portion of them had an unequal work-life balance during COVID-19. Health policies addressing these factors are needed to improve the quality of health of HCPs.
Single-Photon Depth Imaging Using a Photodetector With a Wire-Bonding Quenching Resistor

Single-photon light detection and ranging (LiDAR) provides high temporal resolution and photon sensitivity, which are essential for long-range 3-D imaging. Despite important progress, LiDAR has yet to gain widespread adoption due to the high cost caused by the poor yield and the complicated process of the single-photon detectors. Here, we integrate a passive quenching resistor via wire bonding during the packaging of InGaAs/InP single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs) and propose the corresponding readout circuit. The module can achieve a 3.96% afterpulse probability at 20% photon detection efficiency (PDE) which is comparable with the commercial devices and previous reports but with lower cost and a more straightforward process. In the meanwhile, we demonstrate a 3-D active imaging using the single-photon detection module in foggy condition and propose a super-resolution imaging algorithm in multidepth. We introduce the 3-D imaging system including the design of the chip, packaging, readout circuit and active imaging system. This work is valuable for improving the performance of LiDAR from multiple aspects.
Efficacy of 3rd generation TKI in patients with EGFR mutation lung adenocarcinoma with bone metastases: A review of 3 case reports and literature

Rationale: With the advancement of targeted therapies, epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors have become the preferred initial treatment for patients with advanced epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated non-small cell lung cancer. Osimertinib, a third-generation epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is effective against exon 19 and 21 mutations as well as the T790M mutation. It has been approved by both the food and drug administration and European Medicines Agency for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer patients with locally advanced or metastatic EGFR-mutated tumors, including those who have acquired T790M mutations. Patient concerns: To evaluate the effectiveness of osimertinib in treating patients with EGFR-mutated advanced lung adenocarcinoma and bone metastases, we present the treatment outcomes of 3 patients with EGFR 19 deletion-mutated advanced lung adenocarcinoma and bone metastases who received osimertinib treatment in recent years. All 3 cases involved elderly female patients, aged 62, 62, and 54, respectively. Diagnoses: All 3 cases exhibited a diagnosis of pulmonary adenocarcinoma accompanied by osseous metastases, with genetic testing revealing the presence of an EGFR 19del mutation. Interventions: In the first case, following 17 months of gefitinib therapy, disease progression prompted a switch to osimertinib treatment. In the second case, bone metastases were detected after 20 months of pemetrexed-carboplatin chemotherapy, leading to a transition to osimertinib therapy. In the third case, after 11 months of erlotinib treatment, bone metastases were identified. Subsequent interventions, including radiation therapy, pemetrexed-carboplatin chemotherapy, pemetrexed-bevacizumab maintenance therapy, and docetaxel chemotherapy, failed to arrest the progression of bone metastases. As a result, a combination of osimertinib and anlotinib targeted therapy was administered. Outcomes: All 3 patients experienced relatively good and favorable survival outcomes, with a progression-free survival of 22.7 months, 12 months, and 17.7 months, respectively. Lessons: These cases suggest that osimertinib is a promising treatment option for patients with EGFR 19 deletion-mutated lung adenocarcinoma and bone metastases, although further clinical studies are needed to confirm its efficacy.
Soil erosion and conservation in Ethiopia

This paper reviews Ethiopia’s experience and research progress in past soil and water conservation (SWC) efforts and suggests possible solutions for improvement. Although indigenous SWC techniques date back to 400 BC, institutionalized SWC activity in Ethiopia became significant only after the 1970s. At least six national SWC-related programs have been initiated since the 1970s and their focus over time has shifted from food relief to land conservation and then to livelihoods. The overall current soil erosion rates are highly variable and large by international standards, and sheet, rill, and gully erosion are the dominant processes. The influence of human activities on the landscape has traditionally been deleterious, but this trend seems to have recently reversed in some parts of the country following the engagement of the communities in land management. The efficiency of SWC measures show mixed results that are influenced by the type of measures and the agro-ecology under which they were implemented; in general, the relative performance of the interventions is better in the drylands as compared with humid areas. Methodological limitations also occur when addressing the economic aspects related to benefits of ecosystem services and other externalities. Although farmers have shown an increased understanding of the soil erosion problem, SWC efforts face a host of barriers related to limited access to capital, limited benefits, land tenure insecurity, limited technology choices and technical support, and poor community participation. In general SWC research in Ethiopia is fragmented and not comprehensive, mainly because of a lack of participatory research, field observations, and adoptable methods to evaluate impacts. A potentially feasible approach to expand and sustain SWC programs is to attract benefits from global carbon markets. Moreover, a dedicated institution responsible for overseeing the research–extension linkage of SWC interventions of the country should be established.
Maternal, Fetal and Neonatal Outcomes Related to Recreational Cannabis Use during Pregnancy: Analysis of a Real-World Clinical Data Warehouse between 2010 and 2019

