Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Long-Term, Single-Centre Observation of Patients with Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices

Background and Objectives: Electrotherapy is a valuable treatment method for patients with heart rhythm disturbances. There are very few observations of long-term patients treated with these techniques. There is a particular lack of this type of study conducted in Eastern European countries. The aim of this single-centre analysis was to evaluate the long-term survival (from 2010 to 2018) of patients treated with electrotherapy devices, taking into account clinical factors facilitating the prognosis of these patients. Materials and Methods: The patients (N = 2071) subsequently included in the study were subjected to the implementation or replacement of cardiac pacemakers. The medical records of all the patients were analysed. Data concerning death, made available by the State Systems Department of the Ministry of Administration and Digitization, were used. Results: The patients with VVI pacemakers had the worst prognosis after the replacement of the devices. Male patients had a worse prognosis, regardless of the kind of device implanted. Advanced atrioventricular conduction disturbances, chronic kidney disease, and hypothyroidism with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction were among the most significant coexisting diseases. Conclusions: The long-term prognosis of patients under different forms of electrotherapy remains poor. Despite the more straightforward technique, a single-chamber device (VVI/AAI) or generator replacement leads to the worst prognosis. The complexity of the clinical picture that stems from coexisting diseases and advanced age is of the utmost importance.
Prevalence of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Among University Students After the COVID-19 First Wave in Pakistan

COVID-19, the worst public health emergency in a decade, has had a profound impact on people's mental health. Universities in Pakistan have reopened, although it is uncertain how to prevent secondary damage to students as a result of the reopening. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress among students following the reopening of universities after the COVID-19 first wave. Furthermore, gender differences in depression, anxiety, and stress were also investigated, as well as the predictive value of CGPA in depression, anxiety, and stress. The sample was (N=360) university students. Data was collected from the two cites of Pakistan. The DASS-21 was used to assess levels of depression, anxiety, and stress among students (Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995). SPSS version 21 was used to analyze the data. Results indicated that the level of psychological distress has increased among university students due to the reopening of universities. Findings revealed significant differences in depression and anxiety levels based on the three academic disciplines. In addition, male students showed significantly higher levels of depression, anxiety and stress than female students and CGPA significantly and negatively predicted depression and stress. Based on the findings of this study, it is suggested that thorough and targeted psychological interventions for students' mental health should be established, particularly in high-risk cities and during the COVID-19 pandemic late phases.
Rod-shaped Tissue Engineered Skeletal Muscle with Artificial Anchors to Utilize as a Bio-Actuator

Living muscle tissue seems to have an efficient potential as an actuator. We propose to utilize a tissue engineered skeletal muscle (TESM) as a bio-actuator by connecting to the object through artificial anchors. We designed a rod-shaped TESM with artificial anchors and fabricated it by culturing myoblasts in collagen gel for several days. The contractile ability and controllability of the TESM were confirmed by stimulating electrically. The contractions were evoked forcibly and synchronously by electrical pulses under 4.5 Hz. The electrical pulses at 8 Hz kept the contractile state. As potential anchor materials, silicone sponge and nonwoven nylon mesh were examined. The anchors made of nonwoven nylon mesh held a rod-shaped TESM for more than 3 weeks successfully, while the anchors made of silicone sponge held it for only 2-4 days and the TESM broke down at the connecting area. The mechanical endurance between the TESM and the nylon anchors was examined using our original stretching device. No damage was observed from the repeated mechanical loading at 0.5 Hz with 5 % stretch rate for 10 days. We concluded that the TESM has good potential for utilization as a bio-actuator and its abilities can be exploited by connecting it to an object through artificial anchors.
A Rule-based Conversion of an EER Schema to Neo4j Schema Constraints

Several application domains hold highly connected data, like supply chain and social network. In this context, NoSQL graph databases raise as a promising solution since relationships are first class citizens in their data model. Nevertheless, a traditional database design methodology initially defines a conceptual schema of the domain data, and the Enhanced Entity-Relationship (EER) model is a common tool. This paper presents a rule-based conversion process from an EER schema to Neo4j schema constraints, as Neo4j is the most representative NoSQL graph database management system with an expressive data model. Different from related work, our conversion process deals with all EER model concepts and generates rules for ensuring schema constraints through a set of Cypher instructions ready to run into a Neo4j database instance, as Neo4J is a schemaless system, and it is not possible to create a schema a priori. We also present an experimental evaluation that demonstrates the viability of our process in terms of performance.
Manipulation of rotor flux for time-optimal single-step velocity response of field-oriented induction machines

