Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Recurrent transient ischemic attacks in a moyamoya syndrome patient with ultra-long imaging follow-up.

Quant Imaging Med Surg 2022;12(3):2144-2152 | https://dx.doi. org/10.21037/qims-21-631 Moyamoya disease (MMD) is an idiopathic cerebrovascular condition characterized by progressive stenosis or occlusions of distal internal carotid arteries (ICAs) and their major branches, accompanied by the growth of a network of collateral vessels resembling a puff of smoke (1,2). Moyamoya syndrome (MMS) is moyamoya-like vasculopathy that develops in patients with underlying diseases, including neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1), Down syndrome, Grave’s disease, therapeutic irradiation, sickle cell anemia, and others (3). It has been reported that the majority of MMS patients experience symptomatic progression over a 5-year period, which may produce transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), ischemic strokes or brain hemorrhage (1,4,5). The outcome for patients is poor without appropriate treatment (3,5). Due to the progressive nature, prompt diagnosis and proper management are crucial to improving the long-term prognosis of patients (6). This study reports a case involving a patient with an ultralong history of MMS. The patient received noninvasive treatment based on advanced and comprehensive imaging surveillance and, to date, has achieved good clinical outcome.
DC‐GAN‐based synthetic X‐ray images augmentation for increasing the performance of EfficientNet for COVID‐19 detection

Currently, many deep learning models are being used to classify COVID‐19 and normal cases from chest X‐rays. However, the available data (X‐rays) for COVID‐19 is limited to train a robust deep‐learning model. Researchers have used data augmentation techniques to tackle this issue by increasing the numbers of samples through flipping, translation, and rotation. However, by adopting this strategy, the model compromises for the learning of high‐dimensional features for a given problem. Hence, there are high chances of overfitting. In this paper, we used deep‐convolutional generative adversarial networks algorithm to address this issue, which generates synthetic images for all the classes (Normal, Pneumonia, and COVID‐19). To validate whether the generated images are accurate, we used the k‐mean clustering technique with three clusters (Normal, Pneumonia, and COVID‐19). We only selected the X‐ray images classified in the correct clusters for training. In this way, we formed a synthetic dataset with three classes. The generated dataset was then fed to The EfficientNetB4 for training. The experiments achieved promising results of 95% in terms of area under the curve (AUC). To validate that our network has learned discriminated features associated with lung in the X‐rays, we used the Grad‐CAM technique to visualize the underlying pattern, which leads the network to its final decision.
New species or infraspecific variation? A case study of Ptychanthus striatus var. motuoensis var. nov. (Marchantiophyta: Lejeuneaceae) from Xizang, China

Abstract. An unusual specimen of the genus Ptychanthus (Lejeuneaceae) was collected in Xizang, differing from the common P. striatus in the perianth, having only five, wing-like keels (one dorsal, two lateral and two ventral), the lateral and ventral keels being sharper than the dorsal one. Molecular-phylogenetic analysis of chloroplast and nuclear DNA sequences showed that the plant was deeply nested within P. striatus. As the differences in perianth structure could not be attributed to plasticity, we interpret the phylogenetic position of the plant as the result of a recent speciation process and describe it as a new variety, P. striatus var. motuoensis.
Exploring unemployment differentials between former and non-former homeland areas in South Africa: A decomposition approach

ABSTRACT This study decomposes the unemployment rate gap between former and non-former homeland areas in South Africa. We apply the Oaxaca–Blinder [1973] decomposition technique to the 2011 population census community profiles at the main place level. Results indicate that former homeland areas suffer from relatively higher rates of unemployment compared to non-former homeland areas. The 24%-point difference is primarily explained by differences in former homeland area main place endowments. Interventions that improve educational attainment in former homeland areas and those that are sensitive to the labour market challenges faced by black South African youth and women are essential to alleviate the spatial gap.
Multifunctional GdVO4:Eu core-shell nanoparticles containing 225Ac for targeted alpha therapy and molecular imaging.

