Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ocular Trauma Trends during COVID-19 Pandemic

Background The article aims to study the demographics and clinical characteristics of ocular trauma patients presenting to the Eye Casualty Clinic between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 era in Ampang Hospital, Malaysia. Methods In this cross-sectional study, data of patients presented with ocular trauma injury to the Ampang Hospital during the COVID-19 era from 18 March 2020 to 17 September 2020 were retrieved and compared with the similar period of the previous non-COVID-19 era year. Results Among the total number of 453 patients, 76.82% (n = 348) were predominantly males. The commonest age group was between 21 years old–40 years old (49.45%, n = 224), and the commonest location of ocular trauma injury occurred at the workplace (38.19%, n = 173); welding was the commonest work-related injury (13.83% in 2019; 12.50% in 2020). Injury-to-treatment time was significantly longer during the COVID-19 era, where patients who sought treatment within a day of injury were 27.27% (n = 69) in 2019 and 18.50% (n = 37) in 2020 (P = 0.030). During the COVID-19 pandemic, patients with vision worse than 6/60 on presentation were higher at 8% compared with 3.56% before the COVID-19 pandemic (OR = 2.35; 95% CI: 1.01, 5.48; P = 0.047). Similarly, patients with a vision worse than 6/60 post-treatment during the COVID-19 period were significantly higher at 7.00% compared with 1.58% before the COVID-19 pandemic (OR = 4.72; 95% CI: 1.53, 14.62; P = 0.007). Conclusion The majority of ocular trauma cases in this study population were male adults between 21 years old and 40 years old, and welding was the commonest work-related injury. COVID-19 era has a higher percentage of patients presented with severe visual impairment, longer injury-to-treatment time and poorer post-treatment visual outcomes.
Sequence- and structure-specific RNA oligonucleotide binding attenuates heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1 dysfunction

The RNA binding protein heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1 (A1) regulates RNA metabolism, which is crucial to maintaining cellular homeostasis. A1 dysfunction mechanistically contributes to reduced cell viability and loss, but molecular mechanisms of how A1 dysfunction affects cell viability and loss, and methodologies to attenuate its dysfunction, are lacking. Utilizing in silico molecular modeling and an in vitro optogenetic system, this study examined the consequences of RNA oligonucleotide (RNAO) treatment on attenuating A1 dysfunction and its downstream cellular effects. In silico and thermal shift experiments revealed that binding of RNAOs to the RNA Recognition Motif 1 of A1 is stabilized by sequence- and structure-specific RNAO-A1 interactions. Using optogenetics to model A1 cellular dysfunction, we show that sequence- and structure-specific RNAOs significantly attenuated abnormal cytoplasmic A1 self-association kinetics and A1 cytoplasmic clustering. Downstream of A1 dysfunction, we demonstrate that A1 clustering affects the formation of stress granules, activates cell stress, and inhibits protein translation. With RNAO treatment, we show that stress granule formation is attenuated, cell stress is inhibited, and protein translation is restored. This study provides evidence that sequence- and structure-specific RNAO treatment attenuates A1 dysfunction and its downstream effects, thus allowing for the development of A1-specific therapies that attenuate A1 dysfunction and restore cellular homeostasis.
Responses to water stress extremes in diverse red clover germplasm accessions

Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), a key perennial pastoral species used globally, can strengthen pastural mixes to withstand increasingly disruptive weather patterns from climate change. Breeding selections can be refined for this purpose by obtaining an in-depth understanding of key functional traits. A replicated randomized complete block glasshouse pot trial was used to observe trait responses critical to plant performance under control (15% VMC), water deficit (5% VMC) and waterlogged conditions (50% VMC) in seven red clover populations and compared against white clover. Twelve morphological and physiological traits were identified as key contributors to the different plant coping mechanisms displayed. Under water deficit, the levels of all aboveground morphological traits decreased, highlighted by a 41% decrease in total dry matter and 50% decreases in both leaf number and leaf thickness compared to the control treatment. An increase in root to shoot ratio indicated a shift to prioritizing root maintenance by sacrificing shoot growth, a trait attributed to plant water deficit tolerance. Under waterlogging, a reduction in photosynthetic activity among red clover populations reduced several morphological traits including a 30% decrease in root dry mass and total dry matter, and a 34% decrease in leaf number. The importance of root morphology for waterlogging was highlighted with low performance of red clover: there was an 83% decrease in root dry mass compared to white clover which was able to maintain root dry mass and therefore plant performance. This study highlights the importance of germplasm evaluation across water stress extremes to identify traits for future breeding programs.
Effects of Glucosinolate-Enriched Red Radish (Raphanus sativus) on In Vitro Models of Intestinal Microbiota and Metabolic Syndrome-Related Functionalities

The gut microbiota profile is determined by diet composition, and therefore this interaction is crucial for promoting specific bacterial growth and enhancing the health status. Red radish (Raphanus sativusL.) contains several secondary plant metabolites that can exert a protective effect on human health. Recent studies have shown that radish leaves have a higher content of major nutrients, minerals, and fiber than roots, and they have garnered attention as a healthy food or supplement. Therefore, the consumption of the whole plant should be considered, as its nutritional value may be of greater interest. The aim of this work is to evaluate the effects of glucosinolate (GSL)-enriched radish with elicitors on the intestinal microbiota and metabolic syndrome-related functionalities by using an in vitro dynamic gastrointestinal system and several cellular models developed to study the GSL impact on different health indicators such as blood pressure, cholesterol metabolism, insulin resistance, adipogenesis, and reactive oxygen species (ROS). The treatment with red radish had an influence on short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) production, especially on acetic and propionic acid and many butyrate-producing bacteria, suggesting that consumption of the entire red radish plant (leaves and roots) could modify the human gut microbiota profile toward a healthier one. The evaluation of the metabolic syndrome-related functionalities showed a significant decrease in the gene expression of endothelin, interleukin IL-6, and cholesterol transporter-associated biomarkers (ABCA1 and ABCG5), suggesting an improvement of three risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome. The results support the idea that the use of elicitors on red radish crops and its further consumption (the entire plant) may contribute to improving the general health status and gut microbiota profile.
Automatic classification of the vertebral endplate lesions in magnetic resonance imaging by deep learning model

Introduction A novel classification scheme for endplate lesions, based on T2-weighted images from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, has been recently introduced and validated. The scheme categorizes intervertebral spaces as “normal,” “wavy/irregular,” “notched,” and “Schmorl's node. ” These lesions have been associated with spinal pathologies, including disc degeneration and low back pain. The exploitation of an automatic tool for the detection of the lesions would facilitate clinical practice by reducing the workload and the diagnosis time. The present work exploits a deep learning application based on convolutional neural networks to automatically classify the type of lesion. Methods T2-weighted MRI scans of the sagittal lumbosacral spine of consecutive patients were retrospectively collected. The middle slice of each scan was manually processed to identify the intervertebral spaces from L1L2 to L5S1, and the corresponding lesion type was labeled. A total of 1,559 gradable discs were obtained, with the following types of distribution: “normal” (567 discs), “wavy/irregular” (485), “notched” (362), and “Schmorl's node” (145). The dataset was divided randomly into a training set and a validation set while preserving the original distribution of lesion types in each set. A pretrained network for image classification was utilized, and fine-tuning was performed using the training set. The retrained net was then applied to the validation set to evaluate the overall accuracy and accuracy for each specific lesion type. Results The overall rate of accuracy was found equal to 88%. The accuracy for the specific lesion type was found as follows: 91% (normal), 82% (wavy/irregular), 93% (notched), and 83% (Schmorl's node). Discussion The results indicate that the deep learning approach achieved high accuracy for both overall classification and individual lesion types. In clinical applications, this implementation could be employed as part of an automatic detection tool for pathological conditions characterized by the presence of endplate lesions, such as spinal osteochondrosis.
Adherence to option B+ PMTCT program and its predictors among HIV‐positive women in Ethiopia. A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Previously, few studies investigated level of adherence to option B+ lifelong antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Ethiopia. However, their findings were inconsistent. Therefore, this review aimed to determine the pooled magnitude of adherence to option B+ lifelong ART and its predictors among human immune virus (HIV)‐positive women in Ethiopia.
Multimodality OCT, IVUS and FFR evaluation of coronary intermediate grade lesions in women vs. men

Background The pathophysiology of atherosclerotic plaque formation and its vulnerability seem to differ between genders due to contrasting risk profiles and sex hormones, however this process is still insufficiently understood. The aim of the study was to compare the differences between sexes regarding the optical coherence tomography (OCT), intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and fractional flow reserve (FFR)-derived coronary plaque indices. Methods In this single-center multimodality imaging study patients with intermediate grade coronary stenoses identified in coronary angiogram (CAG) were evaluated using OCT, IVUS and FFR. Stenoses were considered significant when the FFR value was ≤0.8. Minimal lumen area (MLA), was analyzed by OCT in addition to plaque stratification into fibrotic, calcific, lipidic and thin-cap fibroatheroma (TCFA). IVUS was used for evaluation of lumen-, plaque- and vessel volume, as well as plaque burden. Results A total of 112 patients (88 men and 24 women) with chronic coronary syndromes (CCS), who underwent CAG were enrolled. No significant differences in baseline characteristics were present between the study groups. The mean FFR was 0.76 (0.73–0.86) in women and 0.78 ± 0.12 in men (p = 0.695). OCT evaluation showed a higher prevalence of calcific plaques among women than men p = 0.002 whereas lipid plaques were more frequent in men (p = 0.04). No significant differences regarding minimal lumen diameter and minimal lumen area were found between the sexes. In IVUS analysis women presented with significantly smaller vessel area, plaque area, plaque volume, vessel volume (11.1 ± 3.3 mm2 vs. 15.0 ± 4.6 mm2 p = 0.001, 6.04 ± 1.7 mm2 vs. 9.24 ± 2.89 mm2 p < 0.001, 59.8 ± 35.2 mm3 vs. 96.3 (52.5–159.1) mm3 p = 0.005, 106.9 ± 59.8 mm3 vs. 153.3 (103–253.4) mm3 p = 0.015 respectively). At MLA site plaque burden was significantly greater for men than women (61.50 ± 7.7% vs. 55.5 ± 8.0% p = 0.005). Survival did not differ significantly between women and men (94.6 ± 41.9 months and 103.51 ± 36.7 months respectively; p = 0.187). Conclusion The presented study did not demonstrate significant differences in FFR values between women and men, yet a higher prevalence of calcific plaques by OCT and lower plaque burden at the MLA site by IVUS was found in women vs. men.
Lung cancer screening in patients with head and neck cancer: an opportunity frequently missed

J Thorac Dis 2023;15(6):2893-2895 | https://dx.doi. org/10.21037/jtd-23-427 Soto and co-workers recently published their important study in the Journal of Thoracic Disease, which describes lung cancer screening eligibility and uptake in a cohort of individuals with head and neck cancer, from an oncology clinic in North America (1). The pertinent context to this study is underpinned by two major trials, the national lung screening trial (NLST) originally published in 2011 (2) and the Nederlands Leuvens Screening Onderzoek (NELSON) study in 2020 (3). The NLST investigated over 50,000 individuals deemed at high risk of developing lung cancer and demonstrated a 20% reduction in lung cancer related death over 7 years, in patients who received screening with computed tomography (CT) chest compared with chest radiograph. The NELSON study primarily reported on male patients randomised to either CT chest screening or no screening and also demonstrated improved lung cancer specific mortality. A number of complementary smaller trials had been carried out, a meta-analysis of these studies in 2021 reported a 3% reduction in all-cause mortality in patients screened with CT (4-6). In support of this, a large-scale prospective study including over 1 million participants demonstrated a reduction in all-cause mortality of 32% in high-risk patients who received a single CT thorax (7). Collectively the data overwhelming suggests that there are a group of patients who would be benefit from screening with CT chest for lung malignancy. The United States preventive services task force (USPSTF), on the basis of the described evidence, currently suggests that patients with a smoking history of 20 pack years aged between 50 and 80 years old should undergo yearly low dose CT chest for lung cancer screening (8). Prior to the publication of the NELSON study which used similar inclusion criteria, the USPSTF recommendation had been for 55to 80-year-old with at least a 30-pack-year history, reflecting the inclusion criteria of the NLST. Both guidelines have been considered by Soto and colleagues. Of the 184 patients with head and neck cancer considered for this study 8 were identified as eligible for lung cancer screening under the current USPSTF guidelines and 7 under the previous guidelines. Surprisingly only a further single patient was already engaged in the screening programme at the time of interview. These results alone point to an unmet need, a highrisk group of patients eligible for inclusion in a screening programme shown to impact mortality, are not currently being included. The results from Soto et al. (1) indicate that 5% of patients with head and neck cancer may be eligible for lung cancer screening. This may well be an Editorial
Quantification of Torque Teno Virus (TTV) in plasma and saliva of individuals with liver cirrhosis: a cross sectional study

Introduction Torque teno virus (TTV) has been pointed as an endogenous marker of immune function, the objective of this study was to investigate the TTV viral load in plasma and saliva of cirrhotic individuals and correlate it with clinical characteristics. Methods Blood, saliva, clinical data from records and laboratory tests were collected from 72 cirrhotic patients. Plasma and saliva were submitted to real-time polymerase chain reaction for quantification of TTV viral load. Results The majority of the patients presented decompensated cirrhosis (59.7%) and 47.2% had alterations in the white blood series. TTV was identified in 28 specimens of plasma (38.8%) and in 67 specimens of saliva (93.0%), with median values of TTV copies/mL of 90.6 in plasma and 245.14 in saliva. All the patients who were positive for TTV in plasma were also positive in saliva, with both fluids having a moderately positive correlation for the presence of TTV. There was no correlation between TTV viral load, either in plasma or in saliva, and any of the variables studied. Conclusion TTV is more frequently found and in greater amount in the saliva than in the plasma of cirrhotic patients. There was no correlation between TTV viral load and clinical parameters.
Precalculus teachers’ perspectives on using graphing calculators: an example from one curriculum

ABSTRACT Graphing calculators are hand-held technological tools currently used in mathematics classrooms. Teachers’ perspectives on using graphing calculators are important in terms of exploring what teachers think about using such technology in advanced mathematics courses, particularly precalculus courses. A descriptive intrinsic case study was conducted to analyse the perspectives of 11 teachers using graphing calculators with potential Computer Algebra System (CAS) capability while teaching Functions, Statistics, and Trigonometry, a precalculus course for 11th-grade students developed by the University of Chicago School Mathematics Project. Data were collected from multiple sources as part of a curriculum evaluation study conducted during the 2007–2008 school year. Although all teachers were using the same curriculum that integrated CAS into the instructional materials, teachers had mixed views about the technology. Graphing calculator features were used much more than CAS features, with many teachers concerned about the use of CAS because of pressures from external assessments. In addition, several teachers found it overwhelming to learn a new technology at the same time they were learning a new curriculum. The results have implications for curriculum developers and others working with teachers to update curriculum and the use of advanced technologies simultaneously.
The Ominous Aspergillus With Cancer of Blood Vessels: A Case of Invasive Aspergillosis and Epithelioid Angiosarcoma of the Lung

Invasive aspergillosis occurs in the setting of risk factors such as severe or prolonged neutropenia, defects in cell-mediated immunity, and receipt of immunosuppressive therapy, particularly in patients with graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Pulmonary epithelioid angiosarcomas (EASs) are rare malignant vascular tumors that are aggressive, frequently metastatic, and associated with a poor prognosis. We describe these two rare conditions occurring concurrently.
Empirical and experimental studies of flashover in compartment fire

The development of enclosure fires; the essence, characteristics, hazard, prevention and control of flashover; characteristics of modem buildings and flashover in them; and distinction between backdraught and flashover were all summarized. The basic theories of flashover, major variables, research methods, means of identifying and predicting flashover, characteristics of extrusive flames, and the application of studies of flashover in existing practice were all reviewed. Current problems of flashover were discussed and some comments on existing knowledge made. Compartment fire experiments were described and results given. Some analytical methods used in the thesis such as error analysis, multiple linear regression analysis, dynamic response analysis and Fourier analysis were introduced. Primary data was used to study the synchronism between flashover indicators, the effects of thermal inertia of lining materials on temperature history and the development of enclosure fires when changing vent size. A fresh regression analysis was performed to update the MQH method to include modem compartment materials with a wider span of thermal inertia. Some theoretical developments of the MQH method were then presented and tested. According to these developments and based on 101 fresh experiments, some new and improved correlations were gained. The error analyses of these correlations and relevant comparisons and discussions were given. The heat transfer of extrusive flame was theoretically analyzed and experimentally studied. A method was proposed for calculating the radiant heat flux to external surfaces from hot gas and extrusive flame, and an experimental study was made to examine the validity of the method. Results show current practice in combating fire spread between buildings is reasonable, but that the contribution of radiant heat from extrusive flame is non-negligible for extreme circumstances. Research into the combustion of exterior wall cladding caused by extrusive flame was also described. Dynamic response and Fourier analysis of hot gas layer temperature histories has led to new proposals for early warning of flashover during a fire. As a result, some new methods of predicting the temperature history and flashover likelihood of enclosure fires were put forward.
Stress Factors, Stress Levels, and Coping Mechanisms among University Students

Aims To explore university students' levels of stress, stressors, and their coping style. Methods A cross-sectional correlational design with a convenience sample (n = 676) of university students who completed the Student-Life Stress Inventory (SSI) and Coping Strategies Indicator (CSI) was used. Findings. Overall, two-thirds of the participant reported moderate levels of stress. Students with chronic illness, living alone, low CGPA, and having exams today experienced a statistically higher mean level of stress. Students who are living alone used the “avoidance” method more significantly and the “social support” method significantly less compared with students who are living with their families and friends. Conclusion This study concurs with others that university students are prone to distress. To our knowledge, this is the first study in the region to explore the students' coping skills. Some of the employed coping and associated factors could be used to lay the groundwork for evidence-based prevention and mitigation.
Clinical outcome of supervised pulmonary telerehabilitation program among adult patients with post‐acute COVID‐19 symptoms (PACS): A case series

Patients with post‐acute COVID‐19 symptoms (PACS) can present with significant sequela due to the complex systemic effects of COVID‐19 infection. Most affected patients have persistent symptoms for 3–12 months after recovery from the acute phase of COVID‐19. Dyspnea affecting activities of daily living is one of the most challenging symptoms and has led to an influx of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) demand. Here we report the outcome of nine subjects with PACS who underwent 24 sessions of supervised pulmonary telerehabilitation. An improvised telerehabilitation PR was formulated to accommodate home confinement during the pandemic. Exercise capacity and pulmonary function were assessed using a cardiopulmonary exercise test, pulmonary function test, and St. George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). The clinical outcome shows improved exercise capacity on the 6‐minute walk test for all patients, and most had improvement in VO2 peak and SGRQ. Seven patients improved in forced vital capacity and six in forced expiratory volume. PR is a comprehensive intervention for patients with chronic obstructive disease aimed at alleviating pulmonary symptoms and improving functional capacity. In this case series, we report its usefulness in patients with PACS and its feasibility when delivered as a supervised telerehabilitation program. Further support for the effectiveness of PR patients with PACS is mandated.