Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Patient Perceptions of Head and Neck Ambulatory Telemedicine Visits: A Qualitative Study

Objective During the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been unprecedented use of telemedicine for otolaryngology ambulatory visits. Patient satisfaction with telemedicine is an important metric, but survey-based questionnaires do not capture the nuances of the patient experience. This study aims to understand head and neck patients’ perceptions about telemedicine clinic visits during COVID-19. Methods Fifty-six established patients who had video-based telemedicine visits with an otolaryngology–head and neck surgery faculty member between March 25, 2020, and April 24, 2020, completed unstructured telephone interviews. Conventional content analysis was used to analyze the interview data. Retrospective chart reviews were conducted to determine the patients’ demographic, disease, and treatment information. Results The primary benefits of telemedicine were accessibility and cost and time savings. Primary limitations included the ability to perform a physical examination. Most patients expressed a willingness to participate in future remote visits if appropriate or necessitated by social circumstances. Discussion Telemedicine is a disruptive process, and long-term adoption requires understanding patient perception of and satisfaction with telemedicine. Head and neck cancer patients were generally satisfied with telemedicine. The study elucidated patient perceived benefits and limitations of telemedicine. Implications for Practice Continued implementation of telemedicine in otolaryngology–head and neck ambulatory clinics will require consideration of contextual features surrounding the virtual delivery of care, with particular attention to visit appropriateness for telemedicine and social circumstances.
Role of Beneficial Microorganisms and Salicylic Acid in Improving Rainfed Agriculture and Future Food Safety

Moisture stress in rainfed areas has significant adverse impacts on plant growth and yield. Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) plays an important role in the revegetation and rehabilitation of rainfed areas by modulating plant growth and metabolism and improving the fertility status of the rhizosphere soils. The current study explored the positive role of PGPR and salicylic acid (SA) on the health of the rhizosphere soil and plants grown under rainfed conditions. Maize seeds of two different varieties, i.e., SWL-2002 (drought tolerant) and CZP-2001 (drought sensitive), were soaked for 4 h prior to sowing in 24-h old culture of Planomicrobium chinense strain P1 (accession no. MF616408) and Bacillus cereus strain P2 (accession no. MF616406). The foliar spray of SA (150 mg/L) was applied on 28-days old seedlings. The combined treatment of the consortium of PGPR and SA not only alleviated the adverse effects of low moisture stress of soil in rainfed area but also resulted in significant accumulation of leaf chlorophyll content (40% and 24%), chlorophyll fluorescence (52% and 34%) and carotenoids (57% and 36%) in the shoot of both the varieties. The PGPR inoculation significantly reduced lipid peroxidation (33% and 23%) and decreased the proline content and antioxidant enzymes activities (32% and 38%) as compared to plants grown in rainfed soil. Significant increases (>52%) were noted in the contents of Ca, Mg, K Cu, Co, Fe and Zn in the shoots of plants and rhizosphere of maize inoculated with the PGPR consortium. The soil organic matter, total nitrogen and C/N ratio were increased (42%), concomitant with the decrease in the bulk density of the rhizosphere. The PGPR consortium, SA and their combined treatment significantly enhanced the IAA (73%) and GA (70%) contents but decreased (55%) the ABA content of shoot. The rhizosphere of plants treated with PGPR, SA and consortium showed a maximum accumulation (>50%) of IAA, GA and ABA contents, the sensitive variety had much higher ABA content than the tolerant variety. It is inferred from the results that rhizosphere soil of treated plants enriched with nutrients content, organic matter and greater concentration of growth promoting phytohormones, as well as stress hormone ABA, which has better potential for seed germination and establishment of seedlings for succeeding crops.
Differential patterns of interhemispheric functional connectivity between AQP4-optic neuritis and MOG-optic neuritis: a resting-state functional MRI study

Background Several neuroimaging studies demonstrated that optic neuritis (ON) leads to functional and anatomical architecture changes in the brain. The alterations of interhemispheric functional connectivity (IFC) in patients with AQP4-ON and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-ON are not well understood. Purpose To investigate the differential patterns of VMHC in patients with AQP4-ON and MOG-ON. Material and Methods Twenty-one patients with AQP4-ON, 11 patients with MOG-ON, and 34 healthy controls underwent resting-state MRI scans. One-way ANOVA was used to identify regions in which the zVMHC differed among the three groups. Post hoc two-sample t-tests were then conducted to compare zVMHC values between pairs of groups. Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to reveal relationships between mean zVMHC values and clinical variables in the AQP4-ON and MOG-ON groups. Results The results revealed significant differences in zVMHC values in the PreCG among the three groups. Compared to the control group: the AQP4-ON group showed significantly lower VMHC values in the superior temporal gyrus, inferior frontal gyrus, and PreCG; and the MOG-ON group showed significantly higher zVMHC values in the PostCG. Compared to the AQP4-ON group, the MOG-ON group showed significantly lower zVMHC values in the PreCG/PostCG (voxel-level P<0.01, GRF correction, cluster-level P<0.05) Conclusion Patients with AQP4-ON and those with MOG-ON showed abnormal VMHC in the motor cortices, sensorimotor cortices, and frontal lobe, possibly indicating impaired sensorimotor function in patients with ON. Moreover, differential patterns of VMHC in patients with AQP4-ON, compared to patients with MOG-ON, might serve as a clinical indicator for classification of ON.
Enhanced protection against lipopolysaccharide‐induced acute lung injury by autologous transplantation of adipose‐derived stromal cells combined with low tidal volume ventilation in rats