Gadolinium vanadate nanoparticles (NPs) doped with europium, in concentrations between 5-40%, were synthesized via an aqueous route to prove their multimodal imaging functionalities and their performance as radionuclide carriers for targeted alpha therapy. Core-shell Gd0.8Eu0. 2VO4 NPs were doped with the α-emitting actinium-225 to assess the in vitro retention of 225Ac and its decay daughters; francium-221 and bismuth-213. Gd0.8Eu0. 2VO4 core-shell NPs were obtained using a precipitation synthesis route having a tetragonal system, a spherical morphology, and a uniform particle size distribution. Gd0.8Eu0. 2VO4 core-shell NPs displayed the characteristic intense emission at 618 nm (red) and paramagnetic behavior of Eu and Gd cations, respectively. Partial retention of radionuclides was obtained with Gd0.8Eu0. 2VO4 core NPs, while deposition of two nonradioactive Gd0.8Eu0. 2VO4 shells significantly decreased the leakage of both 225Ac and 221Fr. The luminescence and magnetic functionalities as well as radionuclide retention capabilities of Gd0.8Eu0. 2VO4 core-shell NPs demonstrate their potential for biomedical applications.
Variation of Used Vegetable Oils’ Composition upon Treatment with Algerian Clays

The treatment of used vegetable oils (UVOs) with clays represents a pivotal step in their industrial recycling process as well as one of the most challenging topics for researchers. In particular, cheap, effective, and sustainable powders need to be explored in order to develop new processes which produce beneficial results in relation to economic and environmental aspects. In this context, five samples within commercial and waste vegetable oils were treated with two sodium- and calcium-based bentonites employing a low oil/bentonite ratio (0.15 wt%). The outcomes of the processes were monitored by FT-IR spectroscopy and compared with the data relative to the parent commercial edible oil. In particular, treatment of FT-IR data by multivariate statistical analysis allowed us to determine a chemical fingerprint characteristic of each sample. Important relationships between the overall chemical composition and the specific clay employed and the treatment time (2 or 4 h) were highlighted. Finally, N2 physisorption, TEM microscopy, and FT-IR analyses of the more efficient Na bentonite allowed us to characterize the material and thus to furnish all the information needed to set-up a general protocol for the partial regeneration of waste vegetable oil destined for further processing.
A second order ensemble method with different subdomain time steps for simulating coupled surface‐groundwater flows

In this article, we propose and study a second order, artificial compressibility ensemble method with different subdomain time steps for the Stokes–Darcy equations, which are the core model for simulating the coupled surface‐groundwater flow ensembles. The algorithm decouples the system into two subphysics problems and allows larger time steps in the porous media region while using smaller time steps in the free flow region. We also adopt an artificial compressibility technique to further decouple the computation of the velocity and the pressure for which the pressure can be updated directly without solving a Poisson equation. The ensemble algorithm results in a common coefficient matrix for all realizations of different samples, consequently allows the use of efficient direct or iterative solvers to reduce the computational cost. We provide comprehensive stability analysis for both the nonensemble and the ensemble algorithms. Our numerical experiments illustrate the algorithm is second‐order convergent and the ensemble scheme reduces the computational time of the nonensemble counterpart by 96%. A realistic numerical experiment on a curvy domain is also presented.
Chlorination of Toluene to o-Chlorotoluene Catalyzed by Ionic Liquids

Ionic liquids with [BMIM], [Et3NH], and [BPy] cations and AlnCl−3n+1, ZnnCl−2n+1, and CunCl−n+1 anions were used as the catalysts for the chlorination of toluene with Cl2. The ZnnCl−2n+1 containing ionic liquids with high Lewis acid strength had high catalytic activity for the selective chlorination of toluene to o-chlorotoluene via the electrophilic substitution reaction. Dichlorotoluenes were favorably formed when the AlnCl−3n+1 containing ionic liquids with both Lewis and Brönsted acid sites were used as the catalysts. When the CunCl−n+1 containing ionic liquids with weak Lewis acid strength were used as the catalysts, more benzyl chloride was formed via the radical chlorination of methyl group. When the [BMIM]Cl-2ZnCl2 ionic liquid was used as the catalyst, after reacting at 80 °C for 8 h, the conversion of toluene was 99.7% and the selectivities of o-chlorotoluene, p-chlorotoluene, m-chlorotoluene, benzyl chloride, and dichlorotoluenes were 65.4%, 26.0%, 4.0%, 0.4%, and 4.2%, respectively. The [BMIM]Cl-2ZnCl2 ionic liquid catalyst had good recycling performance.
CRYPTOSPORIDIUM PARVUM IN CLINICALLY EXAMINED DAIRY CALVES; MOLECULAR AND BIOCHEMICAL STUDIES