A single-step time-optimal velocity response control of an induction motor by manipulation of rotor flux is proposed as a control strategy that maintains fast velocity response, even if the flux level is reduced, to attain high efficiency of low acoustic noise drives. This control scheme includes minimization of startup time from standstill and recovery time against impact load. However, the final value of rotor flux is unconstrained, and the proposed control scheme could not be implemented with a field-oriented controller, which accommodates the dynamically changing rotor flux. Introduction of the variable-flux concept causes the induction motor to be nonlinear. Therefore most of the optimal control problems are discussed only numerically. Saturation of the flux has also been treated and the analytical results show that the optimal solution is uniquely defined, being independent of the mechanical load conditions. >
Multi-level memory-switching properties of a single brain microtubule

We demonstrate that a single brain-neuron-extracted microtubule is a memory-switching element, whose hysteresis loss is nearly zero. Our study shows how a memory-state forms in the nanowire and how its protein arrangement symmetry is related to the conducting-state written in the device, thus, enabling it to store and process ∼500 distinct bits, with 2 pA resolution between 1 nA and 1 pA. Its random access memory is an analogue of flash memory switch used in a computer chip. Using scanning tunneling microscope imaging, we demonstrate how single proteins behave inside the nanowire when this 3.5 billion years old nanowire processes memory-bits.
Ready? Set? Go?: Examining Organizational Readiness for Change in a Quality Improvement Intervention for Youth Mentoring Programs

Objective: Interest in promoting more widespread use of evidence-based practice standards in mentoring programs is rising. To describe and better understand efforts to implement recommended standards, we studied a multilevel initiative by a national advocacy organization in which state-level affiliates guided local mentoring programs through a structured quality improvement process. Specifically, we examined organizational readiness for change among mentoring program staff and staff from the state-level affiliates charged with supporting the programs as they implemented their change process. Method: We conducted in-depth qualitative interviews with 44 staff from eight affiliates and 20 programs. Verbatim interview transcripts were coded thematically, with themes organized around perceptions of organizational change commitment and change efficacy. Results: Programs and affiliates were generally highly motivated and committed to the change process. However, when resources needed to make program changes were not available, staff were more measured in their perceptions of change efficacy and noted challenges that weakened the implementation process. Conclusions: Participant experiences illuminate challenges faced by mentoring programs seeking to implement evidence-based practice standards and the state-level affiliates tasked with supporting programs. Support for implementation processes matters greatly for achieving desired outcomes. High commitment to the Quality Mentoring System process was not always accompanied by the strong change efficacy needed.
Inaccessible Possibilities: experiences of using ICT to engage with services among young persons with disabilities

Abstract Purpose The use of Information and communications technologies (ICT) in the public sector is widespread and on the increase. There is a need to develop knowledge regarding the end users experiences of using ICT to engage with services. This study aims to provide knowledge regarding young persons with disabilities or chronic disease experience using ICT to engage with health- and social care services. Materials and methods Nine young persons between 16 and 25, living with chronic disease or physical disability, participated in this study. The data was collected using semi-structured interviews. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using Constructivist Grounded Theory. Results Three categories were identified that reflected the young persons’ experiences with using ICT to engage with health and social care services. (1) Navigating in an information overflow, (2) Experiencing disparate dialogues, (3) Utilising the potential of ICT. The young persons experienced that ICT used for engaging with health and social care services did not necessarily fit their need, yet, they saw how ICT had potential to increase engagement with services, especially with an increased focus on dialogue. The findings can be subsumed by the core category Inaccessible Possibilities, illustrating both the potentials and the challenges ICT presented. Conclusion The study shows that although young persons are perceived as digitally native, they experienced challenges using ICT to engage with health- and social services. The poor fit of ICT combined with navigation- and accessibility issues, hinder engagement. However, ICT inhabit a potential to increase engagement, especially communication. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION Young persons’ experiences show that ICT can be useful for enhancing engagement with health and social care services ICT provided by health and social services does not necessarily meet young persons need for dialogue An increased focus on accessibility and design is necessary to ensure people with disabilities access to ICT used by health- and social care services
Pancreatic Cancer and Gut Microbiome-Related Aspects: A Comprehensive Review and Dietary Recommendations

Gut microbiota plays a significant role in the human body providing many beneficial effects on the host. However, its dysbiotic alterations may affect the tumorigenic pathway and then trigger the development of pancreatic cancer. This dysbiosis can also modulate the aggressiveness of the tumor, influencing the microenvironment. Because pancreatic cancer is still one of the most lethal cancers worldwide with surgery as the only method that influences prognosis and has curative potential, there is a need to search for other strategies which will enhance the efficiency of standard therapy and improve patients’ quality of life. The administration of prebiotics, probiotics, next-generation probiotics (Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Akkermansia muciniphila), synbiotics, postbiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation through multiple mechanisms affects the composition of the gut microbiota and may restore its balance. Despite limited data, some studies indicate that the aforementioned methods may allow to achieve better effect of pancreatic cancer treatment and improve therapeutic strategies for pancreatic cancer patients.
Enhanced p53 Levels Are Involved in the Reduced Mineralization Capacity of Osteoblasts Derived from Shwachman–Diamond Syndrome Subjects