Adipose‐derived stromal cells (ADSCs) showed excellent capacity in regeneration and tissue protection. Low tidal volume ventilation (LVT) strategy demonstrates a therapeutic benefit on the treatment of acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS). This study, therefore, aimed to undertaken determine whether the combined LVT and ADSCs treatment exerts additional protection against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced ALI in rats. The animals were randomized into seven groups: Group I (control), Group II (instillation of LPS at 10 mg/kg intratracheally), Group III (LPS+LVT 6 ml/kg), Group IV (LPS+intravenous autologous 5 × 106 ADSCs which were pretreated with a scrambled small interfering RNA [siRNA] of keratinocyte growth factor [KGF] negative control), Group V (LPS+ADSCs which were pretreated with a scrambled siRNA of KGF, Group VI (LPS+LVT and ADSCs as in the Group IV), and Group VII (LPS+LVT and ADSCs as in the Group V). We found that levels of tumor necrosis factor‐α, transforming growth factor‐β1, and interleukin (IL)‐1β and IL‐6, the proinflammatory cytokines, were remarkably increased in LPS rats. Moreover, the expressions of ENaC, activity of Na, K‐ATPase, and alveolar fluid clearance (AFC) were obviously reduced by LPS‐induced ALI. The rats treated by ADSCs showed improved effects in all these changes of ALI and further enhanced by ADSCs combined with LVT treatment. Importantly, the treatment of ADSCs with siRNA‐mediated knockdown of KGF partially eliminated the therapeutic effects. In conclusion, combined treatment with ADSCs and LVT not only is superior to either ADSCs or LVT therapy alone in the prevention of ALI. Evidence of the beneficial effect may be partly due to improving AFC by paracrine or systemic production of KGF and anti‐inflammatory properties.
Investigation of antioxidant and anti‐nociceptive potential of isoxazolone, pyrazolone derivatives, and their molecular docking studies

A series of new isoxazolone (3a–d) and pyrazolone (4a–d) derivatives were synthesized and assessed for their antioxidant and analgesic activity. Among synthesized compounds, 3b and 4b having nitro (NO2) group show high analgesic activity at a dose of 6 mg/kg. Analgesic activity was further proceeded to explore the contribution of opioidergic mechanisms in the mediation of analgesic effects. Animals were administered with naloxone, a nonselective opioid inverse agonist, at the dose of 0.5 mg/kg. The results obtained suggested that the analgesic effects of the synthesized compounds were not reversed by naloxone, specifying that the compounds 3b and 4b do not follow the opioidergic pathway in order to relieve pain in animal models. Further, the binding interactions of compounds 3b and 4b were analyzed by docking them against nonopioid receptors COX‐1 (3N8X) and COX‐2 (3LN1). The results demonstrate the analgesic potential of isoxazolone and pyrazolone derivatives, especially compounds 3b and 4b can be considered promising lead molecules for further investigation and development into potent analgesic drugs. In addition, the antioxidant potential of compounds was also found to be related to better analgesic activity, thus providing an insight into the role of oxidative stress in the mediation of analgesia.
Nestling Survival of White-faced Ibis in Lahontan Valley, Nevada, U.S.A

Abstract This study examines the survival of first and second hatched White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi) nestlings from fledging until colony dispersal (age 8-42 days) in Lahontan Valley, Nevada, using the Kaplan-Meier method. Out of 81 radiomarked nestlings sampled from six colonies during a two-year period (1995 and 1997), 18 died before reaching the age of 42 days and eleven were excluded from consideration. No evidence was found to suggest that survival rates of first and second hatched nestlings were different within or among years. The overall nestling survival rate was 76% ± 0.05 SE. The primary mortality source was inclement weather exposure. Weekly conditional survival rates were highest during the first week (99% ± 0.01 SE), and lowest in the second (87% ± 0.04 SE) and fourth (93% ± 0.03 SE) weeks of life.
Estrogen Receptor Assay in Human Mammary Carcinoma with the Synthetic Estrogen 11β-Methoxy-17α-ethinyl-1,3,5(10)-estratriene-3,17β-diol (R 2858)

