Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
EVALUATION OF THE ROLE OF D-DIMER IN ASSESSMENT OF SEVERITY AND OUTCOME OF ACUTE PANCREATITIS IN CHILDREN

Background: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is the most common pathological entity affecting the pancreas in children. Multi-organ failure and/or pancreatic necrosis, can result from a severe episode of AP. Early severity stratification can result in aggressive treatment and prevent the development of persistent organ damage and multiple organ dysfunction. Multiple studies have evaluated the relationship between AP severity and d-dimer but most of these studies involved only adult population. Aim of work: The aim of the present study is to find out the value of D-dimer as a marker of severity in acute pancreatitis. Patients and methods: In this prospective cohort study 24 Children and adolescents were recruited with the diagnosis of AP among those attending gastroenterology unit Children’s hospital, Ain Shams University. All patient's clinical data were recorded, and they have all withdrawn serum D-dimer in the 1st, 3rd, and 7th days of admission together with other laboratory markers, abdominal ultrasound, and CT scan. and those were correlated with the outcome of cases. NASPGHAN pancreas committee criteria were used to classify severity into mild, and moderately severe to severe disease. Results: Age of patients ranged from 4-15 years; Eight patients developed moderately severe to severe disease while16 patients had mild disease. D-dimer levels were higher among patients with severe disease, yet this was not statistically significant, while serum calcium level was significantly lower among moderately severe to severe cases. Conclusion: D-dimer, although high in acute pancreatitis cannot be relied upon as a marker of severity or prognosis in pediatrics.
Safety of Prophylactic Intracameral Moxifloxacin Injection after Uncomplicated Phacoemulsification Surgery

Purpose: Endophthalmitis is a serious inflammation that affect the eye and represents a major threat after cataract operation in the form of postoperative endophthalmitis (POE). With more than 10 million cataract operation performed yearly all over the world, effective POE prophylaxis is essential. Many postoperative prophylactic measures are available including Intracameral (IC), topical, subconjunctival and oral antibiotic preparations. Currently, although IC administration is widely accepted, there is no consensus on the best prophylactic therapy or route of administration for POE prevention. Objective: Determine the safety of prophylactic intracameral injection of moxifloxacin after uncomplicated phacoemulsification surgery. Patients and Methods: This prospective randomized study included 60 eyes of patients who had uncomplicated phacoemulsification cataract operation selected from Mansoura ophthalmic center, Mansoura University, Egypt, in the period from August 2017 to August 2018. After the surgery the cases were classified into two groups. The first group (30 eyes) received ordinary postoperative systemic and topical ocular treatment (Control group) and the second group (30 eyes) received ordinary postoperative systemic and topical ocular treatment in addition to injection with IC moxifloxacin at the end of operation. The cases were followed up at the following up at; first day,1 week, 1 month & 3 months after surgery Results: There was statistically significant difference in the BCVA, but there was no statistically significant difference in the central corneal thickness and endothelial cell count in the cases within the two groups 1 and 3 months of surgery. There was a statistically significant decrease in the central corneal thickness, endothelial cell count and number of cells in anterior chamber in the cases within the two groups along the follow up period after the surgery as compared with the preoperative value. Conclusion: The current study supported the safety of IC injection of undiluted moxifloxacin in a concentration of 0.5 mg /0.1 ml (vigamox) in terms of anterior chamber reaction, central corneal thickness, endothelial cell count and visual rehabilitation.
EVALUATION OF DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES FOR DEBONDING OF CERAMIC BRACKETS (AN IN VITRO STUDY)

Objective: To compare different techniques for debonding of ceramic brackets in terms of adhesive remnant index (ARI). Material and methods: A sample of 100 extracted human premolars were randomly and equally allocated into 5 groups of 20. Thereafter, monocrystalline ceramic brackets were bonded to teeth using light cure composite resin. Among the 5 groups; group I: served as control, group II: chemical assisted debonding using peppermint oil, group III: ultrasonic assisted debonding, group IV: diode laser assisted debonding, and group V: Er: YAG laser assisted debonding. Brackets were then debonded using a universal testing machine, followed by ARI assessment. Results: A statistically significant higher ARI scores was found solely in Er:YAG laser assisted debonding. Yet, no significant difference was found with chemical, ultrasonic, and diode laser assisted debonding. Conclusion: Er:YAG laser could be effective for debonding of ceramic brackets. Hence, this method might be recommended to alleviate enamel damage.
EFFICACY OF AZADIRACHTIN OIL AS PROTECTANT OF WHEAT AGAINST THE RICE WEEVIL,SITOPHILUS ORYZAE (L.) (CURCULIONIDAE, COLEOPTERA)

Five concentrations of azadirachtin oil (1%) were tested to evaluate its effect as protectant of wheat grains against the rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae (L.) infestation. These concentrations wer10, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 ppm, the assay set up on parent adults and the progeny which resulted from them. The results showed that, the percentage of adult mortality in parent adults increased by increasing the concentration of azadirachtin oil through 12 days after treatment compared to untreated control. The used concentrations did not affect on the life span of parent adults. The number of emerged adults (progeny) was greatly affected by the different used concentrations compared to untreated control. The developmental period of progeny from egg laying to adult emergence on treated wheat significantly longed compared to untreated control. The re was greatly reduction in adult emergence on treated wheat compared to untreated wheat. The percentage of weight loss in untreated wheat (control) was 22% compared with the treatments which were 15.33, 9.33 , 8.5, 6.0 and 4.66% at 10, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 ppm of azadirachtin, respectively. The azadirachtin oil gave a good protection to wheat against the rice weevil.
Prevalence and Factors Associated with Myopia Among High School Students in Hawassa City, South Ethiopia, 2019

Purpose Myopia is one of the avoidable causes of visual impairment. Twenty-seven percent of the world population were myopic in 2010 and after 30 years it is expected half of the peoples in the planet will become myopic. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with myopia among high school students. Materials and Methods A cross-sectional school-based study design using stratified simple random sampling technique was used to select 349 high school students from 21 high schools in Hawassa city. The study was conducted from April 24 to May 7, 2019. Structured questionnaire, six meter Snellen visual acuity chart, trial frame, trial set, retinoscope and cyclopentolate 1% eye drops were used to collect data. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 20 computer software. Variables having p-value <0.05 in multivariate logistic regression were considered as statistically significant. Results A total of 349 participants having a response rate of 97% were involved with the mean age of 16.90±1.32 years. Prevalence of myopia was 16.05% (95%CI: 12.6, 20.1). Early age of schooling (adjusted odds ratio, AOR=3.14; 95%CI: 1.16, 10.06), parents being myopic (AOR=8.46; 95%CI: 7.11, 12.08), prolonged near work (AOR=11.65; 95%CI: 2.11, 64.5), short working distance (AOR=10.90; 95%CI: 0.57, 20.55), lack of outdoor sport activities (AOR=7.37; 95%CI: 2.71, 20.03) and visual display unit (VDU) usage (AOR=8.36; 95%CI: 2.39, 29.33) were variables significantly associated with myopia. Conclusion and Recommendations The prevalence of myopia was high in the study area. Early age of schooling, parents being myopic, prolonged near work, short working distance, lack of outdoor sport activities, and visual display unit usage were variables significantly associated with myopia. There should be strategies to prevent visual impairments secondary to myopia with affordable optical corrections and appropriate use of visual display units.
Improvement of soil properties, nutrient availability and wheat traits induced by the addition of organic materials: A field study

Recently, intensive farming systems entailing abundant use of chemical fertilizers have deteriorated agricultural soils and contributed to environment pollution which necessitates testing organic amendments. The objectives of the present multi-year study were to investigate the impact of different soil organic amendments i.e. humic acid (HA) and molasses (Ms) applied at 0.25 and 0.50% (v/w) on soil properties and to find out optimum application level for maximizing growth and yield of wheat. The results showed that soil bulk density (BD) and total porosity were significantly improved with the application of Ms applied at 0.50% as compared to HA application. In both growing seasons, the relative change in field capacity (FC) and wilting point (WP) due to the application of Ms in the surface layer at 0.50% were increased by 14% and 33.13, respectively over the control. The corresponding values of HA were 25.40 and 27.84%, respectively than the control. The increase in nitrogen availability was more pronounced with the application of Ms than HA application, while the opposite was true for available phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). The maximum plant height was observed with a lower rate of HA, which was 16.59% more than the control. The application of Ms at higher rate was superior in increasing the grain and straw yield which were 35.39 and 113.01%, respectively more than the control treatment. The grain N, P, and K contents were increased by 19.13, 69.57, and 56.98% with the application of a higher rate of HA. Thus, it is concluded that the application of organic amendments hold potential to improve physicochemical and hydrological properties of soil which ultimately trigger growth, yield, and nutrient accumulation in wheat.
Listening to The Student Voice in Online Masters Community and Resource Development

Expectations of online masters students commencing their studies has been under-researched, as have the challenges of transition from undergraduates learning on-campus to postgraduate online students. The study described here investigates student expectations of this transition, development of resources for academic skills teaching, and student evaluation of interventions supporting them to join the academic community as masters. The methods were a series of action research cycles with a total of 38 students participating from 5 annual cohorts of Master of Research students, with the taught component entirely online. A student cohort (12 students) surveyed for initial course evaluation led to resources being developed for the course induction. Group interviews with the following cohorts evaluated new resource development after each course iteration, leading to further online seminars and skills resources development. In addition, further synchronous and non-synchronous activities with teacher presence were employed to improve student enculturation in the academic community. Recorded online interviews in virtual classrooms preceded transcription and thematic analysis, showing that student expectations of masters study and the skills required to join the academic community in all cohorts needed management. Students expected a continuation of undergraduate studies, ‘but harder’. Development of an optional online academic skills course, allied to student activities embedded in specialist content with increased teacher and social presence, was praised by the last student cohort interviewed. The online skills course is available to other online courses within this Graduate School. This model may be transferable to other institutions, particularly in light of increased online Covid-19 teaching.
Assessment of Aerosolized Colistin and Gentamicin in Mechanically Ventilated Patients

Background: Ineffective parental antibiotic use in management of Ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) open the window for using inhaled antibiotic formula to achieve higher local concentration of antibiotics and subsequently good recovery response. Objectives: This work was aimed to evaluate the aerosolized antibiotics (Colistin and Gentamicin) efficacy in improving the mechanically ventilated patient as adjunctive to intravenous systemic antibiotics. Patients and Methods: This randomized control (RCT) trial study included a total of thirty mechanically ventilated patients, attending at Respiratory Intensive Care Unit (RICU), Chest Diseases Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University Hospitals. They were classified equally into three groups; Group I: involved 10 patients who received aerosolized Colistin along with systematic antibiotics (SA), group II: involved 10 patients who received aerosolized Gentamicin along with SA and group III (Control): involved 10 patients who received only SA. Results: The incidence of VAP was 10%; in group I no cases had VAP, while in group II and controls, just (20 %) and (10 %) of cases had VAP respectively, with insignificant association of VAP with particular group, (P= 0.3). Clinically; only group I showed significant lower degree of temperature in comparison with controls, (P= 0.01). The mean days of MV and ICU in each group were (6.8±2.15; 8.9±3.11, 5.9±2.23; 7.2±2.7, 5.1±1.1; 6.1±1.85) respectively, with insignificant difference between the treatment groups. Finally, the survival rate in group I was 90 %, and was slightly lower in group II and control group; 60 % and 50 % respectively, with insignificant association of survival status in particular group. Conclusion: It could be concluded that the empirical treatment by aerosolized Colistin was more effective as an adjunctive therapy to SA for VAP protection than aerosolized Gentamicin, it had rapid resolution of respiratory infection signs, and subsequently the MV days, ICU stays and cost but had no effect on mortality.
Sex-related mortality differences in young adult septic shock patients

Septic shock survival rate and host immune response are intimately interlaced. In the last years, biological and pre-clinical studies demonstrated sex-specific differences in the immune response to infection. In the hypothesis that survival rate is related to the hormonal framework, the aim of the present study was to observe sex-specific differences in 28-day mortality rate between women of childbearing potential and same-age men. This multicenter study was conducted in six Italian intensive care units (ICUs). We enrolled consecutive patients ≤ 55 years old admitted to the Intensive Care Unit from January 2011 to January 2020, who were diagnosed with septic shock at the time of ICU admission or during the ICU stay. We gathered baseline characteristics and outcomes. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality; secondary outcomes included ICU mortality, in-hospital mortality and length of stay in the ICU and in the hospital. Moreover, data from >55 years old patients were collected and analyzed. We enrolled 361 young patients with septic shock: 215 were males (60%) and 146 females (40%). While baseline and ICU characteristics were similar between the two groups, males had a higher 28-day mortality rate (39.5% vs. 29%, p = 0.035), ICU mortality rate (49%vs. 38%, p = 0.040) and hospital mortality rate (61% vs. 50%, p = 0.040) as compared to females. Findings were confirmed in patients with septic shock at ICU admission. Young adult females developed septic shock less frequently than young males, displaying a reduced mortality rate as compared to that of their same-age male counterpart. These findings may stimulate future research and therapies.
Liquid Biopsy for Monitoring EC Patients: Towards Personalized Treatment

Simple Summary Although the field of liquid biopsy is clearly having an effect on other tumour types, in endometrial cancer (EC) there is important work to do to implement the analysis of circulating biomarkers into the clinical routine. One of the most evident contexts of application is the disease follow-up in both localized and advanced diseases, which at present is primarily made by imaging techniques. In the present review, we conducted an overview of the circulating biomarkers with the potential to be used as monitoring biomarkers in endometrial tumours and highlighted the key challenges for their translation into the patients’ management in order to help researchers to better focus their work in this field. Abstract Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most frequent gynecological cancer in developed countries and its incidence shows an increasing trend. Fortunately, the prognosis of the disease is good when the tumour is diagnosed in an early phase, but some patients recur after surgery and develop distant metastasis. The therapy options for EC for advanced disease are more limited than for other tumours. Therefore, the application of non-invasive strategies to anticipate the recurrence of localized tumours and guide the treatment in advanced stages represents a clear requirement to improve the survival and quality of life of patients with EC. To achieve this desired precision oncology, it is necessary to invest in the identification and validation of circulating markers that allow a more effective stratification and monitoring of patients. We here review the main advances made for the evaluation of circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA), circulating tumour cells (CTCs), circulating extracellular vesicles (cEVs), and other non-invasive biomarkers as a monitoring tool in the context of localized and advanced endometrial tumours, with the aim of providing a global perspective of the achievements and the key areas in which the use of these markers can be developed into a real clinical tool.
Assessing Emergency Information Sharing between the Government and the Public during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Open Government Perspective

Abstract This study aims to conduct an assessment of emergency information sharing between the government and the public during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, this study intends to explore how the government provides emergency information on the pandemic to the public, how the public provides input to the government, and how the government and the public work together to respond to the pandemic. This study employed a mixed case study method focusing on the Oregon Citizen Assembly on COVID-19 Recovery and the Oregon State Government’s pandemic response activities. This study found that ordinary citizens were overall satisfied with pandemic information provided by the state government, but they reported that they did not have sufficient opportunities to share their input with the government. Online mini-publics can serve as a meaningful and deliberative forum for civic participation during pandemics.
Optimizing Hand Gesture Pattern Recognition With Differential Evolution Algorithm

Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) have been applied to recognize patterns from surface electromyography (sEMG) signals for specific hand gestures. ANN approach is a promising strategy to control upper limb prostheses once the classification accuracy has been reaching remarkable and confident values. However, ANN have a high computational cost and high time response, which impairs applications in real time. Many efforts seek to optimize ANN to reduce complexity and processing cost. Algorithms like Differential Evolution (DE) are usually applied to multi-parameters optimization due to its simplicity and high efficiency. There are no reports about DE applied to ANN optimization for sEMG pattern recognition. Thus, this paper proposes a hybrid machine learning model (HML) in which the neural network architecture has low complexity, and its classification accuracy is enhanced by the Differential Evolution algorithm. As results, it is proved that the classification accuracy increases with the HML model and a pathway to DE applied to sEMG pattern recognition is
Bioprospecting autochthonous marine microalgae strain from the Arabian Gulf Seawater, Kuwait for biofuel feedstocks

Bioprospecting programmes are the key to increasing the current portfolio of indigenous microalgal strains accessible for different applications in microalgal biotechnology. In this work, nine fastgrowing microalgal strains isolated from the Arabian/Persian Gulf coastal waters of Kuwait were evaluated for their potential as biofuel feedstocks. 18S rRNA gene sequencing showed that the strains belong to five different genera, namely, Chlorella, Nannochloris, Scenedesmus, Tetraselmis, and Nannochloropsis. In terms of the total lipid content, in comparison to the other strains, Tetraselmis sp. KUBS13G and Tetraselmis sp. KUBS16G displayed higher lipid contents of 29.56% dry weight (DW) and 26.13% DW, respectively, which were dominated by palmitic and oleic acids. Fuel properties calculated from the fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) by empirical equations were compared with EN14214 (European) and ASTM D6751-−02 (American) biodiesel standards. Multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) methods, such as the Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment Evaluation (PROMETHEE) and Graphical Analysis for Interactive Assistance (GAIA), were used to select suitable microalgae for biofuel feedstock based on their biodiesel fuel properties. Overall, the results suggested that the indigenous microalgal strain Tetraselmis, in particular Tetraselmis sp. KUBS37G, and Scenedesmus sp. KUBS17R are the most suitable strains for biofuel feedstock owing to their improved fuel properties, such as density (ρ) (0.88 g cm−3), low kinematic viscosity (3.1 mm2 s−1), high cetane number (54 and 56, respectively), high oxidation stability (14.6 hr and 14.8 hr), and cold-filter plugging point (1.0°C and -6.1°C).
Laparoscopic versus open surgery for suspected appendicitis

Background: Laparoscopic appendectomy has mostly replaced open surgery. Appendectomy, or surgical removal of the appendix, is one of the most common operations performed by a specialized surgeon and is used to teach the fundamentals of laparoscopy - first by observing and then performing the procedure independently. Aim of the work: This study compared laparoscopic and open surgery for suspected appendicitis. Methods: A total of 200 individuals with probable appendicitis participated in this prospective randomized clinical study. All patients over the age of 18 who had a clinical diagnosis of appendicitis were randomly randomized to either open appendectomy (OA) or laparoscopic appendectomy (LA). First prophylactic antimicrobial treatment was administered intravenously. Supine posture and general anesthesia were provided to all patients. After the operation, we followed up for complications and survival. Results: The operating time in laparoscopic patients was significantly greater. However, blood loss was substantially lower. The need for analgesics was substantially reduced in the laparoscopic group. There was a substantial difference between included patients in both groups in terms of postoperative stay length, time to return to work/normal activities, and the incidence of postoperative complications. In terms of survival time or complication incidence, there was no significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion: Despite the longer operational time, LA has a favorable hands-on OA in terms of blood loss, length of postoperative stay, time to return to work/normal activities, and the incidence of postoperative problems. In terms of survival time and complication incidence, there was no significant difference.