Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Higher ambient temperature is associated with worsening of HbA1c levels in a Saudi population.

BACKGROUND Ambient temperature is predicted to rise in Saudi Arabia, and how this will impact the health of its population has not been investigated. Saudi Arabia is one of the top ten countries with the highest prevalence of diabetes. The current study investigates the correlation between ambient temperature and HbA1c levels in a group of Saudis in Riyadh. METHODS Age, gender, and HbA1c data for six years were obtained from patients' records. The maximum daily temperature of Riyadh city for the same period was obtained. RESULTS A total of 168,614 patient records were obtained. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between ambient temperature and HbA1c levels, where for each 1°C increase in average weekly temperature HbA1c increased by 0.007%. Patients were at higher risk of having HbA1c ≥ 7% in high and moderate temperature than in low temperature (P < 0.001, odds ratio (OR): 1.134, and P < 0.001, odds ratio (OR): 1.034; respectively). The mean of HbA1c in females (7.27±1.96) was significantly lower than in males (7.40±1.86), and the probability of males having HbA1c ≥ 7% was about 17.4% higher than females. However, the HbA1c levels in females were significantly more affected by rising temperature compared to males (B = 0.003, P = 0.008). CONCLUSION Overall, rise in ambient temperature is associated with worsening HbA1c, which could be harmful to the health of Saudis suffering from diabetes. Possible reasons for the increase in HbA1c could include reduced physical activity, reduced sunlight exposure, and dehydration during hot weather. More research on the relationship between climate change and public health in Saudi Arabia is needed.
Impairment of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction in acute respiratory distress syndrome

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a serious complication of severe systemic or local pulmonary inflammation, such as caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. ARDS is characterised by diffuse alveolar damage that leads to protein-rich pulmonary oedema, local alveolar hypoventilation and atelectasis. Inadequate perfusion of these areas is the main cause of hypoxaemia in ARDS. High perfusion in relation to ventilation (V/Q<1) and shunting (V/Q=0) is not only caused by impaired hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction but also redistribution of perfusion from obstructed lung vessels. Rebalancing the pulmonary vascular tone is a therapeutic challenge. Previous clinical trials on inhaled vasodilators (nitric oxide and prostacyclin) to enhance perfusion to high V/Q areas showed beneficial effects on hypoxaemia but not on mortality. However, specific patient populations with pulmonary hypertension may profit from treatment with inhaled vasodilators. Novel treatment targets to decrease perfusion in low V/Q areas include epoxyeicosatrienoic acids and specific leukotriene receptors. Still, lung protective ventilation and prone positioning are the best available standard of care. This review focuses on disturbed perfusion in ARDS and aims to provide basic scientists and clinicians with an overview of the vascular alterations and mechanisms of V/Q mismatch, current therapeutic strategies, and experimental approaches. Our review provides a detailed overview of mechanisms underlying the V/Q mismatch in ARDS and its contribution to hypoxaemia, and could help to assess the relevance of treatment options currently being discussed for treatment of ARDS in COVID-19 patients https://bit.ly/3gs2Afj
Comparison of Skin Substitutes for Acute and Chronic Wound Management

Abstract Chronic and acute wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers and burns, respectively, can be difficult to treat, especially when autologous skin transplantations are unavailable. Skin substitutes can be used as a treatment alternative by providing the structural elements and growth factors necessary for reepithelialization and revascularization from a nonautologous source. As of 2020, there are 76 commercially available skin substitute products; this article provides a review of the relevant literature related to the major categories of skin substitutes available.
Development and piloting of four decision aids for implantable cardioverter‐defibrillators in different media formats

Using DAs for preference‐sensitive decisions is an evidence‐based way to improve patient‐centered decisions. Reimbursement mandates have increased the need for DAs in ICD care, although none have been formally evaluated. The objectives were to develop and pilot implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator (ICD) decision aids (DAs) for patients considering primary prevention ICDs.
Postmortem memory of public figures in news and social media

Significance Who is remembered by society after they die? Although scholars as well as the broader public have speculated about this question since ancient times, we still lack a detailed understanding of the processes at work when a public figure dies and their media image solidifies and is committed to the collective memory. To close this gap, we leverage a comprehensive 5-y dataset of online news and social media posts with millions of documents per day. By tracking mentions of thousands of public figures during the year following their death, we reveal and model the prototypical patterns and biographic correlates of postmortem media attention, as well as systematic differences in how the news vs. social media remember deceased public figures. Deceased public figures are often said to live on in collective memory. We quantify this phenomenon by tracking mentions of 2,362 public figures in English-language online news and social media (Twitter) 1 y before and after death. We measure the sharp spike and rapid decay of attention following death and model collective memory as a composition of communicative and cultural memory. Clustering reveals four patterns of postmortem memory, and regression analysis shows that boosts in media attention are largest for premortem popular anglophones who died a young, unnatural death; that long-term boosts are smallest for leaders and largest for artists; and that, while both the news and Twitter are triggered by young and unnatural deaths, the news additionally curates collective memory when old persons or leaders die. Overall, we illuminate the age-old question of who is remembered by society, and the distinct roles of news and social media in collective memory formation.
Going Beyond Position Statements: One Hospital’s Successful Initiative to Implement Napping for Night Shift Nurses

