Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Non-revascularized chronic total occlusions impact on substrate and post-ablation results in drug-refractory electrical storm

Background and aims There is limited data concerning the effect of non-revascularized chronic total occlusions (NR-CTOs) after VT ablation. This study sought to evaluate the impact of NR-CTOs after ablation for electrical storm (ES). Methods Post-hoc retrospective analysis of data regarding 64 consecutive post-myocardial infarction patients (out of which 12 patients with NR-CTOs and 52 without NR-CTOs) undergoing substrate ablation for ES with an available median follow-up of 37.53 (7.25–64.65) months. Ablation result was assessed by inducibility of sustained monomorphic VT (SMVT) during final programmed ventricular stimulation (PVS). The primary endpoints were all-cause mortality and VT/VF recurrences after ablation, respectively, stratified by the presence of NR-CTOs. The secondary endpoint was to assess the predictive effect of NR-CTOs on all-cause mortality and VT/VF recurrences in relation to other relevant prognostic factors. Results At baseline, the presence of NR-CTOs was associated with higher bipolar BZ-to-total scar ratio (72.4% ± 17.9% vs. 52% ± 37.7%, p = 0.022) and more failure to eliminate the clinical VT (25% (3) vs. 0% (0), p < 0.001). During follow-up, overall all-cause mortality and recurrences were more frequent in the NR-CTO subgroup (75% (9) vs. 19.2% (10), log rank p = 0.003 and 58.3% vs. 23.1% (12), log rank p = 0.042 respectively). After adjusting for end-procedural residual SMVT inducibility, NR-CTOs predicted death during follow-up (HR 3.380, p = 0.009) however not recurrence (HR 1.986, p = 0.154). Conclusions NR-CTO patients treated by RFCA for drug-refractory ES demonstrated a higher ratio of BZ-to-total-scar area. In this analysis, NR-CTO was associated with worse acute procedural results and may as well impact long-term outcomes which should be further assessed in larger patient populations.
Recent Advances in Bacterial Persistence Mechanisms

The recurrence of bacterial infectious diseases is closely associated with bacterial persisters. This subpopulation of bacteria can escape antibiotic treatment by entering a metabolic status of low activity through various mechanisms, for example, biofilm, toxin–antitoxin modules, the stringent response, and the SOS response. Correspondingly, multiple new treatments are being developed. However, due to their spontaneous low abundance in populations and the lack of research on in vivo interactions between persisters and the host’s immune system, microfluidics, high-throughput sequencing, and microscopy techniques are combined innovatively to explore the mechanisms of persister formation and maintenance at the single-cell level. Here, we outline the main mechanisms of persister formation, and describe the cutting-edge technology for further research. Despite the significant progress regarding study techniques, some challenges remain to be tackled.
Cervical intradural traumatic neuroma without history of trauma: illustrative case

BACKGROUND Traumatic neuroma typically refers to a reactive process in the injured peripheral nerve, characterized by an excessive growth of axons, Schwann cells, and fibroblasts at the proximal end of the nerve after its interruption. The authors report a case of a traumatic neuroma in the cervical nerve root in a patient with no history of trauma. OBSERVATIONS The patient presented with sensation loss in the right-hand ulnar distribution, right flank around the T4–11 region, and right small toe along with motor power weakness over the right upper and lower extremity. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an intradural extramedullary mass lesion with extension along the C7 nerve root. Histological examination showed traumatic neuroma. A total resection of the lesion along with the resolution of sensory and motor deficits was achieved directly after surgery. LESSONS Traumatic neuroma should always be kept in the armamentarium for diagnosis of an intradural nerve sheath tumor.
Baryonic Mass Inventory for Galaxies and Rarefied Media from Theory and Observations of Rotation and Luminosity