Shwachman–Diamond syndrome (SDS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by bone marrow failure, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, and skeletal abnormalities, caused by loss-of-function mutations in the SBDS gene, a factor involved in ribosome biogenesis. By analyzing osteoblasts from SDS patients (SDS-OBs), we show that SDS-OBs displayed reduced SBDS gene expression and reduced/undetectable SBDS protein compared to osteoblasts from healthy subjects (H-OBs). SDS-OBs cultured in an osteogenic medium displayed a lower mineralization capacity compared to H-OBs. Whole transcriptome analysis showed significant differences in the gene expression of SDS-OBs vs. H-OBs, particularly in the ossification pathway. SDS-OBs expressed lower levels of the main genes responsible for osteoblastogenesis. Of all downregulated genes, Western blot analyses confirmed lower levels of alkaline phosphatase and collagen type I in SDS-OBs than in H-OBs. Interestingly, SDS-OBs showed higher protein levels of p53, an inhibitor of osteogenesis, compared to H-OBs. Silencing of Tp53 was associated with higher collagen type I and alkaline phosphatase protein levels and an increase in SDS-OB mineralization capacity. In conclusion, our results show that the reduced capacity of SDS-OBs to mineralize is mediated, at least in part, by the high levels of p53 and highlight an important role of SBDS in osteoblast functions.
Update Review to Reduce Blood Culture Contamination

Detection of bacteremia or fungi by blood culture is very important and vital in the management of patients with infection and can lead to the selection of appropriate antibiotics. Blood cultures (BCs) are important routine tests that are conducted in the clinical microbiology laboratory. Unfortunately, the common rate of BCs contamination is high which led to many clinical and economic consequences. The phlebotomy teams of blood sampling are very important to effectively reduce BCs contamination rate. Therefore, we conducted the current study to update our knowledge about the phlebotomy performances.
Control of Specific/Nonspecific Protein Adsorption: Functionalization of Polyelectrolyte Multilayer Films as a Potential Coating for Biosensors

Control of nonspecific/specific protein adsorption is the main goal in the design of novel biomaterials, implants, drug delivery systems, and sensors. The specific functionalization of biomaterials can be achieved by proper surface modification. One of the important strategies is covering the materials with functional coatings. Therefore, our work aimed to functionalize multilayer coating to control nonspecific/specific protein adsorption. The polyelectrolyte coating was formed using a layer-by-layer technique (LbL) with biocompatible polyelectrolytes poly-L-lysine hydrobromide (PLL) and poly-L-glutamic acid (PGA). Nonspecific protein adsorption was minimized/eliminated by pegylation of multilayer films, which was achieved by adsorption of pegylated polycations (PLL-g-PEG). The influence of poly (ethylene glycol) chain length on eliminating nonspecific protein adsorption was confirmed. Moreover, to achieve specific protein adsorption, the multilayer film was also functionalized by immobilization of antibodies via a streptavidin bridge. The functional coatings were tested, and the adsorption of the following proteins confirmed the ability to control nonspecific/specific adsorption: human serum albumin (HSA), fibrinogen (FIB), fetal bovine serum (FBS), carcinoembryonic antigen human (CEA) monitored by quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D). AFM imaging of unmodified and modified multilayer surfaces was also performed. Functional multilayer films are believed to have the potential as a novel platform for biotechnological applications, such as biosensors and nanocarriers for drug delivery systems.
Effects of different stocking densities and supplementation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae in juvenile Nile tilapia cultivated in a recirculating water system (RAS)

The objective of this study was to evaluate the productive performance, organosomatic indices and liver-intestinal histomorphometric parameters of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) juveniles, fed diets containing probiotics (yeast - Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and reared at different densities of storage. In this experiment, 450 juveniles of tilapia (2.9 ± 0.23 g) were distributed in 18 experimental units arranged in RAS and arranged in a randomized block design in a 2x3 factorial scheme. These animals were fed two diets, the first without yeast and the second containing 0.1% yeast inclusion and distributed in three stocking densities of 15, 25 and 35 fish / m3 (500, 833 and 1166 fish / m3). There was an improvement in the oxygenation of the medium with the use of yeast, as well as in the lowest stocking densities evaluated (15 and 25 fish / m³). However, lower specific growth rates and higher viscerosomatic index were observed in animals supplemented with 0.1% yeast. For the average area of hepatocytes, there was an interaction between the evaluated factors (use of probiotic x storage density), where the best values were found in the lowest storage densities (15 and 25 fish / m³), regardless of use or not of the probiotic. It is recommended to use a stocking density of 15 to 25 fish / m³ and a supplementation of 0.1% with yeast as a probiotic, in order to improve liver health and oxygenation of the water used to grow Nile tilapia juveniles cultivated in RAS.
The Relationship Between Inflation and Unemployment in Namibia Within the Framework of the Phillips Curve

