Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quality of Life for Women with Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema: The Importance of Collaboration between Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and General Surgery Clinics

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the clinical characteristics and quality of life (QOL) of patients with BCRL (breast cancer-related lymphedema). Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, patients' characteristics such as age, body mass index (BMI: kg/m2), history of chemotherapy (CT), radiotherapy (RT), hormone replacement therapy (HRT), neoadjuvant therapy (NT), cancer stages, and types of surgery were recorded. Patients were evaluated using the ‘Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire’ (DASH), the ‘Lymphedema Quality of Life Questionnaire’ (LYMQOL-ARM), and a visual analogue scale (VAS). Results: A total of 68 women with the mean age of 52.50±9.33 and BMI 29.240 ± 5.05 kg/m2 were recruited after breast cancer surgery in this study: thirty-three patients (48.5%) in Stage 0; 24 (35.3%) in Stage 1; 10 (14.7%) in Stage 2; and 1 (1.5%) in Stage 3. No statistically significant difference was found in the QOL according to treatments received after the diagnosis of breast cancer surgery, RT (except the appearance domain of QOL), CT, HRT, or NT. In patients who had received axillary dissection in combination with RT, a statistically significant association was observed between QOL related to body image and symptoms (p=0.009 and p=0.017, respectively). A statistically significant difference was found only in body image and clinical symptom domains according to the lymphedema stage (p=0.027 and p=0.002, respectively). It was observed that as shoulder pain (VAS) and disability (DASH) scores increased, scores of all domains of QOL increased except the overall domain in QOL (p<0.05). Conclusion: It was observed that clinical symptoms and body image parameters in QOL were associated with the lymphedema stage and the number of lymph nodes dissected. It was concluded that axillary dissection with axillary RT and RT alone after breast cancer surgery is associated with body image. Our study revealed that body image perception is related to the quality of life in patients with BCRL. Optimal management of the negative effects of self-reported lymphedema evaluated in the latency phase on quality of life requires coordination between Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and General Surgery Clinics. Received: 28 December 2020 Revised: 10 February 2021 Accepted: 15 February 2021
Restaurants Health Measures and Customers’ Dining Preferences during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from Egypt and Jordan

The influences of COVID-19 on dining activities varied from a country to country. The influences included a wide array of impacts, starting from the complete shutdown of restaurants dining-in to only adopt strict new norms to re-open. Researchers around the globe afforded trials to explore customers’ post COVID19 preferences. The theory of planned behaviour (TPB) pointed to existing differences between people, afforded a justification for this, and pointed to the necessity of differentiation between nations during pandemics and the lavish increase in health risks. This added importance to this research, as it investigated new geographical areas, and compared between two countries, i.e., Jordan and Egypt. These two countries were selected, as they were considered as examples for key tourism destinations in the middle east, they host two of the seven wonders of the world, and there was no evidence that previous research tried to bridge this gap of knowledge in this geographical area. The research aimed to investigate the influences of geographical boundaries on customers’ dining preferences and its related health practices with an implication on Egypt & Jordan in the post COVID-19 world. This aim was achieved via answering research questions. Stratified and snowballing sampling technics were used to generate 411 valid online survey forms. Statistical tools were used to analyze the collected data. A list of recommendations was developed for restaurateurs to help in handling the customer's preferences in the post COVID-19 era. The research findings will help in understanding dining industry customers’ priorities, perceptions, and intentions. It also will contribute in developing restauranteurs performance to attract customers, and to handle their fears at different geographical regions.
Impact of RNAi-Targeted Silencing of Survivin and Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1α on the Biological Behaviors of Gastric Cancer SGC-7901 Cells In Vitro

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) plays crucial roles in the primary transcriptional responses to hypoxia stress by modulating hypoxia gene expression. Survivin is regarded as an effector downstream of HIF-1 that promotes cell survival under hypoxia conditions. HIF-1α and survivin are proposed as potential targets in the treatment of gastric cancer. This study was designed to investigate the anticancer effects of RNA interference targeting survivin and HIF-1α on the gastric cancer cell line, SGC-7901 under hypoxia. In this study, cultured cells were divided randomly into four groups: a blank control group, a scrambled siRNA (SCR) control group, a siRNA-Survivin group (ss group) and a siRNA-Survivin+siRNA-HIF-1α group (sis+siH group). The siRNA targeting survivin and/or HIF-1α genes were transfected into SGC-7901 cells. The expression of survivin and HIF-1α was identified by RT-PCR and Western blotting assay. Apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry. The invasion and migration abilities of the cells were evaluated by transwell and wound healing assays, respectively. Cell growth curves were determined by MTT assay at 48 h indicated that the viability of the SGC-7901 cells was inhibited in a time-dependent manner with a highest inhibitory rate of 82.1 ± 0.85 % at 48 h. The siRNA targeting the survivin gene decreased the expression of survivin and the combined transfection of siRNA targeting survivin and HIF-1α down-regulated the expression of both survivin and HIF-1α (P < 0.05). Compared with the blank control group, the combined siRNA groups exhibited obvious features with decreased invasion and migration abilities (P < 0.05). The apoptosis rate increased and the cell proliferation decreased following gene silencing (P < 0.05). The down-regulation of survivin and HIF-1α may induce an anticancer effect in SGC-7901 cell lines by enhancing cell apoptosis and decreasing proliferation, migration and invasion ability.
Simultaneous Microwave/Ultrasound-Assisted Hydrolysis of Starch-Based Industrial Waste into Reducing Sugars

Catalytic conversion of starch-based industrial waste into sugars was investigated using a simultaneous microwave/ultrasound-assisted procedure. The results were compared with single microwave and ultrasound irradiations to determine the eventual synergetic effects generated by the combined technologies. In heterogeneous systems, microwave irradiation enforces heat transfer, while ultrasound irradiation imposes the intensive mass transfer at the interfaces. Two hours of combined irradiation of potato starch (employed as a reference) at 60 °C in sulfuric acid revealed the existence of a glucose selectivity. In a result that was hitherto never achieved, 46% of this industrial waste was converted into reducing sugars in identical conditions.
Evaluation of Antifungal Activity by Mixed Oxide Metallic Nanocomposite against Candida spp.

High doses of antimicrobial agents are a huge threat due to the increasing number of pathogenic organisms that are becoming resistant to antimicrobial agents. This resistance has led to a search for alternatives. Therefore, this study presents the synthesis and characterization of ZrO2-Ag2O nanoparticles (NPs) by sol-gel. The NPs were analyzed by dynamic light scattering (DLS), UV-visible (UV-vis), Raman and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The NPs were later evaluated for their antifungal effects against Candidaalbicans, Candida dubliniensis, Candida glabrata, and Candida tropicalis, using disc diffusion and microdilution methods, followed by the viability study. The DLS showed sizes for ZrO2 76 nm, Ag2O 50 nm, and ZrO2-Ag2O samples between 14 and 42 nm. UV-vis shows an absorption peak at 300 nm for ZrO2 and a broadband for Ag2O NPs. Raman spectra were consistent with factor group analysis predictions. SEM showed spherically shaped NPs. The antifungal activity result suggested that ZrO2-Ag2O NPs were effective against Candida spp. From the viability study, there was no significance difference in viability as a function of time and concentration on human mononuclear cells. This promising result can contribute toward the development of alternative therapies to treat fungal diseases in humans.
Shape-Dependent Field Enhancement and Plasmon Resonance of Oxide Nanocrystals

Metallic nanostructures can manipulate light-matter interactions to induce absorption, scattering, and local heating through their localized surface plasmon resonances. Recently, plasmonic behavior of semiconductor nanocrystals has been investigated to stretch the boundaries of plasmonics farther into the infrared spectral range and to introduce unprecedented tunability. However, many fundamental questions remain regarding characteristics of plasmons in doped semiconductor nanocrystals. Field enhancement, especially near features with high curvature, is essential in many applications of plasmonic metal nanostructures, yet the potential for plasmonic field enhancement by semiconductor nanocrystals remains unknown. Here, we use the discrete dipole approximation (DDA) to understand the dependence of field enhancement on size, shape, and doping level of plasmonic semiconductor nanocrystals. Indium-doped cadmium oxide is considered as a prototypical material for which faceted cube-octohedral nanocrystals have .
Graphene-induced positive shift of the flat band voltage in recessed gate AlGaN/GaN structures

In this work, a layer of graphene is inserted into Al2O3/recessed gate AlGaN/GaN structures to realize the positive shift of flatband voltage VFB. With a chemically inert surface and a high work function, graphene suppresses the interfacial layer growth, reduces the donor-like interface defects during the growth of Al2O3 gate dielectrics, provides a potential well to confine electrons from AlGaN and the interface defects, lifts the conduction band of GaN, leads to the disappearance of 2DEG at recessed AlGaN/GaN interface, and positively shifts VFB from 1.4 V to 5.2 V. This method provides a promising solution to fabricate E-mode AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistor.
THE STUDY OF POWER DYNAMICS AND IDENTITY CRISIS IN SORAYYA KHAN’S CITY OF SPIES

Purpose of the study: This study investigates the identity crises and power relations drawing upon Michel Foucault's theory of power tracing the impacts of power dynamics. The study investigates how power dynamics operate in the novel; what is the nature of these power relations; and how the mode of resistance emerges and in what ways by keeping the concept of power and identity by Michel Foucault. Methodology: This part follows the qualitative method in which Sorayya Khan’s City of Spies is analyzed through Foucault's theory of power. The theoretical background of this research is drawn from the concept of Power which is running in all works of Foucault. Main Findings: This study has examined the novel from a Foucauldian perspective, which posits that Power is everywhere and it comes from everywhere. For him, it is Power which/that shapes everything whether it is Truth or Identity. Foucault sees power as all-around invisibility that exposes rather than encloses like the panopticon. The society he believes works as a panopticon in which the power effectively induces in the subjects a state of conscious and permanent visibility that assures the automatic functioning of power. Applications of this study: This study can be applied to power dynamics literature. Novelty/Originality of this study: The current interpretation of the novel only sees it as a bildungsroman i.e., as a journey of a girl around the political reality of her era. This present study strives to change it by investigating through the lens of power dynamics and its consequent effect on consciousness leading to an identity crisis. The present study will strengthen the interpretation of the novel as a political novel and will illustrate the effects of the political on the human psyche.
Security Education, Training, and Awareness Programs: Literature Review

ABSTRACT Security education, training, and awareness (SETA) is one of the most common and prominent strategies for organizational security governance. However, only a small portion of practitioners claimed that their SETA programs were “very effective”. A possible reason for this is the lack of a systematic understanding of the nature of SETA programs, the paths through which SETA impacts employees’ security-related beliefs or behavioral intentions, and the conditions that might influence such a relationship. This study argues that a comprehensive literature review regarding SETA is vital for holistically investigating the findings of previous SETA research and unveiling the characteristics and factors that influence the effectiveness of SETA. A total of 80 articles, published between 1998 and 2020, were included to conduct an in-depth systematic review on SETA.
Numerical Investigation into the Natural Convection of Cryogenic Supercritical Helium in a Spherical Enclosure

As an ideal pressurized gas, helium, especially supercritical helium, has been widely used in the pressurization system of various launch vehicles and spacecraft. This work mainly focuses on the natural convection of cryogenic supercritical helium in a spherical enclosure. Firstly, a three-dimensional numerical model is established and verified with experimental data. Then, the effects of inflation pressure and heating power on the flow and heat transfer characteristics are simulated. At the same time, the relationship between the Rayleigh number and Nusselt number is studied in detail. Finally, an improved natural convection heat transfer correlation modified by introducing the density ratio is obtained. The results show that the increase of the inflation pressure in the cavity is helpful to enhance the natural convection heat transfer of the cryogenic supercritical helium, and the temperature distribution in the cavity tends to be more uniform when the inflation pressure in the cavity increases. As to the improved natural convection heat transfer correlation, the average error between the simulation results and the calculated values is approximately 8%, which can better describe the natural convection heat transfer of cryogenic supercritical helium in the spherical enclosure.
Water quality control for the Argonauta reactor in Rio de Janeiro

Different parameters should be monitored at a nuclear facility. Among them, water used in a nuclear reactor must meet strict specifications. The research reactor Argonauta, located in Rio de Janeiro, uses light water as both moderator and coolant. Quality control is the set of measurements to ensure, at any time, products that meet the parameters and standards in force. Then, the quality control of Argonauta’s water encompasses physical-chemical and radiological tests that are performed periodically to monitor deviations in the water parameters specification. These tests include the measurement of pH, conductivity, and gamma spectroscopy. By means of these tests, it is possible to evaluate if the quality parameters of this water meet the requirements defined by the reactor manufacturer and the Radiation Protection standards. In this way, the safe operation of the Argonauta is guaranteed, besides avoiding unwanted exposures of operators and the environment to the ionizing radiation. This work presents the detailed assays performed in the water quality control. In addition, the obtained results in the last year measurements and highlights of the improvements to be done are also addressed. Moreover, a comparison among other research reactors in Brazil concerning this monitoring is presented. The obtained results indicate that pH, conductivity, and radiological parameters meet the established limits.
Representation of actors and sources (Technology Coverage)

Analyzing which actors or sources are cited in the news media coverage allows for carving out different perspectives that are represented in the media coverage. Studies thus analyze which types of actors are cited by journalists to what extent. In technology coverage, actors from the domain of science, politics, NGOs, industry and citizens are often mentioned. Field of application/theoretical foundation: The analysis of the representation of actors is based on the assumption that journalists choose actors as sources purposefully and thereby attribute relevance to them. Those actors cited in the journalistic coverage have more opportunities to present their arguments and are thus more visible in the public discourse. Actors are also analyzed within framing analysis (Entman, 1993) and analyses of discourses in various domains. Example studies: Metag & Marcinkowski (2014); Nisbet & Lewenstein (2002) Information on Metag & Marcinkowski, 2014 Authors: Julia Metag, Frank Marcinkowski Research question/research interest: “Does the concept of a journalistic negativity bias apply to the media coverage of nanotechnology? ” Object of analysis: German speaking daily newspapers: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Süddeutsche Zeitung, Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Tagesanzeiger, Standard, Presse Time frame of analysis: 2000-2009 Information on Nisbet & Lewenstein, 2002 Authors: Matthew C. Nisbet, Bruce V. Lewenstein Research question/research interest: trends in media coverage of biotechnology Object of analysis: New York Times and Newsweek Time frame of analysis: 1970-1999 Information about variable Authors Variable name/definition Level of analysis Values Scale level Reliability Metag & Marcinkowski (2014) the three most prominent actors cited article scientists economic actors journalists nominal N/A Nisbet & Lewenstein (2002) featured actors (up to 2 actors per article) article government affiliated general (the public, the media) science or medicine industry other interests (in addition: further subcategories) nominal intercoder reliability for two groups (Team A: r = .43; Team B: r = 48) References Entman, R. M. (1993). Framing: Toward clarification of a fractured paradigm. Journal of Communication, 43, 51­58. Metag, Julia; Marcinkowski, Frank (2014): Technophobia towards emerging technologies? A comparative analysis of the media coverage of nanotechnology in Austria, Switzerland and Germany. In: Journalism 15(4), 463-481. Nisbet, Matthew C. ; Lewenstein, Bruce V. (2002): Biotechnology and the American Media. The Policy Process and the Elite Press, 1970 to 1999. In: Science Communication 23 (4), 359–391.
‘Scarcity amidst plenty’- A rare combination of enterococcal pulmonary valve endocarditis in a young girl: A case report

Isolated pulmonary valve infective endocarditis (IE) with Enterococcus faecalis in a child with an underlying ventricular septal defect (VSD) is rare. A ten year old girl with a VSD with moderate to severe right ventricular mid cavity obstruction presented with fever and loose stools. Examination did not reveal any peripheral stigmata of IE. Five of six blood cultures sent in two sets 12 hours apart, grew E. faecalis sensitive to β-lactams. 2D echocardiography revealed a 7×4 mm vegetation on the pulmonary valve. She was treated with intravenous antibiotics for 6 weeks. Inflammatory markers normalized by 6 weeks and the vegetation cleared by the 7th week. Amongst the aetiological agents, isolation of Enterococcus faecalis is rare in children and drug resistance is an emerging problem. Enterococcus species related native valve IE needs a prolonged course of therapy with penicillin G/ampicillin together with gentamicin for 4-6 weeks. Heart failure and cerebral embolization are the most commonly encountered complications.
Clear-sky land surface upward longwave radiation dataset derived from the ABI onboard the GOES–16 satellite

ABSTRACT Surface upward longwave radiation (SULR) is one of the four components of the surface radiation budget, which is defined as the total surface upward radiative flux in the spectral domain of 4-100 μm. The SULR is an indicator of surface thermal conditions and greatly impacts weather, climate, and phenology. Big Earth data derived from satellite remote sensing have been an important tool for studying earth science. The Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) onboard the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES-16) has greatly improved temporal and spectral resolution compared to the imager sensor of the previous GOES series and is a good data source for the generation of high spatiotemporal resolution SULR. In this study, based on the hybrid SULR estimation method and an upper hemisphere correction method for the SULR dataset, we developed a regional clear-sky land SULR dataset for GOES-16 with a half-hourly resolution for the period from 1st January 2018 to 30th June 2020. The dataset was validated against surface measurements collected at 65 Ameriflux radiation network sites. Compared with the SULR dataset of the Global LAnd Surface Satellite (GLASS) longwave radiation product that is generated from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) onboard the polar-orbiting Terra and Aqua satellites, the ABI/GOES-16 SULR dataset has commensurate accuracy (an RMSE of 15.9 W/m2 vs 19.02 W/m2 and an MBE of −4.4 W/m2 vs −2.57 W/m2), coarser spatial resolution (2 km at nadir vs 1 km resolution), less spatial coverage (most of the Americas vs global), fewer weather conditions (clear-sky vs all-weather conditions) and a greatly improved temporal resolution (48 vs 4 observations a day). The published data are available at http://www.dx. doi.org/10.11922/sciencedb.j00076. 00062.
Effects of sesame oil on learning and memory impairment and biomarkers of oxidative stress in rats with a long-term high-fat diet consumption

Nowadays, high-fat foods are eaten in most societies, which causes memory impairment and anxiety through the oxidative stress pathway. Sesame oil (SO) has potential antioxidant properties. Therefore, the effects of sesame oil on memory impairment and anxiety caused by a high-fat diet (HFD) in male rats were investigated. Eighty male Wistar rats were divided into eight groups (n = 10): control (standard diet; SD), the HFD, SD + SO (0.5, 1, or 2 ml/kg; once/day, gavage), and HFD + SO (0.5, 1, or 2 ml/kg; once/day, gavage) groups. All diets were given to the animals for three months. Finally, behavioral and oxidative stress parameters were measured. The step-through latency of retention test in SD + SO (0.5 or 1 ml/kg) groups increased more than the control group. Also, the Barnes test on training days revealed that the latency time to find the target hole increased in the HFD group compared with the control group. Moreover, the time spent on the open arms in the SD + SO (0.5 ml/kg) group improved remarkably than the control group. Total oxidant (TOS) level in the HFD + SO (0.5, 1, and 2 ml/kg) groups was lower than the HFD group. The level of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in the SD + SO (2 ml/kg) group was higher than the SD + SO (0.5 ml/kg) group and the amount of thiol in the HFD group decreased compared with the control group. These findings suggest that the positive effects of SO on memory and anxiety are probably due to its antioxidant properties and the elimination of free radicals.