Available inventories of baryonic mass in the universe are based largely on galactic data and empirical calculations made >20 years ago. Values falling below cosmological estimates underlie proposals that certain rarified gassy regions could have extremely high T, which motivated absorption measurements and hydrodynamic models. Yet, the shortfall remains. We inventory the total baryonic mass, focusing on gravitational interactions and updated measurements. A recent analytical inverse method for analyzing galactic rotation curves quantified how baryon mass and associated volumetric density (ρ) depend on distance (r) from galactic centers. The model is based on the dynamical consequences of the observed oblate shape of galaxies and the Virial Theorem. The parameter-free solution provides ρ(r) ∝ 1/r2 which describes star-rich galactic interiors, gas-rich outer discoids, circumgalactic media, and gradation into intergalactic media. Independent observational determinations of baryonic ρ validate that our 1/r2 result describes baryons alone. This solution shows that total baryonic mass associated with any galaxy is 2.4 to 40 times detectable luminosity, depending on galaxy size and spacing. Luminosity data within 50 Mpc show that Andromeda equivalents separated by ~1 Mpc represent the local universe. Combining the above yields (6 ± 2) × 10−25 kg m−3 for the present-day universe. Three other approaches support this high density: (1) evaluating trends and luminosity data near 1000 Mpc; (2) using a recent estimate for the number of galaxies in the universe; (3) calculating an energy balance. We discuss uncertainties in the critical density. Implications of large baryonic ρ are briefly discussed.
The Relationship Between Working Capital Management and Business Performance in Malaysia SMEs Family Business

The study examines the relationship between working capital management and business performance in Malaysian SMEs family businesses. A questionnaire was developed and randomly distributed, and a total 0f 399 questionnaires were completed. The statistical tests, which include descriptive and Pearson correlation analysis, were used to test the hypotheses. The results revealed a significant relationship between working capital management and the business performance of SME family businesses in Malaysia. The results also show that the studies supported theories of the Resource-Based View (RBV) theory (Wernerfelt, 1984) and Peaking Order Theory (Myers, 1984). This study concludes that SMEs in Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu would do better if they had more working capital and managed it better. Family-owned SMEs in Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu should focus more on managing their working capital in day-to-day operations. The results of this study contribute theoretical and practical. With all the contributions, the stakeholders can know the SME's business funding requirements in managing working capital management simultaneously, increasing business performance.
Real-Time Related-Key Attack on Full-Round Shadow Designed for IoT Nodes

With the rapid development of the Internet of Things (IoT), many new lightweight block ciphers are designed in recent years to meet the security demand in IoT devices. Shadow is a lightweight block cipher designed for IoT Nodes (IEEE Internet of Things Journal, 2021). In this article, an efficient attack on full-round Shadow is proposed based on the idea of a related-key differential attack. First, a differential transfer property for AND operation is illustrated. This property demonstrates a link between the difference and the input value. If the difference of the input is not zero, to lead to a zero difference, there are some constraints on the input value. Furthermore, two properties for Shadow family ciphers are identified. According to these properties, some related keys on Shadow will lead to an internal collision for the subkey generator, which will eventually lead to a full-round distinguisher. Finally, with the idea of related-key differential attack, an efficient attack is applied to Shadow. For Shadow-32, with 4 related keys, 8 master key bits can be derived in about 0.044 seconds on average. For Shadow-64, with 4 related keys, 24 master key bits can be derived in about 3.9 hours on average. All our theoretical results are verified by experiments.
Development and Quality Assurance of Multileaf Collimator (MLC) Auto-Feathering Junctions for Multi-Isocenter Supine Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) Craniospinal Axis Irradiation on Halcyon

