Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dual Crosslinked Ion-Based Bacterial Cellulose Composite Hydrogel Containing Polyhexamethylene Biguanide

Composite bacterial cellulose (BC) based hydrogel with alginate (A) or pectin (P) or alginate and pectin was fabricated via a physical crosslinking technique using calcium chloride (CaCl2) solution and incorporated with polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) as an effective antimicrobial drug by immersion method. After that, the physicochemical properties of all hydrogel formulations were characterized. The result showed that the formulations with PHMB performed better physicochemical properties than the hydrogel without PHMB. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) showed the interaction between PHMB and the carboxylic group of alginate and pectin. BC/A-PHMB hydrogel performed suitable mechanical strength, fluid uptake ability, water retention property, drug content, high integrity value, and maximum swelling degree. Moreover, in vitro cell viability of BC/A-PHMB hydrogel revealed high biocompatibility with human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT) and demonstrated prolong released of PHMB in Tris-HCl buffer pH 7.4, while rapid release in phosphate buffer saline pH 7.4. BC/A-PHMB hydrogel demonstrated good anti-bacterial activity against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. In conclusion, BC/A-PHMB hydrogel could be a potential dual crosslinked ion-based hydrogel for wound dressing with anti-bacterial activity.
Predicting Patterns of Problematic Smartphone Use among University Students: A Latent Class Analysis

University students are consistently ranked among the highest users of smartphones. As such, recent research has focused on examining the antecedents and consequences of problematic smartphone use among university students. While this work has been instrumental to our understanding of the risk and protective factors of developing problematic smartphone use, it has been largely variable-centered and thus fails to recognize the diversity with which problematic smartphone use is experienced among university students. As such, this study employed a person-centered approach (i.e., latent class analysis) to classify individuals based on patterns of problematic smartphone use feature/symptom cooccurrence among a sample of 403 Canadian university students. The relationships between these subgroups (or classes) and potential covariates (i.e., self-regulation, attachment anxiety, and attachment avoidance) were then examined to gain a more complete understanding of university students’ experiences of problematic smartphone use. Three classes of problematic smartphone use were identified: (1) “connected” displaying the features/symptoms of problematic smartphone use associated with being constantly connected to smartphones; (2) “problematic” displaying all of the features/symptoms of problematic smartphone use; (3) “distracted” displaying the features/symptoms associated with being distracted by smartphones. Findings indicate that attachment anxiety and avoidance were significantly associated with membership in the most pathological (i.e., “problematic”) class, suggesting that this may be an especially important risk factor for developing problematic smartphone use among university students. Moreover, self-regulation was significantly related to membership in the least pathological class (i.e., “connected”) suggesting that this may function as an important protective factor in developing more concerning patterns of problematic smartphone use. Findings from this work provide empirical evidence of a heterogeneity in patterns of problematic smartphone use associated with distinct individual-level risk factors. This has important implications for conceptualizations of problematic smartphone use and the development of intervention and prevention efforts.
Intra-Abdominal Malignant Melanoma: Challenging Aspects of Epidemiology, Clinical and Paraclinical Diagnosis and Optimal Treatment—A Literature Review

According to European consensus-based interdisciplinary guidelines for melanoma, cutaneous melanoma (CM) is the most deadly form of dermatological malignancy, accounting for 90% of the deaths of skin cancer patients. In addition to cutaneous melanoma, mucosal melanoma occurs in four major anatomical sites, including the upper respiratory tract, the conjunctiva, the anorectal region, and the urogenital area. As this cancer type metastasizes, a classification used in the current medical literature is the distinction between secondary lesions and primary malignant melanoma of the abdominal cavity. Given that malignant melanoma is the most common cancer that spreads to the gastrointestinal tract, different imaging modalities compete to diagnose the phenomenon correctly and to measure its extension. Treatment is primarily surgery-based, supported by immunotherapy, and prolongs survival, even when performed at stage IV illness. In the end, special forms of malignant melanoma are discussed, such as melanoma of the genito-urinary tract and amelanotic/achromic melanoma. The importance of this present literature review relies on yielding and grouping consistent and relevant, updated information on the many aspects and challenges that a clinician might encounter during the diagnosis and treatment of a patient with intra-abdominal melanoma.
Independence, Work Ethic, Spirituality, and Productivity: A Comparative Study of Several Asian Countries

