Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Causes of Death and Pathological Findings in Stranded Harbour Porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) from Swedish Waters

Simple Summary Disease factors and mortality etiologies of free ranging wild cetaceans such as the harbour porpoise (Phoceona phocoena) are difficult to study. However, stranded animals and carcasses can provide invaluable information on the health and biology of this species. Post-mortem examinations performed on 128 stranded harbour porpoises collected over 15 years from Swedish waters examined general health, disease findings and cause of death. The main cause of death was bycatch in fishing gear (31%, confirmed or suspected). Disease, most often pneumonia, was also a frequent cause of death (21%). Porpoise population health may mirror the overall health and stability of marine ecosystems and the effects of human activities on coastal environments. Monitoring health, diseases and causes of death of porpoises allows for identification of threats to these animals, to other animals, to humans and to the environment. Abstract Harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) are useful indicators of the health of their wild populations and marine ecosystems, yet their elusive nature makes studying them in their natural environment challenging. Stranded porpoises provide an excellent source of data to study the health and biology of these animals and identify causes of death, diseases and other threats. The aim of this study was to document pathology, and where possible, cause of death in porpoises from Swedish waters. Post-mortem examinations were performed on 128 stranded porpoises collected from 2006 to 2020. Overall, bycatch including definitive and probable cases was the most common cause of death (31.4%), followed by disease (21.3%), predominantly pneumonia. In adults, infectious disease was the most common cause of death. Bacteria with zoonotic potential such as Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae and Brucella sp. were documented for the first time in porpoises from Swedish waters, as was the porpoise-adapted group B Salmonella enterica ST416/ST417. Three of four deaths from non-infectious diseases involved parturition complications. Four cases of suspected predation were documented, but further analyses are required to confirm these findings. Our results are consistent with those from other regions in Europe and serve as a reference for future monitoring for changing patterns of health and disease of porpoises and their environments.
Distribution, drivers and population structure of the invasive alien snail Tarebia granifera in the Luvuvhu system, South Africa

Invasive alien species continue to spread and proliferate in waterways worldwide, but environmental drivers of invasion dynamics lack assessment. Knowledge gaps are pervasive in the Global South, where the frequent heavy human‐modification of rivers provides high opportunity for invasion. In southern Africa, the spatio‐temporal ecology of a widespread and high‐impact invasive alien snail, Tarebia granifera, and its management status is understudied. Here, an ecological assessment was conducted at seven sites around Nandoni Reservoir on the Luvuvhu River in South Africa. The distribution and densities of T. granifera were mapped and the potential drivers of population structure were explored. T. granifera was widespread at sites impacted to varying extents due to anthropogenic activity, with densities exceeding 500 individuals per square meter at the most impacted areas. T. granifera predominantly preferred shallow and sandy environments, being significantly associated with sediment (i.e., chlorophyll‐a, Mn, SOC, SOM) and water (i.e., pH, conductivity, TDS) variables. T. granifera seemed to exhibit two recruitment peaks in November and March, identified via size‐based stock assessment. Sediment parameters (i.e., sediment organic matter, sediment organic carbon, manganese) and water chemistry (i.e., pH, total dissolved solids, conductivity) were found to be important in structuring T. granifera populations, with overall snail densities highest during the summer season. We provide important autecological information and insights on the distribution and extent of the spread of T. granifera. This may help in the development of invasive alien snail management action plans within the region, as well as modelling efforts to predict invasion patterns elsewhere based on environmental characteristics.
Nursing Staff Readiness regarding Utilization of Six Sigma of Quality Management in Critical Care Units

Background: Six sigma is an approach of quality management, which is intended to improve the healthcare services, and processes by continuously reducing defects due to excessive process variation in health care. Aim of study: Was to assess nursing staff readiness regard utilization of six sigma of quality management. Design: A descriptive correlational design was used. Setting: The study was conducted in critical care unit at Banha University Hospital. Subjects: A Convenient sample consisted of 266 of nursing staff divided into (236 staff nurses and 30 head nurses). Tools: Two tools were used: 1Six sigma knowledge questionnaire and 2-Six sigma readiness questionnaires. Results: The highest percent of nursing staff had fair knowledge level regard utilization of six sigma of quality management. Also, this result showed that the majority of nursing staff had low readiness level regarding utilization of six sigma of quality management. Conclusion: There were no statistically significant relation between nursing staff knowledge and their readiness toward using of six sigma of quality management. Recommendation: Hospital administration should provide training programs to increase nursing staff awareness of six sigma and their readiness to apply six sigma in their work place. ــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــ ــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــ
Cytokinin and gibberellic acid-mediated waterlogging tolerance of mungbean (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek)