Currently, there is a lack of methods and tools that efficiently evaluate the auto-feathering junctions created by multileaf collimator (MLCs) for supine volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) craniospinal irradiation (CSI) plans. We have investigated the feasibility of stitching together multi-isocenter fluence maps to then analyze the feathered junctions for patient-specific quality assurance (QA). Furthermore, we investigated the capability of Halcyon for the treatment of CSI patients. Three patients, who previously underwent VMAT CSI treatment on TrueBeam (6-MV flattening filter-free (FFF)) for 36 Gy in 20 fractions were replanned for Halcyon. A multi-isocenter approach with only translational superior-inferior shifts was used for both platforms. Each isocenter consists of two full arcs with anterior avoidance sectors, ±5° collimator rotations between arcs, and 5-8 cm of overlapping MLC auto-feathering junctions. All plans were QA’d via electronic portal imaging device (EPID) portal dosimetry and analyzed with a gamma criteria of 3%/3 mm. A variety of plan quality metrics were analyzed to evaluate dose distributions to the target, doses to organs at risk (OARs), and integral dose to the patient. A MATLAB script was developed to stitch the calculated and measured fluence maps in order to perform patient-specific QA for the composite fluence. The Halcyon plans provided highly conformal and homogenous dose distributions to the entire CSI target, superior to the clinical TrueBeam plans, while sparing critical organs with significantly lower values of V10Gy and V18Gy by up to 2% and 2.5%, respectively. Qualitative depictions of vertical dose profiles from the stitched DICOM of the entire CSI target for both planned and delivered fluence maps demonstrated equivalency, with slightly lower average pass rates with Halcyon (97%) compared to TrueBeam (99.9%). This approach to stitch multiple measured versus calculated EPID fluence maps has shown to be a feasible and accurate method and will be helpful for comprehensive VMAT CSI QA on both platforms. Further implementation of this script will be used in examining dosimetric impacts of daily patient positioning errors at MLC auto-feathering junctions.
Awake Tracheal Intubation Is Associated with Fewer Adverse Events in Critical Care Patients than Anaesthetised Tracheal Intubation

Background: Tracheal intubation in critical care is a high-risk procedure requiring significant expertise and airway strategy modification. We hypothesise that awake tracheal intubation is associated with a lower incidence of severe adverse events compared to standard tracheal intubation in critical care patients. Methods: Records were acquired for all tracheal intubations performed from 2020 to 2022 for critical care patients at a tertiary hospital. Each awake tracheal intubation case, using a videolaryngoscope with a hyperangulated blade (McGrath® MAC X-Blade), was propensity matched with two controls (1:2 ratio; standard intubation videolaryngoscopy (VL) and direct laryngoscopy (DL) undergoing general anaesthesia). The primary endpoint was the incidence of adverse events, defined as a mean arterial pressure of <55 mmHg (hypotension), SpO2 < 80% (desaturation) after sufficient preoxygenation, or peri-interventional cardiac arrest. Results: Of the 135 tracheal intubations included for analysis, 45 involved the use of an awake tracheal intubation. At least one adverse event occurred after tracheal intubation in 36/135 (27%) of patients, including awake 1/45 (2.2%; 1/1 hypotension), VL 10/45 (22%; 6/10 hypotension and 4/10 desaturation), and DL 25/45 (47%; 10/25 hypotension, 12/25 desaturation, and 3/25 cardiac arrest; p < 0.0001). Conclusions: In this retrospective observational study of intubation practices in critical care patients, awake tracheal intubation was associated with a lower incidence of severe adverse events than anaesthetised tracheal intubation.
Temporal Stability of Ciliary Beating Post Nasal Brushing, Modulated by Storage Temperature

Primary ciliary dyskinesia is a heterogeneous, inherited motile ciliopathy in which respiratory cilia beat abnormally, and some ultrastructural ciliary defects and specific genetic mutations have been associated with particular ciliary beating alterations. Ciliary beating can be evaluated using digital high-speed videomicroscopy (DHSV). However, normal reference values, essential to assess ciliary beating in patients referred for a PCD diagnostic, vary between centres, as minor variations in protocols might influence ciliary beating. Consequently, establishment of normal values is essential for each PCD diagnostic centre. We aimed to evaluate whether delay after sampling, and temperature for conservation of respiratory ciliated samples, might modify assessments of ciliary beating. In total, 37 healthy nasal brushing samples of respiratory ciliated epithelia were collected. Video sequences were recorded at 37 °C immediately using DHSV. Then, the samples were divided and conserved at 4 °C or at room temperature (RT). Ciliated beating edges were then recorded at 37 °C, at 3 h and at 9 h post sampling. In six samples, recordings were continued up to 72 h after sampling. Ciliary beating was assessed manually by ciliary beat frequency (CBFM) and ciliary beat pattern (CBP). A semi-automatic software was used for quantitative analysis. Both CBF and CBP evaluated manually and by a semi-automated method were stable 9 h after sampling. CBFM was higher when evaluated using samples stored at RT than at 4 °C. CBP and the semi-automated evaluation of ciliary beating were not affected by storage temperature. When establishing normal references values, ciliary beating can be evaluated at 37 °C up to 9 h after nasal brushing, but the storage temperature modifies ciliary beating and needs to be controlled.
A Spatial Neighborhood Deep Neural Network Model for PM2.5 Estimation Across China