This study intended to empirically validate the applicability of the Phillips Curve in Namibia since independence, using semi-annual time series data, and taking into account the periods of the annus horribilis of the global financial crises and the Coronavirus Disease pandemic. It further sought to examine the nature of the relationship between inflation and unemployment to determine whether it is short-run or long-run and establish the causal relationship between the variables using various econometric analyses. The unit root tests indicate that the variables were stationary in their level forms, implying the absence of the long-run relationship. Hence, the Ordinary Least Square (OLS) model was performed to measure the short-run relationship between the variables. Results from the OLS analysis reveal a bidirectional nexus between inflation and unemployment, validating the presence of the Phillips Curve in the Namibian economy. These results correspond to the findings that incorporated the periods of economic shocks; thus, adjudging the critics of the Philips Curve regarding the consideration of economic shockwaves to be nonsensical in the Namibian economy. Finally, Granger causality test was conducted to establish the causal relationship between the variables, and results found inflation and unemployment to be unrelated. Based on these findings, the study recommends policymakers to adopt a policy mix, skewed to reducing unemployment predominately among the youth since the issues cannot be addressed simultaneously. Lastly, the study suggests future investigations to assess panel analyses on the phenomenon concerning developing countries, particularly those in the same region. It also recommends a significant focus on the determinants of inflation and unemployment since the variables were found to be independent of each other. This will give accurate directives to policymakers in an attempt to address the matter in terms of policy formulation and assimilation when they understand where the issue is deriving from.
Fusion Based AER System Using Deep Learning Approach for Amplitude and Frequency Analysis

Automatic emotion recognition from Speech (AERS) systems based on acoustical analysis reveal that some emotional classes persist with ambiguity. This study employed an alternative method aimed at providing deep understanding into the amplitude–frequency, impacts of various emotions in order to aid in the advancement of near term, more effectively in classifying AER approaches. The study was undertaken by converting narrow 20 ms frames of speech into RGB or grey-scale spectrogram images. The features have been used to fine-tune a feature selection system that had previously been trained to recognise emotions. Two different Linear and Mel spectral scales are used to demonstrate a spectrogram. An inductive approach for in sighting the amplitude and frequency features of various emotional classes. We propose a two-channel profound combination of deep fusion network model for the efficient categorization of images. Linear and Mel- spectrogram is acquired from Speech-signal, which is prepared in the recurrence area to input Deep Neural Network. The proposed model Alex-Net with five convolutional layers and two fully connected layers acquire most vital features form spectrogram images plotted on the amplitude-frequency scale. The state-of-the-art is compared with benchmark dataset (EMO-DB). RGB and saliency images are fed to pre-trained Alex-Net tested both EMO-DB and Telugu dataset with an accuracy of 72.18% and fused image features less computations reaching to an accuracy 75.12%. The proposed model show that Transfer learning predict efficiently than Fine-tune network. When tested on Emo-DB dataset, the propȯsed system adequately learns discriminant features from speech spectrȯgrams and outperforms many stȧte-of-the-art techniques.
Interaction Mechanisms Between Major Depressive Disorder and Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Major depressive disorder (MDD), which is highly associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), has complex pathogenic mechanisms. However, a limited number of studies have evaluated the mutual pathomechanisms involved in MDD and NAFLD development. Chronic stress-mediated elevations in glucocorticoid (GC) levels play an important role in the development of MDD-related NAFLD. Elevated GC levels can induce the release of inflammatory factors and changes in gut permeability. Elevated levels of inflammatory factors activate the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, which further increases the release of GC. At the same time, changes in gut permeability promote the release of inflammatory factors, which results in a vicious circle among the three, causing disease outbreaks. Even though the specific role of the thyroid hormone (TH) in this pathogenesis has not been fully established, it is highly correlated with MDD and NAFLD. Therefore, changing lifestyles and reducing psychological stress levels are necessary measures for preventing MDD-related NAFLD. Among them, GC inhibitors and receptor antagonists may be key in the alleviation of early and mid-term disease progression. However, combination medications may be important in late-stage diseases, but they are associated with various side effects. Traditional Chinese medicines have been shown to be potential therapeutic alternatives for such complex diseases.