Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of white matter hyperintensities on isolated executive function assessed by the Trail Making Test

Background: White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) on MRI are associated with cognitive dysfunction, particularly slow processing speed and executive dysfunction. However, it is not clear whether WMHs burden affects isolated executive function independent of aging when WMHs are assessed separately in periventricular hyperintensity (PVH) and deep and subcortical white matter hyperintensity (DSWMH). Purpose: To assess the relationship between the degree of WMHs and the performance on the Trail Making Test (TMT), which can evaluate isolated ability of set-shifting and working memory. Methods: 74 participants who visited our memory clinic and underwent the TMT subtests (TMT-A and TMT-B) and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). All subjects performed the TMT within the time limits and their MMSE scores were 24 or higher, and they were diagnosed as having normal cognition or mild cognitive impairment. The extent of PVH and DSWMH was graded from 0 to 3 using the Fazekas scale. We obtained testing time to complete the TMT-A and TMT-B, and calculated TMT-B minus TMT-A. We performed correlation analyses between the degree of WMHs and the time measures of the TMT subtests with adjustment of age. Results: Average scores of the MMSE were not different among the groups either by PVH grade or by DSWMH grade. In contrast, average time required for the TMT-A, TMT-B, and TMT-B minus TMT-A increased along with exacerbation of PVH and DSWMH grade. After the adjustment of age we found significant association between only DSWMH grade and the time difference of TMT-B minus TMT-A. Conclusions: Exacerbation of PVH and DSWMH differentially affected isolated executive functions assessed by the TMT subtests independent of age and general cognitive function.
The Mediating Role of Emotion Management, Self-Efficacy and Emotional Intelligence in Clinical Nurses Related to Negative Psychology and Burnout

Objective To explore the influence of negative psychology and burnout in clinical nurses, and to analyse the mediating role between self-efficacy and emotional intelligence in emotion management. Methods From January 2022 to December 2022, 12,704 clinical nurses from 32 general hospitals in Hunan Province were selected as research participants by convenience sampling. Negative psychology, emotion management, self-efficacy, emotional intelligence and burnout in clinical nurses were measured, and structural equation models were constructed to explore their impact on burnout in clinical nurses. Results Clinical nurses’ negative psychology had a positive effect on burnout (β=0.60, 95% CI: 0.63–0.66), emotional intelligence (β=˗0.08, 95% CI: ˗0.10, ˗0.06) and the self-efficacy of emotion management (β=−0.60, 95% CI: ˗0.05, ˗0.03) on burnout. Moreover, emotional intelligence and emotion management self-efficacy played a mediating role between negative psychology and burnout in nurses. Conclusion Clinical nurses’ negative psychology had a positive impact on burnout, and emotional intelligence and the self-efficacy of emotion management could alleviate the influence of negative psychology on burnout among nurses. Nurses’ emotional intelligence and emotion management self-efficacy can be improved through practical training to help them cope with emotionally loaded situations and reduce stress responses.
Short communication Spatial mapping of the brachial plexus using three-dimensional ultrasound

Imaging of the brachial plexus with MRI and standard two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound has been reported, and 2D ultrasound-guided regional anaesthetic block is an established technique. The aim of this study was to map the orientation of the brachial plexus in relation to the first rib, carotid and subclavian arteries, using three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound. A free-hand optically tracked 3D ultrasound system was used with a 12 MHz transducer. 10 healthy volunteers underwent 3D ultrasound of the neck. From the 3D ultrasound data sets, the outlines of the brachial plexus, subclavian artery and first rib were manually segmented. A surface was interpolated from the series of outlines to produce a spatially orientated 3D reconstruction of the brachial plexus. The brachial plexus could be mapped in all volunteers, although a variation in image resolution between individuals existed. Anatomical variations were demonstrated between the 10 volunteers; the most notable and clinically relevant was the alignment of the plexus divisions. 3D reconstructions illustrated the plexus, changing its orientation from a vertical alignment in the interscalene region to a more horizontal alignment in the supraclavicular fossa. Spatial mapping of the brachial plexus is possible with 3D ultrasound using the subclavian artery and first rib as landmarks. There is a deviation from the conventionally described anatomy and this may have implications for the administration of regional anaesthesia.
Photocatalytic Semi-Hydrogenation of Alkynes: A Game of Kinetics, Selectivity and Critical Timing