Fine particulate matter, specifically PM2.5, has raised increasing public and governmental concerns over the past decade for its threats to the environment and public health. For large-scale PM2.5 estimation, spatial neighborhood information is frequently ignored when modeling the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of the PM2.5-aerosol optical depth (AOD) relationship. In this regard, applying convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to extract the spatial neighborhood characteristic has great potential; therefore, this article establishes a spatial neighborhood deep neural network (SNDNN) model to predict PM2.5 concentrations across China. In addition to the backward propagation neural network (BPNN) model for extracting spatiotemporal features, the model integrates a CNN model to achieve spatial neighborhood data mining within a <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$3 \times 3$ </tex-math></inline-formula> km2 window. The cross-validation (CV) results show that the daily model achieves high accuracy and stability from 2016 to 2020. The coefficient of determination (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$R^{2}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>) value reached 0.92 in 2018, with a root mean square error (RMSE) of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$9.39 \mu \text{g}/\text{m}^{3}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> and a mean absolute error (MAE) of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$6.09 \mu \text{g}/\text{m}^{3}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>. Further, a monthly SNDNN model is established to predict seasonal and annual PM2.5 concentrations with greater accuracy and wider spatial coverage. The study results demonstrate the superiority of introducing spatial neighborhood information to PM2.5 estimation and indicate that the SNDNN can provide a practical reference for spatial neighborhood feature extraction.
Abietic acid ameliorates pancreatic injury in acute pancreatitis by modulating MAPK pathway

Purpose: To examine the effect of abietic acid (AA) in the treatment of acute pancreatitis (AP) in mice.Methods: C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to 4 groups: sham, AP, AP + 20 mg/kg AA, and AP + 40 mg/kg AA groups. To induce AP mouse model, the mice received intraperitoneal (IP) injections of cerulein. The extent of pancreatic tissue damage was evaluated by histological examination. Serum ALT, lipase, and amylase levels were determined by commercial kits while TUNEL assay was used to assess the apoptosis of pancreatic cells. The contents of Bax, Caspase-3, Bcl-2, p-ERK/ERK, p-JNK/JNK, and p-P38/P38 in pancreatic tissues were evaluated by western blot while the contents of IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, nitrite, MDA, and GSH in the tissues were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits.Results: AA relieved pancreatic damage and reduced ALT, lipase, and amylase levels in ceruleintreated AP mouse (p < 0.001). AA repressed apoptosis of pancreatic cells in cerulein-induced AP mouse, and inhibited oxidative stress and inflammatory response in the mice by reducing IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, nitrite, and MDA contents; it also enhanced the levels of GSH in the tissues (p < 0.001). In addition, AA inhibited MAPK pathway activity in the mice (p < 0.001). Conclusion: AA ameliorates pancreatic damage, pancreatic cell apoptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammation in cerulein-induced AP mouse by inhibiting MAPK pathway. This study offers a new potential drug for the management of AP and expands the relevant molecular regulatory mechanisms.
Photometric characterization of NEOs: 3 Amor and 3 Apollo★

We report the results based on a complete photometric characterization method for six nearEarth objects (NEOs), determining the rotational period, the taxonomic classification, the V − R colour, the absolute magnitude and the slope parameter. The data were acquired at the Observatório Astronômico do Sertão de Itaparica, for (138846) 2000 VJ61, 2016 WJ1 and (36236) 1999 VV, of the Apollo group, and (489337) 2006 UM, 2005 TF and (326683) 2002 WP, of the Amor group. The performed analysis enabled us to classify three objects in the S-complex, one in the C-complex and one as a V-type. An estimate of the effective diameter is also given for four of them. Throughout our work is evident the importance of performing a complete photometric characterization in order to derive reliable physical parameters. in particular, we show that the rotational lightcurve amplitude is a very important parameter that needs to be considered when deriving photometric magnitudes of NEOs.
‘Transported into like another space’: second language learners’ perspectives of their experience of flow