This study compares the values ​​of independence, work ethic, spirituality, and productivity in several Asian countries. The other purpose of this study is to determine the effect of independence, work ethic, and spirituality on productivity. This study uses World Value Survey (WVS) data with the criteria of respondents who answered the WVS wave 7 questionnaires from Asian countries with a sample size of 19,795. The quantitative research method uses descriptive analysis techniques and probit regression analysis. The descriptive analysis technique uses crosstab, while the probit regression analysis technique is used to determine the effect of independence, work ethic, and spirituality on productivity in several Asian countries. Analysis crosstab shows that Tajikistan, Iran, Taiwan, Pakistan, and the Philippines have a high proportion of unemployed. Kyrgyzstan, Jordan, China, Bangladesh, and Vietnam have a higher tendency for freedom of choice (independence) in their respective country groups. Kyrgyzstan, Jordan, China, Pakistan, and Myanmar have higher work ethic tendencies. Russia, China, Japan, and Vietnam have minor religious inclinations. Probit regression results prove that independence, work ethic, and spirituality significantly affect the dependent variable (productivity). Independence and work ethic have a positive influence, while spirituality has a negative influence. In contrast, all members of the West Asian group all countries have important religious inclinations.
Scoping Review of National Antimicrobial Stewardship Activities in Eight African Countries and Adaptable Recommendations

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health problem threatening safe, effective healthcare delivery in all countries and settings. The ability of microorganisms to become resistant to the effects of antimicrobials is an inevitable evolutionary process. The misuse and overuse of antimicrobial agents have increased the importance of a global focus on antimicrobial stewardship (AMS). This review provides insight into the current AMS landscape and identifies contemporary actors and initiatives related to AMS projects in eight African countries (Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia), which form a network of countries participating in the Commonwealth Partnerships for Antimicrobial Stewardship (CwPAMS) programme. We focus on common themes across the eight countries, including the current status of AMR, infection prevention and control, AMR implementation strategies, AMS, antimicrobial surveillance, antimicrobial use, antimicrobial consumption surveillance, a one health approach, digital health, pre-service and in-service AMR and AMS training, access to and supply of medicines, and the impact of COVID-19. Recommendations suitable for adaptation are presented, including the development of a national AMS strategy and incorporation of AMS in pharmacists’ and other healthcare professionals’ curricula for pre-service and in-service training.
Cone-beam computed tomographic evaluation of dimensional hard tissue changes following alveolar ridge preservation with leucocyte and platelet-rich fibrin techniques: a pilot study

Objective: This study evaluated the effect of leucocyte and platelet-rich fibrin (L-PRF) techniques used in alveolar ridge preservation on dimensional hard tissue changes of the alveolar ridge assessed using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans. Material and Methods: Elective alveolar ridge preservation surgeries were performed on seven systemically healthy patients who underwent single posterior tooth extraction. Patients were randomly treated with PRF mixed with a commercial bone xenograft (n = 3) or PRF plug (n = 4). CBCT scans were taken immediately after tooth extraction and then four months later, just before implant surgery. Dimensional alterations in socket height (SH), socket area (SA) and socket volume (SV) were evaluated on CBCT scans by percentage differences before and after treatments. Results: Sockets treated with PRF plus bone xenograft had a tendency to maintain alveolar bone dimensions over time (SH= 11.22% to 82.74%, SA= 1.84% to 48.91% and SV= 9.11% to 203.62%), while sockets treated only with PRF plug technique presented only a modest increase in height (SH= 1.47% to 11.11%) but greater alveolar ridge resorption confirmed by a decrease in socket area and volume dimensions (SA= 0.21% to -24.09% SV= 8.53% to -54.12%). Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, the maintenance of alveolar socket dimensions was observed when PRF was associated with a xenograft. However, the loss of alveolar ridge dimensions was not entirely prevented by PRF treatment alone.
A Novel Method Based on Improved Coyote Optimization Algorithm for Searching the Best Tour for the Travelling Salesman Problem

: This paper presents a new method relied on improved coyote optimization algorithm (ICOA) for traveling salesman problem (TSP). COA is a recent recently metaheuristic algorithm that is inspired from the social life of coyote. To improve the performance of ICOA, the 2-opt algorithm is applied to adjust created new solutions. In addition, the swapping technique with varying exchange city number is also equipped to enhance the exploration and exploitation ability of ICOA. The efficiency of the ICOA is compared with COA on the 14, 30-, 48, 52, 76-and 100-city instances. The simulated results show that ICOA reaches the better results than COA for the most instances. The average error of ICOA is 0.0057%, 0.2937%, 0.0613%, 5.8431% and 49.3940% lower than that of COA for the 30-, 48, 52, 76-and 100-city instances, respectively. Furthermore, the maximum, average and standard deviation objective values as well as the number of convergence generations of ICOA are also lower than those of COA. Moreover, ICOA has also achieved the optimal solution with higher quality compared to the previous approaches in literature. Consequently, ICOA is one of the methods worth considering for the TSP problem.
FLOWERING LOCUS T indel variants confer vernalization-independent and photoperiod-insensitive flowering of yellow lupin (Lupinus luteus L.)

Abstract Ongoing climate change has considerably reduced the seasonal window for crop vernalization, concurrently expanding cultivation area into northern latitudes with long-day photoperiod. To address these changes, cool season legume breeders need to understand molecular control of vernalization and photoperiod. A key floral transition gene integrating signals from these pathways is the Flowering locus T (FT). Here, a recently domesticated grain legume, yellow lupin (Lupinus luteus L.), was explored for potential involvement of FT homologues in abolition of vernalization and photoperiod requirements. Two FTa (LlutFTa1a and LlutFTa1b) and FTc (LlutFTc1 and LlutFTc2) homologues were identified and sequenced for two contrasting parents of a reference recombinant inbred line (RIL) population, an early-flowering cultivar Wodjil and a late-flowering wild-type P28213. Large deletions were detected in the 5′ promoter regions of three FT homologues. Quantitative trait loci were identified for flowering time and vernalization response in the RIL population and in a diverse panel of wild and domesticated accessions. A 2227 bp deletion found in the LlutFTc1 promoter was linked with early phenology and vernalization independence, whereas LlutFTa1a and LlutFTc2 indels with photoperiod responsiveness. Comparative mapping highlighted convergence of FTc1 indel evolution in two Old World lupin species, addressing both artificial selection during domestication and natural adaptation to short season environmental conditions. We concluded that rapid flowering in yellow lupin is associated with the de-repression of the LlutFTc1 homologue from the juvenile phase, putatively due to the elimination of all binding sites in the promoter region for the AGAMOUS-like 15 transcription factor.
Employees’ Perception of HRM Practices and Organizational Citizenship Behaviour: The Mediating Role of the Work–Family Interface

The aim of the study was to explore if and to what extent a positive perception of Human Resource Management Practices could be related to Organizational Citizenship Behaviors and if the Work–Family Interface could act as a mediator of such relationship. A group of 406 employees of an Italian sector of the Public Administration filled in a self-report questionnaire encompassing socio-professional information and the following psycho-social measures: Perception of Human Resource Management Scale, Work–Family Interface, and Organizational Citizenship Behaviors Scale. The results confirmed the importance of Human Resource Management Practices perceptions for positive Organizational Behaviors underlining the crucial role played by positive work-to-family and family-to-work spillover as mediators. The study reflected on the work–family relationships demonstrating the mediating role of positive work–family spillover in the relationships between perceived HR practices and organizational citizenship behaviors. The main limitations were related to the cross-sectional nature of the study and to the self-report measures used that raised concerns about possible common method bias. The findings showed implications for HR practices to plan actions and interventions aimed at supporting employees’ work–family balance and at encouraging organizational citizenship behaviors.
Knowledge Management Practices in a Religious Organisation in South Africa

Knowledge Management has developed over the years into a mainstream organisational necessity to achieve success and organisational effectiveness. Religious organisations are one of the most producers of knowledge. In many parts of Africa, several Pentecostal churches are established regularly, especially in crowded informal settlements. The knowledge conversion model was utilised to assess the knowledge management practices at a Pentecostal church in an informal settlement in Cape Town, South Africa. The objectives of the study were to examine the awareness and uptake of KM in the religious organisations, determine the level of openness of the members and leaders to knowledge sharing and conversion as well as assess how religious organisations leverage knowledge conversion and KM practices in achieving their goals in spreading the gospel and to enhance their community services. The church leadership and adult members of the church constituted the study population. The findings of this study revealed that the level of awareness and uptake of KM was very low because there was no documented training as well as responsible individuals responsible for the management of knowledge. Tacit knowledge is being shared informally through dialogue communication and religious meetings. However, this knowledge is not formally extracted, documented, or converted into explicit knowledge for organisational productivity, further sharing and future reuse. Although some of the leaders were not keen on knowing explicitly managed and shared in the organisation, religious members thought it is very important for knowledge to be documented and shared. Furthermore, as knowledge sharing is not prioritised within the organisation, the goal of spreading the gospel and to enhance their community services was found to be sluggish. The study developed a conceptual model for implementing knowledge management in Pentecostal religious organisations.
What Was and Is Algebraic Thinking Skills at Different Education Levels?