The semi-hydrogenation reaction of alkynes is important in the fine chemicals and pharmaceutical industries, and it is thus important to find catalytic processes that will drive the reaction efficiently and at a low cost. The real challenge is to drive the alkyne-to-alkene reaction while avoiding over-hydrogenation to the saturated alkane moiety. The problem is more difficult when dealing with aromatic substitution at the alkyne center. Simple photocatalysts based on Palladium tend to proceed to the alkane, and stopping at the alkene with good selectivity requires very precise timing with basically no timing tolerance. We report here that the goal of high conversion with high selectivity could be achieved with TiO2-supported copper (Cu@TiO2), although with slower kinetics than for Pd@TiO2. A novel bimetallic catalyst, namely, CuPd@TiO2 (0.8% Cu and 0.05% Pd), with methanol as the hydrogen source could improve the kinetics by 50% with respect to Cu@TiO2, while achieving selectivities over 95% and with exceptional timing tolerance. Further, the low Palladium content minimizes its use, as Palladium is regarded as an element at risk of depletion.
Migratory and Transient Homelessness in Northern Ontario, Canada Pathways to Homelessness in Sudbury and Its Related Impacts

This study fills a gap in the literature by expanding knowledge about migratory/transient homelessness in a northern Ontario context. Conducted in Sudbury (Ontario) Canada, this multi-methods study included an analysis of existing quantitative and qualitative data (from 2000-2007), a survey of homeless persons (2009) and focus groups with service users and providers (2009). Key findings indicate that migrants constitute about a fifth to a quarter of the local homeless population. Over three-quarters had come from Ontario communities, typically in northeastern or southern Ontario. There was no clear pattern of increases in the number of migrants in the summer compared to winter. Recent and intermediate-term migrants were similar in a number of respects: most were men, most did not have custody of any children, and the cultural backgrounds reflected the linguistic/cultural composition of the local homeless population. Indigenous people comprised a significant proportion of homeless migrants as they do among Sudbury’s homeless people in general. Most migrants, especially recent and intermediate-term migrants, were absolutely homeless and nearly all had migrated because of unemployment or low wages. The challenges for migrants are compounded by isolation and difficulties in finding/accessing services in a new community. Migrants often include the most disadvantaged persons among the homeless, thus increasing existing pressures on service systems.
KLRC1 knockout overcomes HLA-E-mediated inhibition and improves NK cell antitumor activity against solid tumors

Introduction Natural Killer (NK) cells hold the potential to shift cell therapy from a complex autologous option to a universal off-the-shelf one. Although NK cells have demonstrated efficacy and safety in the treatment of leukemia, the limited efficacy of NK cell-based immunotherapies against solid tumors still represents a major hurdle. In the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), inhibitory interactions between cancer and immune cells impair antitumoral immunity. KLRC1 gene encodes the NK cell inhibitory receptor NKG2A, which is a potent NK cell immune checkpoint. NKG2A specifically binds HLA-E, a non-classical HLA class I molecule frequently overexpressed in tumors, leading to the transmission of inhibitory signals that strongly impair NK cell function. Methods To restore NK cell cytotoxicity against HLA-E+ tumors, we have targeted the NKG2A/HLA-E immune checkpoint by using a CRISPR-mediated KLRC1 gene editing. Results KLRC1 knockout resulted in a reduction of 81% of NKG2A+ cell frequency in ex vivo expanded human NK cells post-cell sorting. In vitro, the overexpression of HLA-E by tumor cells significantly inhibited wild-type (WT) NK cell cytotoxicity with p-values ranging from 0.0071 to 0.0473 depending on tumor cell lines. In contrast, KLRC1 KO NK cells exhibited significantly higher cytotoxicity when compared to WT NK cells against four different HLA-E+ solid tumor cell lines, with p-values ranging from<0.0001 to 0.0154. Interestingly, a proportion of 43.5% to 60.2% of NKG2A− NK cells within the edited NK cell population was sufficient to reverse at its maximum the HLA-E-mediated inhibition of NK cell cytotoxicity. The expression of the activating receptor NKG2C was increased in KLRC1 KO NK cells and contributed to the improved NK cell cytotoxicity against HLA-E+ tumors. In vivo, the adoptive transfer of human KLRC1 KO NK cells significantly delayed tumor progression and increased survival in a xenogeneic mouse model of HLA-E+ metastatic breast cancer, as compared to WT NK cells (p = 0.0015). Conclusions Our results demonstrate that KLRC1 knockout is an effective strategy to improve NK cell antitumor activity against HLA-E+ tumors and could be applied in the development of NK cell therapy for solid tumors.
Investigate the role of PIK3CA gene expression in colorectal polyp development