535 CRYPTOSPORIDIUM PARVUM IN CLINICALLY EXAMINED DAIRY CALVES; MOLECULAR AND BIOCHEMICAL STUDIES By A. E. MAHMOUD, HAIDY G. ABDEL-RAHMAN, EMAN M. ABOUELHASSAN AND NAHLA H. SALLAM Departments of Animal Medicine1, Clinical Pathology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt (*Correspondence: Email: haidy.galal@vet.suez.edu.eg) Abstract Cryptosridiosis is a life threatening illness of neonatal calves, leading to mal-absorption and diarrhea. The present study was carried out on 25 Holstein dairy calves, 3 to 15 days old in ElEman farm, Ismailia Governorate, Egypt. Animals were assigned into two groups; G1: included 20 calves suffered from watery to mucoid diarrhea and G2: included 5 calves were proved to be clinically healthy and used as a control one. The diseased calves were treated by oral administration of Halofuginone at a dose rate of 100 μg per kg once daily for 7 successive days. A total number of 90 blood and fecal samples were obtained from all animals during the study; 40 blood samples from diseased calf (at the onset of the appearance of the symptoms and on the 8 th day of the treatment), 40 fecal samples at the same pattern from the same animals and 10 samples (blood and feces) were collected from the control one. Forty-five blood samples were analyzed for serum enzyme activities of ALT, GGT and LDH and for serum levels of urea, creatinine, total protein, albumin, globulin, IgA, TC, TGs, HDL-C and LDL-C. The later, forty-five fecal samples were examined to detect Cryptosporidium infection utilizing ICT, microscopical and molecular identification based on 18S rRNA Gene. Clinically infected dairy calves showed clinical signs of profuse watery diarrhea with yellowish colored feces (40%) and other calves showed mucoid diarrhea (60%) which persist for 7 days resulting in dehydration, weakness and loss of body weight. The study revealed a significant increase in levels of ALT, GGT, LDH and urea with a highly significant reduction in concentration of IgA in the diseased calves. Meanwhile, a non-significant change in levels of total protein, albumin and globulin were reported among all groups. Lipid profile of the diseased calves revealed a significant increase in both levels of T.C and LDL-C with a highly significant reduction in the level of T.Gs in the diseased calves. Meanwhile, HDL-C level showed a non-significant change in all groups.
Increased $V_{\text{OC}}$ and FF in ZnO 1-x S x -buffered CuIn 1-x Ga x Se 2 Solar Cells by Cadmium Partial Electrolyte Treatment

We applied a Cd partial electrolyte treatment (Cd-PE) to condition the surface of CuIn 1-x Ga x Se 2 (CIGS) layers for solar cells in combination with a ZnO 1-x S x buffer by chemical bath deposition or sputtering. The treatment led to increased $V_{\text{OC}}$ , FF, and efficiency. We find that a Cd-PE leads to an improved CIGS/buffer layer heterojunction quality in ZnO 1-x S x -buffered devices. We use advanced characterization methods as well as simulations in order to further understand the mechanism.
Cell Wall Composition of Hemp Shiv Determined by Physical and Chemical Approaches

The use of agricultural by-products in the building engineering realm has led to an increase in insulation characteristics of biobased materials and a decrease in environmental impact. The understanding of cell wall structure is possible by the study of interactions of chemical compounds, themselves determined by common techniques like Van Soest (VS). In this study, a global method is investigated to characterise the cell wall of hemp shiv. The cell wall molecules were, at first, isolated by fractionation of biomass and then analysed by physical and chemical analysis (Thermal Gravimetric Analysis, Elementary Analysis, Dynamic Sorption Vapor and Infra-Red). This global method is an experimental way to characterise plant cell wall molecules of fractions by Thermal Gravimetric Analysis following by a mathematical method to have a detailed estimation of the cell wall composition and the interactions between plant macromolecules. The analyzed hemp shiv presents proportions of 2.5 ± 0.6% of water, 4.4 ± 0.2% of pectins, 42.6 ± 1.0% (Hemicellulose–Cellulose), 18.4 ± 1.6% (Cellulose–Hemicellulose), 29.0 ± 0.8% (Lignin–Cellulose) and 2.0 ± 0.4% of linked lignin.
Semi‐automatic reconstruction of object lines using a smartphone’s dual camera

In this paper, the possibility of reconstructing object lines using a smartphone’s rear dual camera (wide‐angle and telephoto) was examined through designing a semi‐automatic system. After calibrating both cameras, six scenes for each of three objects were captured and rectified. Object lines were categorised into six groups based on the distance and angle to the dual camera system. Image lines were extracted using the linear Hough transform technique and points of intersection detected. Stereo pairing of conjugate points then allowed the calculation of object coordinates and the lengths of object lines were compared to their lengths measured by a digital caliper. The best line reconstruction results were achieved with the smallest distance and angle to the dual camera system.
Physicochemical and mechanical properties of a novel fiber extracted from the stem of common reed plant

Abstract Natural fiber usage rather than the synthetic fibers is attracted by researchers due to their special features such as biodegradable, inexpensive, easy availability, low density, and good thermal properties. This present work deliberates the characterization and testing of untreated and treated fibers extracted from the common reed plant stem. From the characterization, it reveals that the treated fibers had higher crystallinity index value with 75.41% and cellulose content having 64.56%. The thermal stability and mechanical properties of fiber was improved by alkali treatment. The surface roughness of the fibers due to the elimination of the noncellulosic substance on alkali treatment is evidenced by SEM.
Status of Humoral and Cellular Immune Responses within 12 Months following CoronaVac Vaccination against COVID-19

CoronaVac is an inactivated vaccine containing whole-virion SARS-CoV-2, which has been approved in 43 countries for emergency use as of 26 November 2021. However, the long-term immune persistence of the CoronaVac vaccine is still unknown. Here, we reported the status of the persistence of antibodies and cellular responses within 12 months after two doses of CoronaVac. Such data are crucial to inform ongoing and future vaccination strategies to combat COVID-19. ABSTRACT Understanding immune memory to COVID-19 vaccines is critical for the design and optimal vaccination schedule for curbing the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we assessed the status of humoral and cellular immune responses at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after two-dose CoronaVac vaccination. A total of 150 participants were enrolled, and 136 of them completed the study through the 12-month endpoint. Our results show that, at 1 month after vaccination, both binding and neutralizing antibodies could be detected; the seropositive rate of binding antibodies and seroconversion rate of neutralizing antibodies were 99% and 50%, respectively. From 3 to 12 months, the binding and neutralizing antibodies declined over time. At 12 months, the binding and neutralizing antibodies were still detectable and significantly higher than the baseline. Gamma interferon (IFN-γ) and interleukin 2 (IL-2) secretion specifically induced by the receptor-binding domain (RBD) persisted at high levels until 6 months and could be observed at 12 months, while the levels of IL-5 and granzyme B (GzmB) were hardly detected, demonstrating a Th1-biased response. In addition, specific CD4+ T central memory (TCM), CD4+ effector memory (TEM), CD8+ TEM, and CD8+ terminal effector (TE) cells were all detectable and functional up to 12 months after the second dose, as the cells produced IFN-γ, IL-2, and GzmB in response to stimulation of SARS-CoV-2 RBD. Our work provides evidence that CoronaVac induced not only detectable binding and neutralizing antibody responses, but also functional SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4+ and CD8+ memory T cells for up to 12 months. IMPORTANCE CoronaVac is an inactivated vaccine containing whole-virion SARS-CoV-2, which has been approved in 43 countries for emergency use as of 26 November 2021. However, the long-term immune persistence of the CoronaVac vaccine is still unknown. Here, we reported the status of the persistence of antibodies and cellular responses within 12 months after two doses of CoronaVac. Such data are crucial to inform ongoing and future vaccination strategies to combat COVID-19.
COMBINED OXIDATION AND ULTRAFILTRATION PROCESSES FOR THE REMOVAL OF PRIORITY ORGANIC POLLUTANTS FROM WASTEWATERS