Background: Sleepiness during the night shift is associated with errors, accidents, injuries, and drowsy driving. Despite scientific evidence that supports brief naps to reduce sleepiness, and guidance documents from policy organizations, napping has not been widely implemented. Methods: An initiative to translate scientific evidence about napping was implemented in one hospital over one year. The initiative included garnering leadership support and resources, building a translation team, evaluating the evidence, responding to operational concerns, developing an implementation strategy, and then implementing and evaluating the results. Night shift nurses were surveyed pre and post nap implementation for drowsy driving, sleepiness, and work and coworker relationships. Qualitative data documented the nurses’ perceptions about napping. Findings: Three-fourths of the units that were eligible to nap successfully implemented and sustained napping. Most nurses felt refreshed by a brief nap and felt safer on the drive home, but one-fourth worried about or had sleep inertia symptoms. Drowsy driving remained unacceptably high. Conclusion: The initiative was successfully implemented on most nursing units. The mixed reaction to napping, and the unfavorable drowsy driving outcome point to the need for additional interventions to reduce sleepiness.
The unique physiological features of the broiler pectoralis major muscle as suggested by the three-dimensional ultrastructural study of mitochondria in type IIb muscle fibers

Typical skeletal muscles are composed of mixed muscle fiber types, which are classified as slow-twitch (type I) and fast-twitch (type II) fibers, whereas pectoralis major muscles (PMs) in broiler chickens are 100% composed of type IIb fast-twitch fibers. Since metabolic properties differ among muscle fiber types, the combination of muscle fiber types is involved in physiological functions and pathological conditions in skeletal muscles. In this study, using serial block-face scanning electron microscopy, we compared three-dimensional (3D) mitochondrial properties in type IIb fibers in broiler PMs and those in type I fibers of broiler gastrocnemius muscles (GMs) heterogeneously composed of slow- and fast-twitch muscle fibers. In type I fibers in the GMs, elongated mitochondria with numerous interconnections to form a substantial network among myofibrils were observed. Along with lipid droplets sandwiched by mitochondria, these features are an adaptation to effective oxidative respiration and constant oxidative damage in slow-twitch muscle fibers. In contrast, type IIb fibers in the PMs showed small and ellipsoid-shaped mitochondria with few interconnections and no lipid droplets, forming a sparse network. The mitochondrial spatial network comprises of active mitochondrial dynamics to reduce mitochondrial damage; therefore, type IIb fibers possess physiologically low capacity to maintain mitochondrial wellness due to static mitochondrial dynamics. Based on 3D mitochondrial properties, we discussed the contrasting physiological functions between type I and IIb fibers and proposed a high contractile power and low stress resistance as unique physiological properties of broiler PMs.
Synthesis and Antimicrobial Study of Some Schiff Bases of Sulfonamides

Objective: The purpose of research was to synthesize the better antimicrobial compounds using Different substituted aromatic aldehydes are chosen as the starting material for the synthesis of Schiff’s Bases with sulfonamide helps to formation of Schiff bases in presences of alcohol and acidic reagent. Material and methods: Melting points of the synthesized compounds were determined by open capillary and are uncorrected. The purity of the compounds was checked using precoated TLC plates (MERCK, 60F) using chloroform: methanol (8:2) solvent system. The developed chromatographic plates were visualized under UV at 254nm. IR spectra were recorded using KBr on Shimadzu FTIR model 8400 spectrophotometer, 1 H NMR spectra in DMSO on a BRUKER FT-NMR instrument using TMS as internal standard. Results : All the synthesized compounds (Ia-Ij) were purified by successive recrystallization using ethanol. The purity of the synthesized compounds was checked by performing TLC. The structures of the synthesized compounds were determined on the basis of their FTIR and 1 HNMR data. In accordance with the data obtained from antimicrobial activity, all the synthesized Schiff bases of sulphonilamide have shown good activity against the tested microbes. Among these Schiff bases of sulphanilamide, compound bearing trimethoxy group (If), methoxy group (Ie) and furan ring (Ii) has shown good activity against all the tested bacteria and fungi. Conclusion: Antibacterial and antifungal activity of the synthesized derivatives was done in comparison with ciprofloxacin and ketoconazole as standard to reveal the potency of synthesized derivatives. All the 4 selected strains of bacteria and fungi namely B. Subtilis, S. Aureus, E. Coli ,S.Typhi and C.Albicans,A. Niger showed sensitivity to all derivatives at higher concentration (200µg/ml) and no sensitivity at lower concentration.
Ensconsin-dependent changes in microtubule organization and LINC complex–dependent changes in nucleus–nucleus interactions result in quantitatively distinct myonuclear positioning defects