ABSTRACT Background Polyps are pathological concerning histological changes that develop during colorectal and rectal cancer. The degree of polyp severity is due to their ability to transform the polyp cells from normal to malignant. PIK3CA is a gene that plays an important role in cell cycle regulation. Objective The study aims to evaluate PIK3CA gene expression in tissues of colorectal polyps. Methods Two study groups employed in the current study were patients (n = 68) and the control group (n = 50). Immunohistochemical techniques were applied to paraffin-embedded tissues to localize PIK3CA expression. Results The current study showed a significant difference between the control and patients group in PIK staining results; in the control group, there was no case positive for PIK, while in the patient group, all cases were positive. In the rectum, there was no significant difference between cases given positive and negative. Among histological types, according to tubular adenoma histological type, in the right colon, the cases which gave positive for PIK were significantly lower than negative, while in the left colon, the cases which gave positive were significantly higher than negative. Conclusion The PIK3CA gene initiates polyp formation and benign tumoral growths, which may subsequently undergo malignant transformation.
Characterization of Beta-Lactam Resistome of Escherichia coli Causing Nosocomial Infections

Nosocomial infections caused by Escherichia coli pose significant therapeutic challenges due to the high expression of genes encoding antimicrobial drug resistance. In this study, we investigated the conformation of the beta-lactam resistome responsible for the specific pattern of resistance against beta-lactam antibiotics. A total of 218 Escherichia coli strains were isolated from in-hospital patients diagnosed with nosocomial infections, obtained from various sources such as urine (n = 49, 22.48%), vaginal discharge (n = 46, 21.10%), catheter tips (n = 14, 6.42%), blood (n = 13, 5.96%), feces (n = 12, 5.50%), sputum (n = 11, 5.05%), biopsies (n = 8, 3.67%), cerebrospinal fluid (n = 2, 0.92%) and other unspecified discharges (n = 63, 28.90%). To characterize the beta-lactam resistome, all strains were subjected to antibiotic dilution tests and grown in beta-lactam antibiotics supplemented with Luria culture medium. Subsequently, multiplex PCR and next-generation sequencing were conducted. The results show a multi-drug-resistance phenotype, particularly against beta-lactam drugs. The primary determinant of this resistance was the expression of the blaTEM gene family, with 209 positive strains (95.87%) expressing it as a single gene (n = 47, 21.6%) or in combination with other genes. Common combinations included blaTEM + blaCTX (n = 42, 19.3%), blaTEM + blaCTX + blaSHV (n = 13, 6%) and blaTEM + blaCTX + blaBIL (n = 12, 5.5%), among others. The beta-lactam resistome of nosocomial Escherichia coli strains isolated from inpatients at the “October first” Regional Hospital of ISSSTE was predominantly composed of members of the blaTEM gene family, expressed in various configurations along with different members of other beta-lactamase gene families.
Group Secret Key Generation Using Physical Layer Security for UAV Swarm Communications

In unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) swarm networks, a group secret key (GSK) is required to enable secured UAV–UAV communications, multicast, and broadcast transmission. Moreover, it can be used for device authentication. Therefore, this article proposes an efficient GSK protocol denoted as the sequential secret group key (SSGK) algorithm for distributed UAV swarm-secured communications. The proposed protocol utilizes network coding to generate cooperation information that is transmitted on the channel and is uncorrelated with the generated secret key. The proposed protocol depends on the pairwise key generation process between pairs of UAVs. However, not all possible pairwise agreements are performed to minimize the time and signaling overhead, i.e., the pairwise key agreement is performed only between selected UAVs as a compromise between the required overhead transmission resources and the achieved redundancy level. The obtained results show that a redundancy level of 4 is sufficient to provide a reliable GSK generation process. The results also show that the performance of the key generation process highly depends on the channel bit error rate (BER), the number of UAVs, and the key length.
An Ecoregion-Based Reference Condition and Classification Scheme for Determining Nutrient Criteria in Oregon Lakes

approved: _______________________________________________________________________ Carolyn Fonyo Boggess The anthropogenic introduction of nutrients to water bodies has been shown to alter the structure and function of natural aquatic ecosystems, yet national EPA lake and reservoir nutrient criteria remain too broad for effective regional water quality management. This study uses a reference site approach to propose numeric nutrient criteria for concentrations of total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) specifically applicable to lakes and reservoirs in Oregon. Oregon lake watersheds with existing lakewater nutrient data were characterized using GIS techniques to eliminate lakes with known point and non-point sources of anthropogenic nutrient contributions, resulting in 98 minimally or least-altered Oregon lakes. These minimally altered lakes were used as reference sites for their corresponding Omernik Level III ecoregion based on majority ecoregion composition of the lake watershed. CART regression and other statistical procedures were used to relate existing data on summer nutrient concentrations to reference site factors, including: water residence time, soil properties, elevation, lake depth, precipitation, and
Incidence of Mouth Cancer in Iraq

The incidence of mouth cancers among Iraqi people is reviewed from 1973-2021 in different Iraqi provinces. The incidence rates are also illustrated in relation to age, sex, site of cancer and year of registration. Incidence rate differs widely in relation to locality, age, sex and race. The risk factors for the incidence can be attributed to tobacco and/or alcohol consumption. The relationship between diet and nutrition to the risk of cancer development has been established by several epidemiological and laboratory studies. They indicated that low intake of fruits and vegetables predisposes to increased risk of cancer development. Other risk factors include genetic, sun exposure, mate drinking (tea-like beverage), viral infection, fungal infection and chronic trauma. Adults and children of both sexes are infected. All authors in Iraq indicated that tongue is the most common site for mouth cancer among Iraqi people. Implementing a national control program should include a primary health care, health education, well-balanced diet, environmental sanitation and health education to stress the important of the hazard of tobacco and alcohol. The knowledge about mouth cancers considerably increased when the subjects received information from their dentists.
Overcoming Obstacles: Women Entrepreneurs Taking the Lead in Nonprofit Businesses

OVERCOMING OBSTACLES: WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS TAKING THE LEAD IN NONPROFIT BUSINESSES Theresa Kedinger, B.A. Marquette University, 2012 Few theoretical models clarify the ways in which a learning experience contributes to entrepreneurial behavior or directly pursuing entrepreneurism. The purpose of this research is to better recognize how women use values, motivations, and desires, through learning experiences, to start a nonprofit organization. Results reveal that, in order to increase the likelihood of females becoming entrepreneurs, they must put themselves in positions where they can have many different experiences. They must be willing to establish networks, overcome societal barriers as well as self-imposed barriers, and reflect upon the experiences they find themselves in, whether they are positive or negative. Such learning experiences were key to accelerating entrepreneurial endeavors by providing a forum for personal accountability, skill development, and inspiration.
Sec-E2E: End-to-End Communication Security in LS-HetNets Based on Blockchain