This study explored the notion of flow, which refers to a person’s sense of being completely absorbed in a task, as it applies to second language (L2) learning and use. Previously, flow has been mainly examined through researcher-generated descriptions to which learners reacted using Likert-type scales. In this study, we examined flow through the perspectives of the individuals experiencing it, by asking them to describe any insights relevant to their experience. During four weeks, five undergraduate students taking L2 French or Spanish coursework reported their flow states in weekly diary entries and interviews. Students described a total of 15 flow states, reporting them most frequently in interaction inside and outside coursework (e.g., speaking to a friend/stranger, in a paired task) but also while taking an exam, studying grammatical forms, listening to a lecture, reading, and practicing a speech. Qualitative coding revealed seven dimensions of flow, where five previously reported dimensions (attention, interest, enjoyment, sense of accomplishment, skill–challenge balance) were supported and clarified through our analyses while the remaining two (oblivion, stress) were identified for the first time. Flow appeared to be linked to proceduralization of L2 skills, as the element of automaticity was prominent in most descriptions of flow.
EFFECT OF DIFFERENT IRRIGATION SCHEDULES ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF DRIP IRRIGATED POTATO

Potato ranks fourth in production, after wheat, rice and maize in the world. India is the second largest producer of potato after China (Scott and Suarez, 2011; 2012). The country used latest scientific breakthroughs and technologies in order to achieve this position in potato production. Now a days, drip irrigation is under evaluation to improve water use efficiency. High frequency water management by drip irrigation minimizes soil as a storage reservoir for water, provides at least daily requirement of water to a portion of the root zone of each plant and maintains a high soil matric potential in the rhizosphere to reduce plant water stress.
ARPC1B is a novel prognostic biomarker for kidney renal clear cell carcinoma and correlates with immune infiltration

Background: Actin-related protein 2/3 complex subunit 1B (ARPC1B) is reported to be involved in tumorigenesis and progression. However, its role in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC), correlation with tumor-infiltrating immune cells, and prognostic significance remain unclear. Methods: Data sets from the TCGA, GTEx, GEPIA, GEO, UALCAN, and CPTAC databases were extracted and analyzed to investigate the expression difference, prognosis, and clinicopathological features of ARPC1B. Single-sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (ssGSEA), CIBERSORT, and TISCH2 analysis were used to examine the relationship between ARPC1B expression and tumor immune infiltration in KIRC. The potential function of ARPC1B in KIRC was explored by GO functional annotation and KEGG pathway analysis. The TIDE algorithm was used to predict and analyze the relationship between ARPC1B expression and response to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). The expression of ARPC1B was further validated by using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results: The study showed that ARPC1B expression was an independent prognostic factor of KIRC, with high ARPC1B expression being associated with poor overall survival (OS). Enrichment of GO annotation and pathway analysis showed multiple immune-related functional pathways affected by ARPC1B such as regulation of immune effector process, inflammatory response regulation, antigen processing and presentation, asthma, autoimmune thyroid disease, graft versus host disease, intestinal immune network for IgA production, and type I diabetic mellitus. Moreover, ARPC1B expression positively correlated with infiltrating levels of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and regulatory T cells (Tregs) in KIRC. Importantly, high ARPC1B expression predicted a low response to ICB in KIRC. Conclusion: This study indicates that ARPC1B expression is an independent prognostic biomarker for OS in KIRC patients. High ARPC1B expression is closely associated with MDSCs and Tregs infiltration. These findings suggest that ARPC1B may serve as a biomarker for prognosis and immune infiltration in KIRC, potentially aiding in the development of novel treatment strategies to improve the survival outcomes for KIRC patients.