Background Mungbean (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek) is one of the most important pulse crops, well-known for its protein-rich seeds. Growth and productivity are severely undermined by waterlogging. Methods In this study, we aim to evaluate how two promising phytohormones, namely cytokinin (CK) and gibberellic acid (GA3), can improve waterlogging tolerance in mungbean by investigating key morphological, physiological, biochemical, and yield-related attributes. Results Our results showed that foliar application of CK and GA3 under 5-day of waterlogged conditions improved mungbean growth and biomass, which was associated with increased levels of photosynthetic rate and pigments. Waterlogged-induced accumulation of reactive oxygen species and the consequently elevated levels of malondialdehyde were considerably reduced by CK and GA3 treatments. Mungbean plants sprayed with either CK or GA3 suffered less oxidative stress due to the enhancement of total phenolics and flavonoids levels. Improvement in the contents of proline and total soluble sugars indicated a better osmotic adjustment following CK and GA3 treatments in waterlogged‐exposed plants. Most fundamentally, CK or GA3-sprayed waterlogged-stressed mungbean plants demonstrated better performance in the aforementioned parameters after the 15-day recovery period as compared to water-sprayed waterlogged-exposed plants. Our results also revealed that CK and GA3 treatments increased yield-associated features in the waterlogged-stressed plant. Here, both phytohormones are efficient in improving mungbean resistance to waterlogging. However, CK was found to be more effective. Overall, our findings suggested that CK or GA3 could be used for managing waterlogging-induced damage to mungbean and perhaps in other cash crops.
Outcome of Endoscopic Excision of the Third Ventricular Colloid Cyst

Article information Background: Colloid cyst of the third ventricle is not uncommon. The complete excision is crucial to relieve symptoms and prevent associated completions. Previously open excision was the role. However, the endoscopic approaches gained wide acceptance. The aim of the work: The study aimed to assess the outcome of endoscopic excision of the third ventricular colloid cyst by symptoms resolution, excision extent and complications rate. Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective study that covered the duration from February 2018 to February 2021. It included 20 subjects with a third ventricular colloid cyst, who managed by an endoscopic excision. Files were reviewed for preoperative evaluation [history, clinical neurological and ophthalmological examination] and radiological investigations to identify the cyst size, site, density and enhancement and the size of the third ventricle. Postoperatively, all patients were evaluated by general and neurological clinical examination, follow up imaging study immediately [second postoperative day], at 3 and 6 postoperative months. All complications and recurrence rate were documented, and results were graded on Barrow Neurological Institute scale. Results: Males represented 60.0%; the mean age was 37.5±11.3 years. All had headache, 80.0% had blurred vision, and papilledema was recognized among 90.0%. The average size of the cyst was 17.4±2.66 mm. The total cyst removal was achieved for 85.0% and partial removal for 15.0%. Postoperative infections were developed in 20.0%. Three patients [15%] had temporary amnesia and one patient [5%] had intraventricular hemorrhage. All symptoms were resolved after surgery, except for three patients. Two of them [10%] had mild visual disturbance and one had amnesia. The recurrence of the cyst was detected in 2 patients [10%]. Conclusion: Endoscopic colloid cyst excision is an effective, safe and reliable technique with established learning curve. Submitted: 19-12-2021 Accepted: 18-01-2022 DOI: 10.21608/IJMA.2022. 108900.1414 *Corresponding author Email: man201210.com@gmail.com Citation: Ibrahim ASA, Alsamoly HM, Youssef M, Hussein HM. Outcome of Endoscopic Excision of the Third Ventricular Colloid Cyst. IJMA 2022 Jan; 4 [1]: 2095-2101 [DOI: 10.21608/ IJMA.2022. 108900.1414].
Internet Use and Psychosomatic Symptoms among University Students: Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Although the internet facilitates access to a wide range of knowledge and evidence, overuse among young people is associated with lower wellbeing and psychosomatic symptoms. The aim of this cross-sectional study is to explore the relationship between internet use, mental wellbeing, and psychosomatic symptoms among university students in Slovenia. Methods: We used correlation matrix plots to identify correlated symptoms and multivariate logistic regression to analyze the relationship between the time spent on the internet or computer and psychosomatic symptoms controlling for gender. Symptoms were measured using the Health Behavior of School Children scale. Results: Out of 464 students, the majority (64.7%, n = 300) were healthcare students and 35.3% (n = 164) were computer science students. Among somatic symptoms, headaches were associated with more time spent on the computer (r = −0.17, p < 0.001) and were significantly more prevalent in computer science students compared to health science students (χ2(1) = 8.52, p = 0.004). Time spent using the internet for spare time activities was associated with lower nervousness (r = 0.15, p = 0.005). Conclusions: Computer science students reported more frequent psychological symptoms compared to health science students and less somatic symptoms.
Stakeholders, as a Bridge Between Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility

This paper summarizes the arguments and counterarguments within the scientific discussion on the issue of stakeholders, the drivers of business ethics and corporate social responsibility for companies nowadays. The main purpose of the research is to comprehend how integrating corporate social responsibility in the core of business may contribute to the creation of a positive organization image among stakeholders. Systematization literary sources and approaches for establishing ethical business indicate that integrating corporate social responsibility in the business strategy may ethically influence stakeholders’ perception. The relevance of the decision of this scientific problem is that companies worldwide are facing a challenging period as the interests, expectations and needs of individuals are changing. Firms should embrace and adapt to the new reality to survive and function properly. For instance, besides economic objectives, organizations should strive to achieve social goals. Hence, companies should act based on fairness, responsibility, honesty, equity and morality. Investigation of the topic stakeholders, the drivers of business ethics and corporate social responsibility for companies nowadays in the paper is carried out in the following logical sequence: firstly, the theoretical concepts have been defined (ethics, business ethics, stakeholder theory, corporate social responsibility). Then the interdependency between business ethics and corporate social responsibility has been presented briefly. The methodological research was based on a quantitative method: the investigation and analysis of secondary data from 2016-2021. The paper presents the results of an empirical study focused on identifying how companies might create and maintain relationships with parties of interest in a responsible manner, which showed that in the initial phase of the process, corporate social responsibility should be integrated into the core of the business. The research empirically confirms and theoretically proves that an organization that develops positive relationships with its internal and external environment may benefit from credibility among stakeholders and a positive company image. The results of the research can be useful for practitioners or researchers interested in the responsible management of businesses.
Implementation and certification of Duncan-Chang model in ANSYS software

This paper introduces the method and outline to develop and implement Duncan-Chang constitutive model in ANSYS software.The final numerical verification verifies that it will be possible to accomplish some complex stress-strain analysis for geotechnical engineering problems by fully making use of the powerful nonlinear solving platform after ANSYS is added Duncan-Chang constitutive model.
In silico structure-based analysis of the predicted protein-protein interaction of Syntaxin-18, a putative receptor of Peregrinus maidis Ashmead (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) with Maize mosaic virus glycoprotein

The corn planthopper, Peregrinus maidis, is a widely distributed insect pest which serves as a vector of two phytopathogenic viruses, Maize mosaic virus (MMV) and Maize stripe virus (MStV). It transmits the viruses in a persistent and propagative manner. MMV is an alphanucleorhabdovirus with a negative-sense, single-stranded (ss) RNA unsegmented genome. One identified insect vector protein that may serve as receptor to MMV is Syntaxin-18 (PmStx18) which belongs to the SNAREs (soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors). SNAREs play major roles in the final stage of docking and subsequent fusion of diverse vesicle-mediated transport events. In this work, in silico analysis of the interaction of MMV glycoprotein (MMV G) and PmStx18 was performed. Various freely available protein-protein docking web servers were used to predict the 3D complex of MMV G and PmStx18. Analysis and protein-protein interaction (PPI) count showed that the complex predicted by the ZDOCK server has the highest number of interaction and highest affinity, as suggested by the calculated solvation free energy gain upon formation of the interface (ΔiG = −31 kcal/mol). Molecular dynamics simulation of the complex revealed important interactions at the interface over the course of 50 ns. This is the first in silico analysis performed for the interaction on a putative receptor of P. maidis and MMV G. The results of the protein-protein interaction prediction provide novel information for studying the role of STX18 in the transport, docking and fusion events involved in virus particle transport in the insect vector cells and its release.
An Examination of Education Professionals’ Beliefs About Causes of Autism and Their Perceptions of Practices