Large-Scale Heterogeneous Networks (LS-HetNets) integrate different types of networks enabled by various technologies into a global coverage network to offer seamless networking. Securing End-to-End (E2E) communication in LS-HetNets is an effective way to gain high communication security and user trust across multiple network domains. However, most of existing research on E2E security suffers from several severe drawbacks, such as single point of failures, identity privacy leakage, and poor generality. The literature still lacks a universal E2E communication security framework for LS-HetNets. In this paper, we propose Sec-E2E, a decentralized framework that uses blockchain to provide E2E communication security in LS-HetNets. It comprises several components that work in harmony to ensure secure and efficient E2E communications. Sec-E2E includes a blockchain-enabled protocol for User Equipment (UE) registration and key management, a privacy-preserving mutual authentication protocol that allows Serving Networks (SNs) and UEs to authenticate with each other quickly, and a secure session key generation and distribution scheme empowered with a Trusted Execution Environment (TEE). Security and performance evaluation demonstrates that Sec-E2E not only meets desired design goals of security and privacy, but also performs with higher efficiency compared with existing representative works.
Determinants of avocado commercialization among smallholder farmers in Shebediono Woreda, Sidama Zone SNNPRS of Ethiopia

This study describes the characteristics of household market participation in avocado production. It investigates the approach required to overcome determinants of market participation among smallholders of avocado farmers in Shebedino woreda, SNNPRS, Ethiopia. The primary sources of the data are farm household surveys, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. Two hundred twenty-eight households were selected using a purposive sampling technique. The data obtained were evaluated using Double-hurdle econometric models. The results of the binary probit model revealed that in the decision to sell, land size, family size, distance from the nearest market center, market information, access to media, and the total amount of avocado produced played a significant role. The truncated regression model indicated that the age of the household head, family size, market information and the total amount of avocado produced significantly affected the level of commercialization. The result showed that enhancing the efficient utilization of the existing limited farmland, family size, access to market information, and the total amount of avocado produced had a higher value and was seen as a critical opportunity to improve the lower-income farm households. As a result, better market information, family planning, and new technology like improved verity are required to increase demand for avocado produce and income generation. Concerned bodies need to establish a market center for the farmers around their home, increasing the probability of avocado market participation. The findings of this study may help in the development of appropriate policy intervention mechanisms to promote smallholder avocado commercialization in Sidama Zone. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 13(1): 89-95, June 2023
Causes, Timing, and Factors Related to Neonatal Death: A Descriptive Study

Background: Neonatal and pediatric health have a great share in global health programs. However, the neonatal mortality rate still shows unacceptable figures and statistics worldwide. Objectives: To investigate the timing and causes of neonatal death. Methods: In this retrospective descriptive study conducted in neonatal care units of Mahdiyeh Hospital in Tehran, Iran, the census sampling method was used to include all the medical records of the expired neonates during 2015-2020. Neonatal and maternal demographics and health complications were recorded. Descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation, frequency, and associations were analyzed to compare factors recorded as causes of neonatal death and its timing. A P-value of < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Out of 24049 live births, 755 neonates had expired (3.1%). The expired neonates' average birth weight was 1616 ± 905 grams, and 35.9% weighed under 1000 grams. Most (80.8%) expired neonates were preterm (30.9 ± 4.8 gestational weeks), and the most common causes of neonatal death were prematurity (23.6%), congenital anomaly (19.9%), respiratory distress syndrome or RDS (19.5%), sepsis (13.2%), and asphyxia (7%). Most (60.7%) neonates died between the second and seventh days of birth. The following conditions were associated with an early-period neonatal death rather than a later-period: multiple births (OR = 2.8), normal vaginal delivery (OR = 2.03), low-birth-weight, diabetic mothers, neonatal heart disease, neonatal neurological diseases, RDS, asphyxia, familial marriage, and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) (P < 0.05). Being male (P = 0.005) or being multiple births (P < 0.0001) were associated with a higher risk of death. While 57% of mothers delivered through Cesarean section, among the expired neonates, 66.9% were delivered through Cesarean section. In expired neonates, Apgar scores were low in the first (5.71) and fifth (7.27) minutes of birth. Conclusions: Our study showed that prematurity, congenital anomaly, RDS, sepsis, and asphyxia were the most prevalent causes of death among expired neonates, respectively. Preterm birth and low birth weight were prevalent among expired neonates. Conducting regular similar studies periodically is important to identify, manage, and reduce neonatal mortality rates as an indicator of health promotion in the country.