Abstract The interaction of the tritiated synthetic estrogen R 2858 (11β-methoxy-17α-ethinyl-1,3,5(10)-estratriene-3,17β-diol) with the cytosol estrogen receptor in human mammary carcinoma and with sex hormone-binding globulin in human serum was compared with the binding of [ 3 H]estradiol. Unlike estradiol, R 2858 does not bind to sex hormonebinding globulin, which prevents interference of this serum protein in estrogen receptor assays. The affinity of R 2858 for the estrogen receptor was about 10 times less than was the affinity of estradiol for the same receptor. The amount of unspecific binding was less with [ 3 H]R 2858 than with [ 3 H]estradiol. Quantitation of the estrogen receptor with [ 3 H]estradiol as ligand in Scatchard analysis, glycerol gradient centrifugation, or isoelectric focusing was affected by an excessive contamination of the tissue samples with serum. This interference was not observed when [ 3 H]R 2858 was used as ligand in the assays. [ 3 H]R 2858 offers two main advantages, when compared to [ 3 H]estradiol, in assays of the estrogen receptor in human mammary carcinoma tissue grossly contaminated with blood. ( a ) It is specifically bound to the estrogen receptor but not to sex hormone-binding globulin. ( b ) It has less tendency to bind unspecifically to components in human serum and breast cancer cytosol when compared to [ 3 H]estradiol. The advantages of [ 3 H]R 2858 as a ligand in estrogen receptor assays are very apparent when the tumor tissue is collected by fine-needle aspiration biopsy; the specimens obtained by this technique are often grossly contaminated with blood.
Research of The WSN Routing based on Artificial Bee Colony Algorithm

To improve poor performance of LEACH protocol in the energy consumption, an improved algorithm based on ABC algorithm is proposed. Through the introduction of data fusion, propose a WSN Routing Protocol, and example the process of the artiﬁcial colony algorithm improved LEACH protocol cluster head election. The simulation results show that, compared with traditional LEACH protocol, this algorithm can eﬀectively balance the load of network, decrease the energy consumption of nodes, reduce network traﬃc by about 10%, and improve network lifetime by 33.83%
Data, methods and assumptions in phylogenetic inference.

We consider data, methods and assumptions in relation to phylogenetic inference under two main themes, that of assumptions and models relating to methodology (independent of the data), and assumptions and models relating to kinds of data (independent of the methods). Some aspects of methodological assumptions are well known, e.g. those contrasting cladistics and phenetics, but more detailed study of methodological assumptions is needed in relation to analysis of quantitative data and to analysis of distance data. Debate over assumptions relating purely to methodology has perhaps overshadowed considerations of assumptions relating to data. Pattern based evaluation of data includes congruence/consensus measures, iterative weighting schemes and calculation of statistics such as consistency index. These strategies are complementary to recent attempts to build more process based models, for example in the rationale for weighting of transversions over transitions in analysis of sequence data. Recent developments in significance testing bridge the gap between pattern based and process based models. In both of these contexts biological knowledge and interpretation will play an important role.
Investigating cortico‐subcortical circuits during auditory sensory attenuation: A combined magnetoencephalographic and dynamic causal modeling study

Sensory attenuation refers to the decreased intensity of a sensory percept when a sensation is self‐generated compared with when it is externally triggered. However, the underlying brain regions and network interactions that give rise to this phenomenon remain to be determined. To address this issue, we recorded magnetoencephalographic (MEG) data from 35 healthy controls during an auditory task in which pure tones were either elicited through a button press or passively presented. We analyzed the auditory M100 at sensor‐ and source‐level and identified movement‐related magnetic fields (MRMFs). Regression analyses were used to further identify brain regions that contributed significantly to sensory attenuation, followed by a dynamic causal modeling (DCM) approach to explore network interactions between generators. Attenuation of the M100 was pronounced in right Heschl's gyrus (HES), superior temporal cortex (ST), thalamus, rolandic operculum (ROL), precuneus and inferior parietal cortex (IPL). Regression analyses showed that right postcentral gyrus (PoCG) and left precentral gyrus (PreCG) predicted M100 sensory attenuation. In addition, DCM results indicated that auditory sensory attenuation involved bi‐directional information flow between thalamus, IPL, and auditory cortex. In summary, our data show that sensory attenuation is mediated by bottom‐up and top‐down information flow in a thalamocortical network, providing support for the role of predictive processing in sensory‐motor system.
Redescription of Two Urostylid Ciliates (Ciliophora: Urostylida), Anteholosticha pulchra and Metaurostylopsis struederkypkeae from Korea