The quantity and quality of research focused on autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have grown over the past several decades. Ensuring that research findings are accessible and understood by education professionals is essential for improving outcomes for individuals with ASD. In this study, we evaluated education professionals’ knowledge about ASD, specifically (a) beliefs about causes of ASD, (b) their familiarity with evidence-based practices (EBPs) and non-EBPs, (c) the likelihood of using or recommending EBPs compared with non-EBPs, and (d) the extent to which source credibility influenced the likelihood of using or recommending different types of practices. Education professionals (N = 62) completed a paper survey. Responses on a modified version of the Illness Perception Questionnaire–Revised (Moss-Morris et al., 2002) were used to evaluate participants’ beliefs regarding causal attributes of ASD. Educators were also asked to read texts describing four EBPs and four non-EBPs. The text presentation was based on a 2 × 2 within-subjects factorial design with practice status (EBP or non-EBP) and source credibility (credible or not credible) as the independent variables. After reading each text, participants reported on whether they were (a) familiar with the practice and (b) the extent to which they would use or recommend the practice. Results indicate that school personnel were highly confident that neurobiological factors were a causal attribute of ASD. In addition, respondents were more familiar with, and more likely to recommend or use, EBPs as compared with non-EBPs. Source credibility did not significantly affect participants’ likelihood of using or recommending practices.
Weighted Brain Network Analysis on Different Stages of Clinical Cognitive Decline

This study addresses brain network analysis over different clinical severity stages of cognitive dysfunction using electroencephalography (EEG). We exploit EEG data of subjective cognitive impairment (SCI) patients, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients. We propose a new framework to study the topological networks with a spatiotemporal entropy measure for estimating the connectivity. Our results show that functional connectivity and graph analysis are frequency-band dependent, and alterations start at the MCI stage. In delta, the SCI group exhibited a decrease of clustering coefficient and an increase of path length compared to MCI and AD. In alpha, the opposite behavior appeared, suggesting a rapid and high efficiency in information transmission across the SCI network. Modularity analysis showed that electrodes of the same brain region were distributed over several modules, and some obtained modules in SCI were extended from anterior to posterior regions. These results demonstrate that the SCI network was more resilient to neuronal damage compared to that of MCI and even more compared to that of AD. Finally, we confirm that MCI is a transitional stage between SCI and AD, with a predominance of high-strength intrinsic connectivity, which may reflect the compensatory response to the neuronal damage occurring early in the disease process.
pattern of blood cell parameters in thyroid dysfunction

Background: Thyroid hormones are important in hematopoiesis, especially erythropoiesis. Thyroid dysfunction, including hypo and hyperthyroidism, are associated with variable hematological abnormalities, particularly anemia. Thyroid disorders are associated with not only quantitative hematological defects but also with functional abnormalities of blood cells. Aim of the work: To evaluate the daily routine blood cell parameters with thyroid dysfunction (hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism). Patients and methods: This Prospective study was conducted from October 2020 and May 2021 at the clinical pathology department, Al-Azhar University Hospitals, Cairo, Egypt. One hundred Egyptian patients suffering from thyroid dysfunction (hypothyroid and hyperthyroid) and fifty healthy volunteers (subjects without thyroid dysfunction) as a control group were enrolled in the study. History and clinical examination were done as well as the following laboratory investigations, complete blood count, blood smear, reticulocyte count, thyroid-stimulating hormone, free T3, and free T4. Results: From our study, we found that WBC count and differentiation and platelet count and Retics have no significant association with hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism patients. In the hypothyroid group, microcytic hypochromic anemia was a common finding. Some patients show anisocytosis. In the hyperthyroid group, some patients show mild microcytic hypochromic anemia with anisocytosis. Additionally, few patients show normocytic normochromic anemia. Conclusion: Microcytic hypochromic anemia and anisocytosis were common findings in patients with hypothyroidism. Both normocytic normochromic anemia and microcytic hypochromic anemia were seen in hyperthyroidism patients. However, microcytic anemia was more common. Anisocytosis was frequently seen in both conditions.
Automated Cobb Angle Measurement for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Using Convolutional Neural Network

The Cobb angle measurement of the scoliotic spine is prone to inter- and intra-observer variations in the clinical setting. This paper proposes a deep learning architecture for detecting spine vertebrae from X-ray images to evaluate the Cobb angle automatically. The public AASCE MICCAI 2019 anterior-posterior X-ray image dataset and local images were used to train and test the proposed convolutional neural network architecture. Sixty-eight landmark features of the spine were detected from the input image to obtain seventeen vertebrae on the spine. The vertebrae locations obtained were processed to automatically measure the Cobb angle. The proposed method can measure the Cobb angle with accuracies up to 93.6% and has excellent reliability compared to clinicians’ measurement (intraclass correlation coefficient > 0.95). The proposed deep learning architecture may be used as a tool to augment Cobb angle measurement in X-ray images of patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in a real-world clinical setting.