Background: Cannabis is the main illicit psychoactive substance used in French childbearing women and very few data are available about adverse events (AEs) related to its use during pregnancy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between recreational cannabis use during pregnancy and adverse outcomes from a real-world clinical data warehouse. Methods: Data from the Poitiers University Hospital warehouse were analyzed between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2019. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate associations between outcomes in three prenatal user groups: cannabis alone ± tobacco (C ± T) (n = 123), tobacco alone (T) (n = 191) and controls (CTRL) (n = 355). Results: Pregnant women in the C ± T group were younger (mean age: 25.5 ± 5.7 years), had lower pre-pregnancy body mass index (22.8 ± 5.5 kg/m2), more psychiatric history (17.5%) and were more likely to benefit from universal free health-care coverage (18.2%) than those in the T and CTRL groups. Cannabis use increases the occurrence of voluntary interruption of pregnancy, at least one AE during pregnancy, at least one neonatal AE, the composite adverse pregnancy outcome over 28, prematurity and small for gestational age. Conclusion: Given the trivialization of recreational cannabis use during pregnancy, there is an urgent need to communicate on AEs of cannabis use during pregnancy.
Global Oceanic Eddy-Front Associations From Synergetic Remote Sensing Data by Deep Learning

Recently, fronts (eddies) at the margins of eddies (fronts) have been discovered by observing sea surface temperature (SST) and sea level anomaly (SLA) data. They can both induce strong vertical motions and submesoscale processes, and are important for the vertical exchange of ocean mass and energy as well as ocean ecological processes. However, it raises an important challenge about the global spatiotemporal distribution of eddy-induced fronts and frontal eddies. This letter proposes a deep learning (DL) approach, dubbed eddy-front association detection network (EFADN), that is appropriate for mining eddy-front associations (EFAs) to extract the features of eddy-induced fronts (anticyclonic and cyclonic eddy-induced fronts) and frontal eddies [frontal anticyclonic eddies (AEs) and frontal cyclonic eddies (CEs)] from SLA and SST satellite data during 2006–2015 in the global ocean. The EFADN model integrates encoder-decoder and attention structures. The introduced spatial attention (SA) module in attention structure utilizes large-scale convolutional kernels to extract spatial information, which enlarges the receptive field to enhance the recognition of topological structures between eddies and fronts, improving the ability of EFA detection. The results of comparative experiments demonstrate that EFADN surpasses the state-of-the-art (SOTA) eddy detection model. Ablation studies underscore the crucial importance of all modules within EFADN for achieving accurate detection of EFAs. Moreover, the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of eddy-induced fronts and frontal eddies are displayed. They are widely dispersed in the western boundary current (WBC) and Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) regions, and they are active in the boreal summer while weak in the austral summer.
Morbidity Patterns and Associated Factors among Elderly People: The Case of Sunkoshi Rural Municipality, Nepal

The rapidly increasing elderly population in Nepal is the most significant emerging demographic phenomenon. Multimorbidity is common among the elderly and its prevalence increases with age. This study aims to assess the chronic conditions and the demographic and socioeconomic factors that influence morbidity among the elderly. A cross-sectional study was carried out in the Sunkoshi rural municipality of Sindhuli district from December 2021 to January 2022 with 413 elderly people aged 60 and older using a structured questionnaire. Multinomial logistic regression was used for data analysis. About 27% of the elderly suffer from gastritis, followed by high blood pressure (27%), arthritis (24%), asthma (18%), and diabetes (10%). Seventy-seven percent of the elderly reported at least one morbidity and 41% have two or more morbidities. More than one-fifth of elderly people have no morbidity. In the multinominal logistic regression, moderate (RRR=3.31, 95% CI: 1.15-4.63) and poor (RRR=11.91, 95% CI: 1.00-141.83) self-reported health status was significantly associated with one morbidity. A joint family (RRR=2.01, 95% CI: 1.08-3.74), moderate (RRR=3.07, 95% CI: 1.52-6.21) or poor (RRR=32.05, 95% CI: 2.53-405.94) self-reported health status was significantly associated with two or more morbidity. Those aged 80 years or over, those who belonged to the hill Janajati, and those who consumed alcohol were less likely to have multimorbidity. Concerned authorities should consider expanding health services in order to improve the health status of the elderly.
Proso Millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) as Alternative Source of Starch and Phenolic Compounds: A Study on Twenty-Five Worldwide Accessions