This paper presents a study on the integration of two advanced treatment processes for the removal of priority organic processes from wastewaters: catalytic oxidation (Fenton homogenous process) followed by ultrafiltration. The aim of this study was to assess the removal efficiency for 4-chlorophenol (used as model pollutant), as well as the decrease in effluent toxicity in various processes conditions. The experiments have mainly focused on studying the effect of the oxidant dose of the catalytic oxidation process on the performance of the ultrafiltration process and on the toxicity of the final effluents. Furthermore, the mechanisms of the Fenton homogenous oxidation processes and the removal of heavy molecular weight compounds in ultrafiltration were studied. The results have shown that the toxicity of the effluents decreases significantly through catalytic oxidation, while the ultrafiltration process mainly contributes in removing the oxidation intermediates, especially the high molecular weight compounds.
How Do Value Co-Creation and E-Engagement Enhance E-Commerce Consumer Repurchase Intention?: An Empirical Analysis

This study develops an integrated model to investigate how value co-creation, driven by positively-valanced e-engagement, enhances repurchase intention among e-commence consumers. Applying the tenets of UTAUT, this study also examines the moderating role of technology adoption in the association between e-engagement and value co-creation in the e-commerce context. Data were collected via 411 surveys completed by e-commerce consumers in India. Data analysis was done using PLS structural equation modelling. Results show that value co-creation, driven by positively-valanced e-engagement, enhances repurchase intention among e-commerce consumers, while, technology adoption moderates the association between positively-valanced e-engagement and value co-creation. The findings also reveal that consumption values, such as utilitarian and hedonic values, mediate the effects of value co-creation on repurchase intention among e-commerce consumers.
Comparison of PCR versus PCR-Free DNA Library Preparation for Characterising the Human Faecal Virome

The human intestinal microbiota is abundant in viruses, comprising mainly bacteriophages, occasionally outnumbering bacteria 10:1 and is termed the virome. Due to their high genetic diversity and the lack of suitable tools and reference databases, the virome remains poorly characterised and is often referred to as “viral dark matter”. However, the choice of sequencing platforms, read lengths and library preparation make study design challenging with respect to the virome. Here we have compared the use of PCR and PCR-free methods for sequence-library construction on the Illumina sequencing platform for characterising the human faecal virome. Viral DNA was extracted from faecal samples of three healthy donors and sequenced. Our analysis shows that most variation was reflecting the individually specific faecal virome. However, we observed differences between PCR and PCR-free library preparation that affected the recovery of low-abundance viral genomes. Using three faecal samples in this study, the PCR library preparation samples led to a loss of lower-abundance vOTUs evident in their PCR-free pairs (vOTUs 128, 6202 and 8364) and decreased the alpha-diversity indices (Chao1 p-value = 0.045 and Simpson p-value = 0.044). Thus, differences between PCR and PCR-free methods are important to consider when investigating “rare” members of the gut virome, with these biases likely negligible when investigating moderately and highly abundant viruses.
The role of howler monkeys (Alouatta caraya) in the primary succession of the Paraná flooded forest (Argentina)

In disturbed forests, Atelidae primates, such as howler monkeys, are known to play a key role in the dynamics of secondary succession. However, little is known about their role in primary succession. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of the howler monkey Alouatta caraya in the primary succession dynamics of the Paraná flooded forest, in northeastern Argentina. This was achieved by studying the recruitment of saplings in the latrines of A. caraya groups inhabiting the forest in the first stages of succession and the distribution of plant species in relation to the age of the forest. The results showed that: (a) young forest areas were dominated by tree species dispersed by water, wind, birds, bats and fishes, whereas older forest areas were dominated by species dispersed by A. caraya, with individuals of some species present in young forests; (b) the floristic composition of saplings growing in A. caraya latrines of young forest areas was similar to that of old forest areas; and (c) saplings growing in young forest areas were heavily associated with A. caraya latrines and corresponded to species from older forest areas. The results allow the conclusion that A. caraya plays a role in the last phase of primary succession of the Paraná flooded forest, as well as in contributing to an increase in the structural complexity and species diversity in the young areas of the Paraná islands.