Nuclear movement is a fundamental process of eukaryotic cell biology. Skeletal muscle presents an intriguing model to study nuclear movement because its development requires the precise positioning of multiple nuclei within a single cytoplasm. Furthermore, there is a high correlation between aberrant nuclear positioning and poor muscle function. Although many genes that regulate nuclear movement have been identified, the mechanisms by which these genes act are not known. Using Drosophila melanogaster muscle development as a model system and a combination of live-embryo microscopy and laser ablation of nuclei, we have found that clustered nuclei encompass at least two phenotypes that are caused by distinct mechanisms. Specifically, Ensconsin is necessary for productive force production to drive any movement of nuclei, whereas Bocksbeutel and Klarsicht are necessary to form distinct populations of nuclei that move to different cellular locations. Mechanistically, Ensconsin regulates the number of growing microtubules that are used to move nuclei, whereas Bocksbeutel and Klarsicht regulate interactions between nuclei.
Fast-track anesthesia in lateral mini-thoracotomy for transapical transcatheter valve implantation

Background Patients who undergo transapical transcatheter aortic/mitral valve implantation are at higher risk of morbidity and mortality than those undergoing transvascular procedures. In addition, these patients have prolonged intensive care and hospital courses. Fast-track anesthesia could reduce perioperative complications and admission stays in such patients. Methods This retrospective single-center study, evaluates six high-risk patients undergoing transapical valve implantation between 01/2020 till 01/2021. All patients received a paravertebral block (PVB) as part of a fast-track approach. The airway was secured with a Gastro-double-lumen laryngeal mask which includes one orifice was for ventilation and one for the transesophageal echocardiography probe. Anesthesia was maintained with a volatile anesthetic (Sevoflurane MAC 1%). Immediately post procedure, all patients were awakened and admitted to the intermediate/intensive-care unit. Results Three patients were females, mean age =71±6 years, patients’ risk profiles were high (mean Log. EuroSCORE-I 22% & STS-PROM 10%). No incidents of re-intubation, atelectasis/pneumonia, low output syndrome, stroke, dialysis, pacemaker implantation or operative mortality were reported. One patient (16.7%) underwent re-exploration for bleeding and developed a wound infection. Postoperative pain scores showed that no patient required additional analgesics after the initial eight hours post procedure. Mean postoperative intermediate/intensive-care stay was 13.8±3.2 hours and patients were mobilized early and discharged to the normal ward. Conclusions Fast-track anesthesia using paravertebral-blockade for transcatheter transapical valve replacement in high-risk patients is a possible anesthetic approach. An effective PVB, in addition to a double-lumen laryngeal mask, provide an alternative strategy to conventional general anesthesia. These promising results could encourage further consideration of this approach in similar cardiac surgery patients.
Comparison and estimation of different linear and nonlinear lactation curve submodels in random regression analyses on dairy cattle

Abstract: In the random regression model (RRM) for milk yield, by replacing empirical lactation curves with the five-order Legendre polynomial to fit fixed groups, the RRM can be transformed to a hierarchical model that consisted of a RRM in the first hierarchy with Legendre polynomials as individuals’ lactation curves resolved by restricted maximum likelihood (REML) software, and a multivariate animal model for phenotypic regression coefficients in the second hierarchy resolved by DMU software. Some empirical lactation functions can be embedded into the RRM at the first hierarchy to well fit phenotypic lactation curve of the average observations across all animals. The functional relationship between each parameter and time can be described by a Legendre polynomial or an empirical curve usually called submodel, and according to three commonly used criteria, the optimal submodels were picked from linear and nonlinear submodels except for polynomials. The so-called hierarchical estimation for the RRMs in dairy cattle indicated that more biologically meaningful models were available to fit the lactation curves; moreover, with the same number of parameters, the empirical lactation curves (MIL1, MIL5, and MK1 for 3, 4, and 5 parameters, respectively) performed higher goodness of fit than Legendre polynomial when modelling individuals’ phenotypic lactation curves.
Social Vulnerability Indices as a Risk Factor for Heart Failure Readmissions