Proso millet has been proposed as an effective anti-diabetic food thanks to the combined action of polyphenols and starch. This study aimed to characterize the chemical composition of twenty-five accessions, in order to enhance this cereal as an alternative to available starch for food applications or to propose new food ingredients with health benefits. Proso millet contained a high percentage of starch, reaching values of 58.51%. The amylose content showed high variability, with values ranging from 1.36 to 42.70%, and significantly higher values were recorded for the white accessions than for the colored ones. High-resistant starch content (13.41–26.07%) was also found. The HPLC-MS analysis showed the same phenolic pattern in all the samples. Cinnamic acids are the most abundant compounds and significant differences in their total content were found (0.69 to 1.35 mg/g DW), while flavonoids were only detected in trace amounts. Statistical results showed significantly higher antiradical activity in the colored accessions than in the white ones.
Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Financial Hardship During the First Year of the Pandemic

Introduction: The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been substantial, yet little is known about the financial effects resulting from lost employment or financial hardship racial–ethnic disparities. Methods: We conducted a nationally representative, online survey of 5500 English- and Spanish-speaking American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Black/African American, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, Latino, White, and multiracial adults, from December 2020 to February 2021. Six financial hardship domains were measured (lost income, debt, unmet expenses, unmet health care expenses, housing insecurity, and food insecurity). Prevalence of financial hardship among each racial-ethnic group was estimated using multivariable Poisson regression. Results: Overall, 70.3% reported experiencing financial hardship; debt (57.6%), lost income (44.5%), and unmet expenses (33.7%) were most common. American Indian/Alaska Native (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR]=1.19, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.04 to 1.35), Black/African American (aPR=1.18, 95% CI=1.06 to 1.32), Latino (English-speaking: aPR=1.15, 95% CI=1.01 to 1.31; Spanish-speaking: aPR=1.27, 95% CI=1.12 to 1.45), and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (aPR=1.21, 95% CI=1.06 to 1.38) adults were more likely to experience financial hardship, compared with White adults. American Indian/Alaska Native, Black/African American, Spanish-speaking Latino, and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander adults were also more likely to report hardship in almost all hardship domains (e.g., housing insecurity: aPRs=1.37–1.91). Conclusions: Racial/ethnic minorities were more likely to experience financial hardship during the pandemic. The prevalence of lost income was similar across most racial/ethnic groups, suggesting that preexisting wealth disparities led to some groups being less able to handle the economic shocks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Financial hardship may be underestimated for communities without English or Spanish fluency. Without intervention, financial hardship will likely exacerbate wealth disparities in the United States.
Aquatic gymnastics program to improve kinesthetic manual praxis in children with Down syndrome

Background and Study Aim. An alternative solution to improve the praxis function in children with Down syndrom is the application of modern therapeutic programs that take place in the aquatic environment. The article focuses on a study tracking the effects of a therapeutic program based on water gymnastics resources as an alternative technology to improve kinesthetic manual praxis in individuals with Down syndrome. Material and Methods. Thirty children with Down syndrome (aged between 9 and 11 years) participated in the experiment and were differentiated in equal numbers into two groups: experimental (undergoing an 11-month therapeutic water gymnastics course) and control (taught using traditional technologies). The research battery for tracking the dynamics in the kinesthetic organization of manual movements included three neuropsychological probes with six items each, performed separately by the fingers of both hands. The empirical data were processed according to generally accepted methods of mathematical statistics: a Shapiro-Wilk test for the assumption of normality, descriptive statistics for the dependent variables and an independent samples t- test to verify between-group differences. SPSS 16.0 statistical package was used for statistical analysis, with a level of significance α = 0.05. Results. In the primary phase, the two groups were homogeneous in terms of the initial results of their performance in the area of fine motor movements. In the final phase, a statistically significant difference was identified between the experimental and control groups in the performance of all three probes: Reproduction of finger postures by the visual model (t = 4.053, p<0.001); Reproduction of finger postures by the kinesthetic model (t = 2.973, p<0.01); Transfer of finger postures by the kinesthetic model (t = 2.866, p<0.05). A significant improvement was registered in the experimental group's performance in all components of manual praxis (Δ= 15.70%; Δ= 12.58%; Δ= 10.39%). Conclusions. The positive dynamics in praxis function development within the studied domain serve as clear evidence. These changes in the realization of purposeful, pre-planned manual actions can be generated through a well-structured training and therapy program utilizing the benefits of water gymnastics as an intervention method. This is a sufficiently encouraging fact for children with Down syndrome, given the specific psychomotor profile determined by the genetic pathology.
Mapping the insomnia patient journey in Europe and Canada

Introduction Insomnia affects daily functioning and overall health, and is thus associated with significant individual, societal, and economic burden. The experience of patients living with insomnia, their perception of the condition, and its impact on their quality of life is not well documented. The objective of this study was to map the patient journey in insomnia and identify unmet needs. Methods Participants were individuals with insomnia, and healthcare professionals (HCPs) who treat insomnia, in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and Canada. Qualitative interviews (50 patients, 70 HCPs) and a quantitative survey (700 patients, 723 HCPs) were conducted to inform the patient-journey mapping and obtain information on the emotions, perceptions, and experiences of patients and HCPs. Results The patient journey comprises seven phases. The first defines the onset of insomnia symptoms. Phase 2 represents self-initiated behavior change to improve sleep (e.g., sleep hygiene, reducing caffeine, exercise). The next phase is characterized by use of over-the-counter (OTC) treatments, which generally fail to provide lasting relief. Phase 4 describes the first HCP consultation (occurring several months to several years after onset) and typically occurs at a crisis point for the patient; patients may be looking for an immediate solution (e.g., medication), which may not align with their HCP’s recommendation. The following stage comprises sleep hygiene/behavioral changes (±OTC treatment) under HCP guidance for many patients, although offering prescription treatments without a sleep hygiene stage under supervision is more common in some countries. Phase 6 describes prescription medication initiation, where patients fluctuate between relief/hopefulness and a sense of failure, while HCPs try to balance the need to provide relief for the patient while maintaining best medical practice and minimizing adverse effects. The final phase (living with long-term insomnia) represents an indefinite period during which sleep issues remain unresolved for many patients, with most of them continuing to use prescription treatments for longer than indicated and creating their own variable, self-managed regimens combining multiple modalities. Conclusion This patient journey analysis for insomnia revealed seven distinct phases, highlighting different touchpoints where insomnia management could be optimized.
The Diagnostic and Prognostic Roles Played by Homocysteine and Other Aminothiols in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

We examined standard clinical and laboratory biochemical parameters, as well as the levels of aminothiols in the blood and urine (homocysteine (Hcy), cysteine (Cys), S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), and S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH)) via capillary electrophoresis in patients with CKD at stages II–V. Patient outcomes were assessed after five years. To complete forecasting, correlation and ROC analysis were performed. It was found that the levels of Cys and Hcy in blood plasma were earlier markers of CKD starting from stage II, while the levels of SAM and SAM/SAH in urine made it possible to differentiate between CKD at stages II and III. Blood plasma Hcy and urinary SAM and SAM/SAH correlated with mortality, but plasma Hcy concentrations were more significant. Thus, plasma Hcy, urine SAM, and SAM/SAH can be considered to be potential diagnostic and prognostic markers in patients with CKD.
Impacts of dietary lipids derived from animal or vegetable sources on healthy rats

ABSTRACT This study sought to assess the health impact of feeding adult healthy rats with either 7% (w/w) animal-derived fat (subcutaneous rump fat or peri-kidney fat) from domestic buffalo or vegetable oil (corn oil or olive oil) for 8 weeks on bioactivity; lipid profile; hepatic and cardiac histological changes. Twenty-four male albino rats were randomly categorized into four dietary groups (six rats/group): 1) diet contains 7% (w/w) corn oil; 2) diet contains 7% (w/w) olive oil; 3) diet contains 7% (w/w) subcutaneous rump fats and 4) diet contains 7% (w/w) Peri-kidney fats. Animal fats intake significantly increased serum total lipids (TL), triacylglycerol (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC), cardiac troponin-I (CTn-I) concentration as well as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), creatine kinase MB (CK-MB) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities compared to vegetable oils intake. In histopathological research, liver and heart sections excised from rats consumed animal-derived fats showed several signs of extensive damage, including inflammation as well as fibrosis. Compared to animal-derived fats, vegetable oils consumption markedly increased serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) concentration and exhibited a potential attenuation effect on liver and heart enzymes activities and a potential role in the reduction of TG in the bloodstream of rats as well as revealed normal liver and heart histopathological architectures. In conclusion, this study suggests that, replacing animal fats, especially peri-kidney fat with vegetable oils, particularly olive oil in diets, liver and heart can be protected.