Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Socioeconomic status as a predictor of post-operative mortality and outcomes in carotid artery stenting vs. carotid endarterectomy

Background The association between low socioeconomic status (SES) and worse surgical outcomes has become an emerging area of interest. Literature has demonstrated that carotid artery stenting (CAS) poses greater risk of postoperative complications, particularly stroke, than carotid endarterectomy (CEA). This study aims to compare the impact of low SES on patients undergoing CAS vs. CEA. Methods The National Inpatient Sample (NIS) was queried for patients undergoing CAS and CEA from 2010 to 2015. Patients were stratified by highest and lowest median income quartiles by zip code and compared through demographics, hospital characteristics, and comorbidities defined by the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). Primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included acute kidney injury (AKI), post-operative stroke, sepsis, and bleeding requiring reoperation.Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the effect of SES on outcomes. Results Five thousand four hundred twenty-five patients underwent CAS (Low SES: 3,516 (64.8%); High SES: 1,909 (35.2%) and 38,399 patients underwent CEA (Low SES: 22,852 (59.5%); High SES: 15,547 (40.5%). Low SES was a significant independent predictor of mortality [OR = 2.07 (1.25–3.53); p = 0.005] for CEA patients, but not for CAS patients [OR = 1.21 (CI 0.51–2.30); p = 0.68]. Stroke was strongly associated with low SES, CEA patients (Low SES = 1.5% vs. High SES = 1.2%; p = 0.03), while bleeding was with high SES, CAS patients (Low SES = 5.3% vs. High SES = 7.1%; p = 0.01). CCI was a strong predictor of mortality for both procedures [CAS: OR1.45 (1.17–1.80); p < 0.001. CEA: OR1.60 (1.45–1.77); p < 0.001]. Advanced age was a predictor of mortality post-CEA [OR = 1.03 (1.01–1.06); p = 0.01]. While not statistically significant, advanced age and increased mortality trended towards a positive association in CAS [OR = 1.05 (1.00–1.10); p = 0.05]. Conclusions Low SES is a significant independent predictor of post-operative mortality in patients who underwent CEA, but not CAS. CEA is also associated with higher incidence of stroke in low SES patients. Findings demonstrate the impact of SES on outcomes for patients undergoing carotid revascularization procedures. Prospective studies are warranted to further evaluate this disparity.
Night-Time Blind Spot Vehicle Detection Using Visual Property of Head-Lamp

The blind spot is an area where drivers visibility does not reach. When drivers change a lane to adjacent lane, they need to give an attention because of the blind spot. If drivers try to change lane without notice of vehicle approaching in the blind spot, it causes a reason to have a car accident. This paper proposes a night-time blind spot vehicle detection using cameras. At nighttime, head-lights are used as characteristics to detect vehicles. Candidates of headlight are selected by high luminance feature and then shape filter and kalman filter are employed to remove other noisy blobs having similar luminance to head-lights. In addition, vehicle position is estimated from detected head-light, using virtual center line represented by approximated the first order linear equation. Experiments show that proposed method has relatively high detection porformance in clear weather independent to the road types, but has not sufficient performance in rainy weather because of various ground reflectors.
Effect of Soil Temperature and Moisture on Glyphosate and Photoassimilate Distribution in Quackgrass (Agropyron repens)

Experiments were conducted in growth chambers to evaluate the effect of soil temperature and soil moisture on the distribution of 14C-photoassimilates and 14C-glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine] in quackgrass [Agropyron repens (L.) Beauv. ♯3 AGRRE]. When 14C-glyphosate was applied to leaves, the radioactivity was less in the rhizome buds of plants exposed to 7-C soil temperature than in plants exposed to 12- and 18-C soil temperatures after 2 days. In plants with leaves exposed to 14CO2, the radioactivity from 14C-photoassimilates was greatest in rhizomes and rhizome buds of plants at the 12-C soil temperature. As soil moisture levels were decreased, uptake of C-glyphosate into leaves declined, and transport to the daughter shoots, rhizomes, and rhizome buds was reduced. The concentration of 14C-photoassimilates in the rhizome system of water-stressed quackgrass plants was similar to that in nonstressed plants. This study shows that the patterns of glyphosate distribution differ from those of photoassimilate distribution in quackgrass plants exposed to water stress.
Visceral Artery Revascularization With the "Roof-Top" Approach: An Alternative Technique With Great Exposure of the Suprarenal Aorta

Due to the extensive collateral arterial network, symptomatic chronic mesenteric ischemia is a relatively uncommon condition and is associated with severe atherosclerotic disease of all major visceral arteries. Open surgical repair has been commonly used to restore blood supply to the visceral arteries, and the "roof-top" approach has been advocated as an alternative technique to traditional midline incision, mainly because of the great exposure of the suprarenal aorta that it offers. Roof-top approach, in other words, bilateral subcostal incision, is a totally abdominal approach to the suprarenal aorta, and as the title says, it is like a roof-top on the abdominal wall. We present a case of a female patient with intestinal angina that was deemed unsuitable for endovascular repair (ER) and was treated with open surgical repair utilizing the "roof-top" approach.
Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. (Asteraceae), ein potentiell invasi- ver Neophyt für Luxemburg

Since a few years, the spreading of Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. is of rising interest in many European countries, whereas in Luxembourg only little attention has been paid to this plant so far. Like in other European countries, birdseed seems to be the main vector of dispersal in Luxembourg. Hence it mainly appears in gardens and on balconies all over the country. No wild populations have been found yet. Analyses of birdseed have shown that more than 60 % of the samples contain seeds of A. artemisiifolia. Growth and germination experiments have shown that Ambrosia develops well and has the ability to produce mature seeds in Luxembourg. Due to the global warming, it is very likely that it may spread in Lux- embourg. Because of its allergenic potential, its spreading should be fought with appropriate measures.
A correlação entre doenças respiratórias e o incremento das queimadas em Alta Floresta e Peixoto de Azevedo norte do Mato Grosso - Amazônia Legal

The sub-area of the far north of Mato Grosso was INCRA colonization target by private companies and government settlements, which caused an economic model based on the extraction of natural resources, resulting in deforestation. This provided considerable increase in risks to health and the environment. The article analyzes the effects of fires on health of the population in the municipalities of Alta Floresta and Peixoto de Azevedo, relating to the increase in the number of outpatient visits for respiratory diseases among children 0-5 years and seniors over 65 in the period 2009 to 2012. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee 532 054, December 13, 2013. We used the empirical descriptive method of ecological type, with statistical analysis resulting data analyzed a time series (evaluating the trend); descriptive and qualitative data were used. Research shows that there is a relationship between the increase in fires and increasing the number of primary care visits in the surveyed age.
Research on Financial Risk Intelligent Monitoring and Early Warning Model Based on LSTM, Transformer, and Deep Learning

As global financial markets continue to evolve and change, financial risk monitoring and early warning have become increasingly important. However, the complexity and diversity of financial markets have led to the emergence of multidimensional and multimodal data. Traditional risk monitoring methods face difficulties in handling such diverse data and adapting to the monitoring and early warning needs of emerging risk types. To address these issues, this article proposes a financial risk intelligent monitoring and early warning model that integrates deep learning to better cope with uncertainty and risk in the financial market. Firstly, the authors introduce an LSTM model in the initial approach, trained on historical financial market data, to capture long-term dependencies and trends in the data, enabling effective monitoring of financial risk. They also optimize the model architecture to improve its performance and prediction accuracy. Secondly, the authors further introduce a transformer model with self-attention mechanism to better handle sequential data.
Five Species of Wild Freshwater Sport Fish in Wisconsin, USA, Reveal Highly Diverse Viromes

Studies of marine fish have revealed distant relatives of viruses important to global fish and animal health, but few such studies exist for freshwater fish. To investigate whether freshwater fish also host such viruses, we characterized the viromes of five wild species of freshwater fish in Wisconsin, USA: bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), brown trout (Salmo trutta), lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens), northern pike (Esox lucius), and walleye (Sander vitreus). We analyzed 103 blood serum samples collected during a state-wide survey from 2016 to 2020 and used a metagenomic approach for virus detection to identify known and previously uncharacterized virus sequences. We then characterized viruses phylogenetically and quantified prevalence, richness, and relative abundance for each virus. Within these viromes, we identified 19 viruses from 11 viral families: Amnoonviridae, Circoviridae, Coronaviridae, Hepadnaviridae, Peribunyaviridae, Picobirnaviridae, Picornaviridae, Matonaviridae, Narnaviridae, Nudnaviridae, and Spinareoviridae, 17 of which were previously undescribed. Among these viruses was the first fish-associated coronavirus from the Gammacoronavirus genus, which was present in 11/15 (73%) of S. vitreus. These results demonstrate that, similar to marine fish, freshwater fish also harbor diverse relatives of viruses important to the health of fish and other animals, although it currently remains unknown what effect, if any, the viruses we identified may have on fish health.
Three-Dimensional Q Structure in and Around the Hidaka Mountains, Hokkaido, Japan