The aim of this study is to determine the algebraic thinking levels, misconceptions and understanding levels of algebraic expressions of 6th, 7th and 8th grade students. In this research, developmental research methods, which is one of the descriptive studies, were used. This study was carried out with secondary school students (6th, 7th and 8th grades) studying in a public school located in a province of the Eastern Anatolia Region in Turkey. The sample of the study consists of 82 students studying at secondary school in the second semester of the academic year 2020-2021. Algebraic thinking levels determination form (ATLDF), consisting of 8 questions and 4 levels, and interview were used as data collection tools. The test was administered to 33 students from 6th grades, 21 students from 7th grades and 28 students from 8th grades, and then interviews were conducted. From the tests and interviews, it was seen that the students had 30 misconceptions about algebraic expressions, that their algebraic thinking levels were quite low, that there were only 3 students who could reach Level-4 and all of these students were female students. From the results, it was concluded that the algebraic thinking level of the students who have problems in the transition from arithmetic to algebra is low; and therefore, it was suggested that the connection between arithmetic and algebra should be established firmly, and studies should be done in this direction.
Changes in Physiological Condition of Broiler Chickens Sprayed with Water before Transportation

Transportation to the slaughterhouse is a series of processes that can cause high levels of stress in broilers. Heat stress will increase if the distance between the farm and the slaughterhouse is far. One of the solutions to overcome heat stress due to transportation is to do watering a few minutes before the transportation so that the broilers are still able to maintain their homeostatic conditions. This study aims to determine the effect of watering methods before transportation with different distances on the haematological, hormonal, and quality status of broiler chickens. This study was arranged based on a factorial randomized block design (RAK). A total of 54 broilers of the Cobb strain aged 35 days were divided into 2 treatments, namely; without watering (P0) and watering (P1). Chickens in each treatment were transported to the poultry slaughterhouse with 2 different distances; 30km (J1) and 60km (J2), as well as 1 control treatment (without transport) (J0). Watering is done just before the transportation process. The results showed that the transportation distance increased the yellowness value (b*) of the breast meat, decreased the brightness value (L*), and increased the pH of the broiler thigh meat (P0.05). Hematocrit values, hemoglobin levels, and concentrations of the hormone triiodothyronine (T3), other meat color components, as well as the pH of the breast meat, did not change significantly, both in terms of watering, distance traveled, and the interaction between the two (P0.05). The solution of water spraying before transportation on different distances could not restore the hematology and hormonal status, as well as the meat quality of the broiler. However, the decline in meat quality was shown in transported broilers.
The Prevalence of Uncontrolled Hypertension among Patients Taking Antihypertensive Medications and the Associated Risk Factors in North Palestine: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background Uncontrolled hypertension (HTN) is a challenge for public health professionals all over the world. It is the leading and most important modifiable risk factor for coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, stroke, renal diseases, and retinopathy. The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of uncontrolled HTN among Palestinian hypertensive patients on treatment. In addition, the study aimed to explore the relationship between socio-demographic and clinical factors with HTN control as well as establish a comprehensive literature review for similar studies. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted. 218 hypertensive patients who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study. Results HTN is not adequately controlled in over 60% of treated patients. Factors that were linked to uncontrolled HTN and were statistically significant as per this study were diabetes (p=0.010), high BMI (p=0.009), smoking (p < 0.0001), lower educational level (p=0.002), and monotherapy (p=0.004). Conclusion The results suggest that effective efforts on improving HTN control are strongly needed. The efforts need to target hypertensive patients who are also smokers, diabetics, having a low education level, and have a higher-than-normal BMI.
The Influence of Sociodemographic Factors, Lifestyle, and Risk Perception on Dietary Patterns in Pregnant Women Living in Highly Contaminated Areas: Data from the NEHO Birth Cohort

During pregnancy, maternal nutrition and lifestyle play a critical role in influencing fetal development and newborn health outcomes. The aim of this study is to investigate the factors influencing the adherence to dietary patterns in pregnant women living in highly contaminated areas, and whether women with higher environmental risk perception manifest different nutritional behaviors during pregnancy. Food consumption data on 816 pregnant women from the Neonatal Environment and Health Outcomes (NEHO) residential birth cohort were analyzed. Dietary patterns were computed by principal component analysis. A multinomial logistic regression was also applied to identify sociodemographic, lifestyle, and pregnancy-related determinants of adherence to dietary patterns during pregnancy. Three patterns of food consumption—explaining 24.9% of the total variance—were identified as “prudent”, “high energy”, and “vegetarian” patterns. Results suggest that food choices during pregnancy follow a social gradient and align with other health behaviors during pregnancy: older, better educated, and physically active women with higher risk perception are more likely to follow healthier dietary patterns. Knowledge about what is eaten can contribute to dietary choices. Interventions to improve the prenatal nutrition knowledge of pregnant women are needed, especially concerning younger mothers and those with lower educational levels.