Two urostylid ciliates, Anteholosticha pulchra (Kahl, 1932) Berger, 2003 and Metaurostylopsis struederkypkeae Shao et al., 2008, new to Korea, were collected from the Yellow Sea and the East Sea, Korea, respectively. They were identified based on live observation and protargol impregnation. Taxonomical characters of A. pulchra are as follows: 190-300×30-55 μm size in vivo; contractile vacuole located on the left side of the posterior 1/4 of the cell; spherical-reddish granules at cirral bases and around dorsal bristles, somewhat sparsely distributed throughout the cell surface; four frontal and two frontoterminal cirri; four dorsal kineties; caudal cirri absent. Metaurostylopsis struederkypkeae is characterized as follows: 80-110×40-50 μm size in vivo; caudal cirri absent; two types of cortical granules: type 1, yellow-green arranged along the ventral cirral rows and dorsal kineties; type 2, small and reddish, with an irregular arrangement; four frontal, four to eight frontoterminal, and two to six transverse cirri; five to seven left and three to five right marginal rows. Sequences of small subunit ribosomal DNA were determined from both species, and pairwise distances with their relatives were analyzed.
Response of the Public to Preventive Measures of COVID-19 in Iraqi Kurdistan

ABSTRACT Objectives: On March 1, 2020, the Kurdistan Region Government (KRG) announced 4 confirmed cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). We aimed to explore the response of the public toward the prevention principles against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Methods: The investigators invited individuals from different geographic areas of Duhok Governorate of Iraqi Kurdistan in March 2020. Results: The mean age of the participants was 25.74 (16‐95 years). The mean score and prevalence of fear toward SARS-CoV-2 infection was 4.40 of 10 and 81.9%, respectively. A small percentage of participants did not minimize their exposures by reducing close contacts and transmission of respiratory droplets (14.5%) and visited public areas during the epidemic (28.7%). The study revealed that 30.8% of the participants do not use face masks or tissues when they sneeze in public areas. Most of the participants wash their hands when they suspect a possible transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 pathogen (94.6%) and clean or disinfect pathogen contamination-suspected areas at home (84.6%). The study also revealed that some participants (11.2%), due to a lower education, did not visit a medical clinic when they experienced possible symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Participants agreed with the health policies of KRG against the COVID-19 outbreak (90.8%). Conclusions: Some individuals do not adhere to preventive measures against SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Genetic Structure of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) Populations Based on Mitochondrial ND5 Sequences: Evidence for an Independent Invasion into Brazil and United States

Abstract Aedes albopictus (Skuse), Asian tiger mosquito, a dengue fever vector, colonized the United States and Brazil ≈15 yr ago. The geographic origin and changes in population structure were examined using DNA sequences of mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 5 (ND5). A 450 bp region was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and screened for variation by both the single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) mutation detection technique and direct sequencing. The United States populations were typified by some local differentiation, but the most common and widespread haplotype was characteristic of the native range (Asian) populations as well. A comparison of the native range populations with the United States populations indicated a shared ancestral origin. The Brazil populations contained private (population specific) haplotypes, indicating no genetic exchange between the Brazil and the United States populations since introduction. Local differentiation was not observed among Brazil populations in contrast to the United States populations; this suggested distinctive dispersal mechanisms in the two countries. Extremely low variability was present in the A. albopictus mitochondrial sequences when contrasted with other taxa, reflecting a history of dispersal from a narrow genetic base. In contrast, relatively high levels of variation in several sequenced nuclear loci indicated the following colonization sequence: (1) the founding population was small, genetic drift had insufficient time to reduce variation at nuclear loci, and (2) populations successively expanded to new geographic areas established from a few founder females.
Optimal decision‐making in oncology development programs based on probability of success for phase III utilizing phase II/III data on response and overall survival

In clinical development, there is a trade‐off between investment and level of confidence in the potential of the drug before going into phase III. Reduced investment requires the use of short‐term endpoints. On new compounds, only limited information about the relationship between treatment effects of short‐ and long‐term endpoints is usually available. Therefore, decision‐making solely based on short‐term endpoints does not seem desirable. Our goal is to plan an efficient development program, which uses short‐ and long‐term endpoints data for decision‐making. We found that with limited prior information and restrictions on maximum sample size, decision‐making after phase II cannot be substantially improved. We follow the concept of a “phase 2+” design where after a go‐to‐phase‐III‐decision, further follow‐up data from phase II are employed to make interim decisions on phase III. The program will be stopped early when additional phase II and/or available phase III data lead to a low probability of success (PoS). We utilize information from a multi‐categorical short‐term endpoint (response status) and a long‐term endpoint (overall survival (OS)) to determine the PoS in phase III with OS as the primary endpoint. Optimal combinations of decision boundaries and time points are demonstrated in a simulation study. Our results show that the proposed second look using additional follow‐up data from phase II/III improves PoS estimates compared to the first look, especially when prior data about the control arm is available. The proposed planning strategy allows a customized compromise between the quality of decision‐making and program duration.