The three-dimensional Q structure down to 150 km beneath the Hidaka Mountains , Hokkaido, Japan was determined using an inverse method. Apparent Q values were determined along ray paths from 456 earthquakes to the eight stations operated by Research Center for Earthquake Prediction of Hokkaido University. The hypocenters of these earthquakes were located beneath the Hidaka Mountains, with magnitude of 3.4-4.0. This region was divided into 600 blocks and then absolute Q values of the individual blocks were determined from these apparent Q values by using the inverse technique with least-squares method and constraints. In order to determine the Q values, the pulse broadening method (PB method) was used. We did not use spectral methods which need a time window with, at least, a few seconds from P arrivals, because seismograms observed at the eight stations have many phases of unknown origins which appear just after P arrivals. On the other hand, the PB method requires only one pulse of the first P arrivals; the Q values obtained by the PB method are hardly affected by scattering and reflections. The Q values determined by the PB method, however, involve considerable errors because of the narrow time window. We introduced some constraints on the Q values in the inversion process. The result shows that an extremely low-Q (Q=50) region is located beneath the area from the western part to the central part of the Hidaka Mountains and it extends to the depth of 100 km, and that relatively high-Q material exists beneath the summit of the Hidaka Mountains. Comparisons of the obtained three-dimensional Q structure with a three-dimensional Vp structure and with a seismic activity map, show the low-Q zones correspond to low-Vp and high seismicity zones. It is concluded that the low-Q zone is not caused by high temperature but composed of highly fractured rocks because no volcanic activity is found and rather low heat flow was observed in this region.
Dynamics of the soil-earthworm-plant relationship: a review.

Increases in the human population, indiscriminate growth of cities, industrialization, and agricultural practices have led to an increased accumulation of waste materials. The present method of disposal by open dumping has made the problem more acute by disturbing the soil-air-water ecosystem, thus needing urgent attention by planners. Moreover, the most abundantly available biomass, the lignocelluloses, has attracted considerable attention as an energy resource because of their large quantity. The recovery of nutrients by modification of wastes like municipal solid waste, industrial solid waste, agricultural residues, and animal wastes, etc. is important for their management and for reducing environmental degradation. Also, the deleterious impact on the environment by chemical fertilizer urges the need for production of organic manure out of waste. Recycling organic wastes through vermiculture biotechnology is being considered as an economically viable solution. Earthworms are considered as natural bioreactors which proliferate along with other microorganisms and provide required conditions for the biodegradation of wastes. The present study examines the various dynamics of the soil-earthwormplant relationship with special emphasis on vermiculture. The review assesses the following topics: earthworm biodiversity, earthworm species for waste management, substrates, consumption rates, enzyme activities, medicinal uses of earthworms, and methods of vermicomposting along with their advantages and disadvantages, impact of application of vermicompost to soil fertility, soil microorganisms and crop yield, characteristics of vermicomposts, sustainable agriculture, economic importance and future prospects. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Development of mobile application for cervical cancer screening in women: Protocol of a multi-phase study

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers in women. It is considered preventable due to the possibility of screening. The common barriers to cervical cancer screening include lack of knowledge, lack of time, and wrong beliefs. The use of e-Health technologies is one of the approaches for health promotion. The present study is aimed to the development of a mobile application for cervical cancer screening in women. MATERIALS AND METHOD: This is a multi-phase study. In the first step, a literature review will be conducted to examine factors related to cervical cancer screening and existing applications related to cervical cancer and its screening. Then, in the second step, a cross-sectional study will be conducted to investigate the factors related to cervical cancer screening in 246 women referred to comprehensive health centers and women’s clinics in teaching hospitals in Isfahan, Iran. The comprehensive health centers and women’s clinics in teaching hospitals will be randomly selected using a lottery method. Using convenience sampling, women who meet the inclusion criteria will be included in the study, provided they provide informed consent. The data will be collected using a questionnaire, and then the descriptive and inferential statistical tests and SPSS18 software will be used to analyze the data. In the third step, specialists (gynecologists, reproductive health specialists, and midwives) will prioritize the application content by filling out a questionnaire. Then, the research team will compile the application content draft, and this draft will be reviewed and approved by experts on the expert panel. The prototype of the application will be prepared, and experts will evaluate it in the fifth step. DISCUSSION: The results of this study will result in the development of applications for cervical cancer screening. The use of mobile applications can be useful in lifting some of the barriers to screening. Therefore, developing such applications may help improve cervical cancer screening.
Polymer-Immobilised Clusters of the Platinum Group Metals