Objectives: The objective of our study was to use the parameters of social vulnerability index (SVI) to observe their association with the 30-day hospital readmissions in the heart failure population. Methods: Data required for analysis were extracted from the electronic medical record. The geographic SVI data was then merged with the clinical data. Qualitative variables and reported as frequency and quantitative variables and reported as the mean ± standard deviation. Variables from univariate analysis with a P value of ≤ 0.10 were evaluated using multivariate logistic regression with stepwise backward variable selection and receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis. Results: The odds ratio of readmission predicted by HOSPITAL score was 1.137 (P value = 0.004, 95% CI = 1.041-1.241). SVI parameter recording disability showed odds ratio of 1.521 (P value = 0.006, 95% CI = 1.125-2.058) and SVI parameter tracking vehicle ownership showed odds ratio of 15.355 (P value = 0.014, 95% CI = 1.755 – 134.383). The ROCs were generated for three scenarios: (i) HOSPITAL score only which had area under the curve (AUC) of 0.702 (P value = 0.015), (ii) SVI indicators tracking vehicle ownership and disability resulted in the AUC of 0.589 (P value = 0.016), and (iii) all of the above combined increased the AUC increased to 0.718 (P value = 0.015). Conclusions: Two social parameters (limited vehicle access and prevalence of disability) from the SVI showed a strong association with 30-day hospital readmissions.
Impact of road architecture and design on performance of city-based VANETs

Abstract Vehicular communication is the communication between the vehicles to provide intelligent transportation systems (ITSs) services to the end users. It is the most advance and emerging wireless technology in ad hoc network. On the other hand, construction of roads has a great impact in forwarding the data to the destination. As vehicles are moving with high speeds, the architecture of roads can change the performance of routing and data forwarding in the vehicular ad hoc network (VANET). If the construction of the roads in a city area is planned with intelligent junctions, flyovers, multilane, etc., then the performance of the system increases. In this paper, we have analyzed the impact of road elements like intersections, flyovers, multilane, buildings, hills, etc., on VANET routing and find solutions for the problems related to the performance of the system. We also simulate the impact of these elements in VANET routing and analyzed the performance using OMNeT++ network simulator and SUMO traffic simulator. The performance is studied by comparing standard GSR and GPSR position-based routing protocols.
Do Covid-19 induced NHRD policies have a dampening effect on employment?

ABSTRACT Do Covid-19 induced National Human Resource Development (NHRD) policies have a dampening effect on employment? We test this hypothesis in a developing country context during the extraordinary situation created by Covid-19. We identify and classify various Covid-19 induced NHRD policies adopted by the Indian states into social security policies, policies on labour migration, need-based state-specific policies, and policies on health and human rights protection of the labourers. We synthesize these NHRD policies into a composite index, and apply the Pooled OLS and random effect models to find the impact of the NHRD policies on employment. We find that the adoption of Covid-19 induced comprehensive NHRD policies has a dampening effect on rural and urban employment in Indian states. This indicates that the Covid-19 induced NHRD policies effectively protect the workers by discouraging them from risking their lives in the work environment that demands high human contact. Our findings necessitate the need for future research that defines, develops, and designs holistic and shock-sensitive indigenous NHRD policies at the national, and organizational levels.
Questions of gratitude: Storying transformative and curricular relationships with women’s experiences and lives

Often a moment of time can influence the tone and content of one’s work. We initially conceived of what would become this special symposium in 2017. In the United States, Hillary Clinton had become the first cisgender woman nominated for the presidency, three women of colour were elected to the US Senate, and it was proposed that Harriet Tubman replace Andrew Jackson on the 20-dollar bill. Women in the US were receiving recognition in so many ways. Then came the election of Donald Trump. The air was thick with despair. But, one of the largest women’s marches in US history followed to protest the election results. The year 2017 also witnessed the #MeToo movement, followed by the 2018 #TimesUp protests. The societal shifts happening were breath-taking, and we, the editors of this symposium, were buoyed, filled with optimism and gratitude. We envisioned a special symposium alongside these movements, in which we and our contributors would herald our gratitude for the many women who had inspired us over the years. Our focus on women’s ideas and feminist and gendered issues would be responsive to insights concerning the ongoing need to include women’s voices in the curriculum (Grumet, 1988; Hendry, 2011; Miller, 2005). Too often in our highly competitive-individualistic Western contexts, we do not sufficiently acknowledge those with whom we have/had relations, whether in person or through their work. Indeed, writing now, in 2021, we remain aware of how much educational scholarship continues to emphasize the work of male scholars and also continues to manifest a certain “anxiety of influence. ” When asked who her own key influences were, science fiction writer LeGuin (2004) responded: