Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Presynaptic NMDA Receptors Influence Ca2+ Dynamics by Interacting with Voltage-Dependent Calcium Channels during the Induction of Long-Term Depression

Spike-timing-dependent long-term depression (t-LTD) of glutamatergic layer (L)4-L2/3 synapses in developing neocortex requires activation of astrocytes by endocannabinoids (eCBs), which release glutamate onto presynaptic NMDA receptors (preNMDARs). The exact function of preNMDARs in this context is still elusive and strongly debated. To elucidate their function, we show that bath application of the eCB 2-arachidonylglycerol (2-AG) induces a preNMDAR-dependent form of chemically induced LTD (eCB-LTD) in L2/3 pyramidal neurons in the juvenile somatosensory cortex of rats. Presynaptic Ca2+ imaging from L4 spiny stellate axons revealed that action potential (AP) evoked Ca2+ transients show a preNMDAR-dependent broadening during eCB-LTD induction. However, blockade of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels (VDCCs) did not uncover direct preNMDAR-mediated Ca2+ transients in the axon. This suggests that astrocyte-mediated glutamate release onto preNMDARs does not result in a direct Ca2+ influx, but that it instead leads to an indirect interaction with presynaptic VDCCs, boosting axonal Ca2+ influx. These results reveal one of the main remaining missing pieces in the signaling cascade of t-LTD at developing cortical synapses.
In COVID-19 Patients Who Suffer In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Outcomes May Be Impacted by Arrest Etiology and Local Pandemic Conditions

OBJECTIVES: The utility and risks to providers of performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation after in-hospital cardiac arrest in COVID-19 patients have been questioned. Additionally, there are discrepancies in reported COVID-19 in-hospital cardiac arrest survival rates. We describe outcomes after cardiopulmonary resuscitation for in-hospital cardiac arrest in two COVID-19 patient cohorts. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York, NY. PATIENTS: Those admitted with COVID-19 between March 1, 2020, and May 31, 2020, as well as between March 1, 2021, and May 31, 2021, who received resuscitation after in-hospital cardiac arrest. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENT AND MAIN RESULTS: Among 103 patients with coronavirus disease 2019 who were resuscitated after in-hospital cardiac arrest in spring 2020, most self-identified as Hispanic/Latino or African American, 35 (34.0%) had return of spontaneous circulation for at least 20 minutes, and 15 (14.6%) survived to 30 days post-arrest. Compared with nonsurvivors, 30-day survivors experienced in-hospital cardiac arrest later (day 22 vs day 7; p = 0.008) and were more likely to have had an acute respiratory event preceding in-hospital cardiac arrest (93.3% vs 27.3%; p < 0.001). Among 30-day survivors, 11 (73.3%) survived to hospital discharge, at which point 8 (72.7%) had Cerebral Performance Category scores of 1 or 2. Among 26 COVID-19 patients resuscitated after in-hospital cardiac arrest in spring 2021, 15 (57.7%) had return of spontaneous circulation for at least 20 minutes, 3 (11.5%) survived to 30 days post in-hospital cardiac arrest, and 2 (7.7%) survived to hospital discharge, both with Cerebral Performance Category scores of 2 or less. Those who survived to 30 days post in-hospital cardiac arrest were younger (46.3 vs 67.8; p = 0.03), but otherwise there were no significant differences between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with COVID-19 who received cardiopulmonary resuscitation after in-hospital cardiac arrest had low survival rates. Our findings additionally show return of spontaneous circulation rates in these patients may be impacted by hospital strain and that patients with in-hospital cardiac arrest preceded by acute respiratory events might be more likely to survive to 30 days, suggesting Advanced Cardiac Life Support efforts may be more successful in this subpopulation.
On‐site geometric calibration of RPAS mounted sensors for SfM photogrammetric geomorphological surveys

The application of structure from motion (SfM) photogrammetry for digital elevation model (DEM) and orthophoto generation from visible imagery enjoys ever‐growing popularity in geomorphological research. Photogrammetry experts, however, urge that a rigorous approach is a prerequisite for reliable results—a requirement that may conflict with real‐world survey. We present a method that unites the two disciplines, using the example of a challenging SfM photogrammetric survey at a Scottish river. Using simultaneous geometric pre‐calibration of a multi‐sensor remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS), the method facilitates time‐efficient topography mapping and the integration of other wavelengths to create orthophotos providing additional surface information. The approach utilizes an on‐site 3D structure—for example, a building, as calibration object, by extracting coordinates of natural features from lidar scans and sensor imagery. We assess the workflow with specialized calibration software (VMS) and widely applied commercial SfM photogrammetric software (AM), using a DJI Phantom optical and a Workswell thermal sensor. We achieved calibration accuracies below one‐third (optical) and one‐quarter (thermal) of a pixel. Subsequently, we transfer the sensor parameters to pre‐calibrate the SfM application and compare the results to a self‐calibrated workflow. In a systematic experiment using the optical river survey dataset, we assess the effectiveness of pre‐calibration, oblique imagery, scale variation and masking to mitigate systematic DEM errors. Opposing trends show between the calibration strategies. Decreasing network complexity (i.e., flying heights/view angles) improves pre‐calibrated but compromises self‐calibrated scenarios. Pre‐calibrating (VMS) imagery from a single height (30 m nadir) yielded the best results. This finding could have implications for geomorphological surveys, in which single‐scale datasets are widespread practice, despite the literature's urge towards more complex imaging networks. The self‐calibrated results legitimise this insistence: The same dataset resulted in pronounced dome‐shaped DEM distortion, indicating systematic errors, whereas additional flying heights and angles significantly improved the results.
Perspectives of survivors of the Oklahoma City bombing with and without PTSD 17 months postdisaster: a qualitative study

ABSTRACT This study compared perspectives of highly trauma-exposed Oklahoma City bombing survivors (N = 141) with and without PTSD. Survivors’ responses to questions about the effects of the bombing on their perspectives were hand-recorded and transcribed, six themes identified, and interrater reliability established. Both diagnostic groups (with and without PTSD) expressed greater appreciation for life, greater concern with human vulnerability and mortality, and positive changes in religion/spirituality as consequences of the bombing. Survivors with PTSD also expressed negative religious/spiritual changes and substantive gains in self-confidence. Results indicate that disaster survivors may experience profound changes in their perspectives with ramifications for their mental health.
Mathematics Learners’ Perceptions of Emergency Remote Teaching and Learning during the COVID-19 Lockdown in a Disadvantaged Context

The COVID-19 global pandemic’s impact on education will take years to resolve. At this point, it is sensible to ponder the big questions of mathematics teaching and learning in disadvantaged contexts. This descriptive mixed-methods study is focused on the learners’ perceptions of the Emergency Remote Teaching and Learning (ERTL) of mathematics during the COVID-19 lockdown. The study was conducted with 137 learners at public secondary schools in a disadvantaged context in South Africa. Purposive and stratified random sampling techniques were used to select the respondents. The data was collected through a Google-generated semi-structured questionnaire. Content analysis was used to analyse the qualitative data from the open-response items. The quantitative data was analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. The findings were that most learners in resource-constrained contexts neither enjoyed nor benefitted from the ERTL of mathematics and preferred face-to-face classroom interactions with the teachers. Many learners stated that they were used to seeing the teachers’ gestures, body language, and facial expressions. Most learners indicated that it was challenging not to work in groups when solving mathematics problems and that they could not learn mathematics productively at home. Further findings were that the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted learners in disadvantaged contexts since they did not have adequate digital resources and internet connectivity to learn mathematics remotely. The COVID-19 pandemic will end one day. Studying the learners’ perceptions of the ERTL assists in the creation of programmes that can enhance digital mathematics teaching and learning in disadvantaged contexts.
On Performance of Downlink Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access Wireless System Relying on UAV

Wireless communications relying on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) is a promising candidate in future communication systems. Compared with conventional terrestrial communications, UAV networks has some significant benefits including cost-effectiveness, mobility, fast deployment, higher probability of Line-of-Sight (LoS) links between UAV and ground terminals. Based on ideal conditions of high Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR), Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access (NOMA) with fixed power allocation factor is adopted to indicate performance of two users. These ground user from UAV is independent of channel and trajectory parameters is further evaluated under impact of imperfect channel state information (CSI). We drive the closed-form formula of outage probability for two ground users. Simulation results provide impacts of system parameters on outage behavior.
EXPLORING AN ELICITED IMITATION TASK AS A MEASURE OF HERITAGE LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

Abstract This study examines a 30-item Spanish elicited imitation task (EIT) as a measure of global language proficiency for heritage language (HL) learners of Spanish. Results from Rasch modeling suggest that, while EIT scores demonstrated excellent reliability, the ability of much of the HL sample far exceeded the difficulty of the items. Differential item functioning analysis revealed that several items functioned differently for the present study’s HL sample than for the second language learners from a prior study. Additionally, although EIT scores were strongly correlated with another proficiency measure for the present HL sample (e.g., the Diploma de español como lengua extranjera or DELE), common-person equating suggested that the EIT and the DELE may measure different latent variables. Overall, the results provide evidence of the EIT’s utility as a proficiency assessment tool for research on HL learners, however, with limitations and the need for additional analyses discussed.
Mothers’ Reactions to Children’s Emotion Expressions in Different Cultural Contexts: Comparisons across Nepal, Korea, and Germany

ABSTRACT The current study examined (1) cross-cultural variations in mothers’ reports of how they would react to their children’s positive and negative emotions as triggered by different interpersonal situations and (2) their relations to children’s emotion regulation competence in Nepal, Korea, and Germany. Participants were 305 mothers whose children were first graders in elementary school. Mothers reported their reactions to children’s positive and negative emotions in hypothetical social scenarios and evaluated their children’s emotion regulation using a standardized measure. Research Findings: German mothers reported higher levels of emotion encouragement, while Nepali mothers reported higher levels of punitive and distress reactions. Korean mothers reported higher levels of distress reactions. Mothers’ encouragement of children’s pride expression was associated differently with children’s emotion regulation in each culture – negatively related in Nepal, unrelated in Korea, and positively related in Germany, whereas mothers’ distress in response to children’s shyness was related to children’s poorer emotion regulation in all cultures. Practice or Policy: These findings highlight the importance of contexts – in terms of both culture and specific emotions children express – in interpreting the meanings of emotion socialization practices. This research suggests considering cultural influences in designing parenting interventions to promote children’s emotional competence aligning with cultural expectations.
Impact of Macroscopic On-Site Evaluation (MOSE) on Accuracy of Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine-Needle Biopsy (EUS-FNB) of Pancreatic and Extrapancreatic Solid Lesions: A Prospective Study

This is a prospective and comparative study including 76 consecutive patients performing EUS-FNB for pancreatic and extrapancreatic solid lesions, randomized by alternate allocation to macroscopic on-site evaluation (MOSE) (40 patients) or to a conventional technique (40 patients), with three passes each. MOSE samples were differentiated into score 0: no visible material, score 1: only necrotic or haematic material, score 2: white core tissue ≤ 2 mm, or score 3: white core tissue > 2 mm. The conventional technique consisted in pushing all the needle content into a test tube for evaluation by the pathologist. In both groups, a 22–25 Gauge Franseen-tip needle (Acquire, Boston Scientific Co., Natick, MA, USA) was used. The study evaluated the diagnostic accuracy and adequacy of MOSE compared to the conventional technique and whether MOSE could optimize the number of passes during EUS-FNB. Results: The analysis was performed on 76 patients (38 MOSE, 38 conventional). The overall diagnostic adequacy was 94.7% (72/76) and accuracy was 84.2% (64/76). The diagnostic accuracy was similar in the two groups: MOSE 86.8% (33/38 lesions), vs. conventional 81.6%, 31/38 lesions, p = 0.76). Regarding diagnostic adequacy, the MOSE technique was 97.4% (111/114 passes) compared to 92.1% (105/114 passes) with the conventional technique, p = 0.06. The accuracy increased according to the MOSE score evaluation: it was 43.5%, 65.5% and 78.3% in patients with score 1, score 2, and score 3, respectively. Moreover, if in the first two passes the MOSE score was 2 or 3, the accuracy was 82.6% (20/23), and upon adding a third pass, the accuracy increased to 87% (20/23), which was not significantly different from the general accuracy of the MOSE samples (86.8%) (p = 0.86). Conclusions: The MOSE score showed a comparable diagnostic accuracy to the conventional technique. However, MOSE allows endoscopists to perform an inspective evaluation of the material, tends to perform better than the conventional technique in terms of diagnostic adequacy, and may potentially reduce the number of passes.
Microsatellite (D9S905) Instability in Two Urogenital Schistosomiasis Patients with Abnormal Squamous Cells in the Urine

Background: Schistosomiasis ranks second to malaria among parasitic diseases of socio-economic and public health importance. Schistosoma haematobium infection-causing urinary schistosomiasis is widespread in Nigeria. Literature has shown that bladder cancer of squamous cell carcinoma type could be associated with long-term S. haematobium infection. Many studies have also reported genomic alterations in cancers and have detected identical microsatellite instability in bladder cancer and corresponding urine sediment from the same patients. Therefore, this study aimed to detect microsatellite instability in genomic DNA obtained from exfoliated urine cells of S. haematobium infected participants using microsatellite marker D9S905, which is one of the genetic markers located around regions of frequent chromosomal loss in bladder cancer. Methods: Genomic DNA was extracted from urine and blood of 24 S. haematobium infected study participants. Microsatellite marker D9S905 located on locus 9q34.2 with allele size 294 base pair (294bp) was analyzed to identify genetic variation between exfoliated urine cells and corresponding blood samples from the infected participants. Result: Microsatellite alterations due to allelic loss were seen in the DNA of exfoliated urine cells of 2 of the participants. Also, previous cytopathological examinations of exfoliated urine cells of these 2 participants revealed squamous cell abnormalities. Conclusion: Bladder cancer is one of the severe complications of chronic S. haematobium infection. Since not all cases of the infection are chronic, this might have accounted for the low number of cases of microsatellite instability seen among participants in this study
PERAN SUPERVISOR PENDIDIKAN DALAM MENINGKATKAN PROFESIONALISME GURU PENDIDIKAN AGAMA ISLAM

Peran Supervisor Pendidikan dalam Meningkatkan Profesionalisme Guru Pendidikan Agama Islam. Pada dasarnya pendidikan adalah laksana eksperimen yang tidak pernah selesai sampai kapan pun, sepanjang ada kehidupan di dunia ini. Dikatakan demikian, karena pendidikan merupakan bagian dari kebudayaan dan peradaban manusia yang terus berkembang. Hal ini sejalan dengan pembawaan manusia yang memiliki potensi kreatif dan inovatif dalam segala bidang kehidupan termasuk dalam bidang pendidikan. Pendidikan adalah usaha sadar yang dengan sengaja dirancangkan untuk mencapai tujuan yang telah ditetapkan. Pendidikan bertujuan untuk meningkatkan kualitas sumber daya manusia. Salah satu usaha untuk meningkatkan kualitas sumber daya manusia ialah melalui proses pembelajaran di sekolah. Supervisor menghadapi berbagai persoalan yang kompleks yang berhubungan dengan perbaikan dan peningkatan mutu pendidikan. Problem yang dihadapi guru terlebih lagi guru pendidikan agama Islam yang menjadi perhatian supervisor sangat beragam dan tidak dapat dipecahkan dalam satu kebijakan yang seragam, maka perlu ada interaksi antara supervisor dan guru. Guru profesional merupakan faktor penentu proses penentu pendidikan yang berkualitas. Pada dasarnya tugas supervisor sangat luas dan kompleks, namun dalam pelaksanaannya harus lebih terfokus pada pengembangan kemampuan guru, sebab mereka merupakan ujung tombak keberhasilan pendidikan di sekolah. Oleh karena itu, umpan balik setelah pelaksanaan supervisi mutlak diperlukan agar guru bisa mengetahui kelebihan dan kelemahannya, sehingga mereka dengan segera dapat memperbaikinya. Indikator guru PAI yang profesional selalu dilihat dari perspektif kinerja dalam menjelaskan, memahamkan dan mengembangkan nilai nilai ajaran Islam kepada peserta didik dan masyarakat. Guru PAI yang profesional setidaknya memiliki tiga misi, yaitu misi dakwah Islam, misi pedagogik, dan misi pendidikan.
Sustained Endurance Training Leads to Metabolomic Adaptation

Endurance training induces several adaptations in substrate metabolism, especially in relation to glycogen conservation. The study aimed to investigate differences in the metabolism of lipids, lipid-like substances, and amino acids between highly trained and untrained subjects using targeted metabolomics. Depending on their maximum relative oxygen uptake (VO2max), subjects were categorized as either endurance-trained (ET) or untrained (UT). Resting blood was taken and plasma isolated. It was screened for changes of 345 metabolites, including amino acids and biogenic amines, acylcarnitines, glycerophosphocholines (GPCs), sphingolipids, hexoses, bile acids, and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) by using liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. Acylcarnitine (C14:1, down in ET) and five GPCs (lysoPC a C18:2, up in ET; PC aa C42:0, up in ET; PC ae C38:2, up in ET; PC aa C38:5, down in ET; lysoPC a C26:0, down in ET) were differently regulated in ET compared to UT. TCDCA was down-regulated in athletes, while for three ratios of bile acids CA/CDCA, CA/(GCA+TCA), and DCA/(GDCA+TDCA) an up-regulation was found. TXB2 and 5,6-EET were down-regulated in the ET group and 18S-HEPE, a PUFA, showed higher levels in 18S-HEPE in endurance-trained subjects. For PC ae C38:2, TCDCA, and the ratio of cholic acid to chenodeoxycholic acid, an association with VO2max was found. Numerous phospholipids, acylcarnitines, glycerophosphocholines, bile acids, and PUFAs are present in varying concentrations at rest in ET. These results might represent an adaptation of lipid metabolism and account for the lowered cardiovascular risk profile of endurance athletes.
Cued recall: Using photo-elicitation to examine the distributed processes of remembering with photographs

In studies of cued recall, responses to photographic stimuli have often been examined in isolation of related photography practices (e.g. taking, organising, or sharing images), and without considering how photographs are used. In contrast, photo-elicitation methods position photographs not simply as cues, but as meaningful artefacts around which accounts of the past are constructed. Drawing on photo-elicitation interviews, I examine cued recall from a distributed cognition perspective, proposing that it consists of varying combinations of several, potentially-distributed processes. First, looking at photographs can catalyse remembering by surfacing relevant ideas, followed by: stimulation (of feelings and emotions), simulation and narrative production, association, inference, and meaning-making. Using examples from my interviews, I consider how each process is socially and materially configured. I then discuss the role of diverse photographic practices in the convergence of these processes, and the implications for conceptions of cueing, recall, and autobiographical memory.
Diversity of Induced M1V4 Mutant Population of Cassava (Mahinot Esculanta Crantz)

ABSTRACT Cassava owns a small genome (about 770 Mb), it is considered as an allopolyploid with a high level of heterozygosity characteristics which severely hamper the speed and ease of introgressing useful genes in cassava. Mutation techniques form a classical procedure of development of variation in crops like cassava while genetic markers can be used to reveal genetic variation in the germplasm. This study was undertaken to determine the genetic relatedness of mutagenised cassava early generation populations through phenotypic and genetic marker procedures. Diversity of mutagenised population of cassava at M1V4 generation was examined at seedling stage in the greenhouse and at adult stage in the field through checking phenotypic and genetic traits. Plant height, number of lobes on leaves, petiole colour, number of nodes per stem and gel separation of PCR products developed from SSR markers differed significantly between selected putative mutants as well as in comparison with parent line. For example plant height of the 10 selected mutants ranged from 16 cm to 113cm where the parent grew to 24.33 cm while the number of nodes ranged from 11 to 24 with the parent having 13 nodes. Diversity of the mutant lines was demonstrated and further studies can be undertaken to quantify the variation for breeding and production of cassava.