In this review major developments associated with the synthesis, properties, structure and applications of polymer-immobilised clusters of platinum, palladium, ridium, rhodium, osmium and ruthenium, are presented. Special attention is paid to polymer analogous reactions with metal clusters and new directions involving the polymerisation and copolymerisation of cluster-containing monomers. Some specific features of fixing heterometallic clusters on polymers are examined and the more interesting application of PCNM in catalysis, and future developments in this direction, are discussed.
Mapping Changes in Glutamate with Glutamate-Weighted MRI in Forced Swim Test Model of Depression in Rats

Chemical exchange saturation transfer with glutamate (GluCEST) imaging is a novel technique for the non-invasive detection and quantification of cerebral Glu levels in neuromolecular processes. Here we used GluCEST imaging and 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) to assess in vivo changes in Glu signals within the hippocampus in a rat model of depression induced by a forced swim test. The forced swimming test (FST) group exhibited markedly reduced GluCEST-weighted levels and Glu concentrations when examined using 1H MRS in the hippocampal region compared to the control group (GluCEST-weighted levels: 3.67 ± 0.81% vs. 5.02 ± 0.44%, p < 0.001; and Glu concentrations: 6.560 ± 0.292 μmol/g vs. 7.133 ± 0.397 μmol/g, p = 0.001). Our results indicate that GluCEST imaging is a distinctive approach to detecting and monitoring Glu levels in a rat model of depression. Furthermore, the application of GluCEST imaging may provide a deeper insight into the neurochemical involvement of glutamate in various psychiatric disorders.
Benzalkonium chloride disinfectant residues stimulate biofilm formation and increase survival of Vibrio bacterial pathogens

Vibrio spp. are opportunistic human and animal pathogens found ubiquitously in marine environments. Globally, there is a predicted rise in the prevalence of Vibrio spp. due to increasing ocean temperatures, which carries significant implications for public health and the seafood industry. Consequently, there is an urgent need for enhanced strategies to control Vibrio spp. and prevent contamination, particularly in aquaculture and seafood processing facilities. Presently, these industries employ various disinfectants, including benzalkonium chloride (BAC), as part of their management strategies. While higher concentrations of BAC may be effective against these pathogens, inadequate rinsing post-disinfection could result in residual concentrations of BAC in the surrounding environment. This study aimed to investigate the adaptation and survival of Vibrio spp. exposed to varying concentrations of BAC residues. Results revealed that Vibrio bacteria, when exposed, exhibited a phenotypic adaptation characterized by an increase in biofilm biomass. Importantly, this effect was found to be strain-specific rather than species-specific. Exposure to BAC residues induced physiological changes in Vibrio biofilms, leading to an increase in the number of injured and alive cells within the biofilm. The exact nature of the “injured” bacteria remains unclear, but it is postulated that BAC might heighten the risk of viable but non-culturable (VBNC) bacteria development. These VBNC bacteria pose a significant threat, especially since they cannot be detected using the standard culture-based methods commonly employed for microbiological risk assessment in aquaculture and seafood industries. The undetected presence of VBNC bacteria could result in recurrent contamination events and subsequent disease outbreaks. This study provides evidence regarding the role of c-di-GMP signaling pathways in Vibrio adaptation mechanisms and suggests that c-di-GMP mediated repression is a potential avenue for further research. The findings underscore that the misuse and overuse of BAC may increase the risk of biofilm development and bacterial survival within the seafood processing chain.
Differential Reactions of Urban and Rural Teachers to Blended Learning

The COVID-19 pandemic has provided an opportunity for implementing blended learning in Chinese secondary schools. However, teachers have encountered several problems and challenges with the new pedagogical paradigm. Therefore, this study aims to identify the factors influencing the implementation of blended learning in urban and rural secondary schools from the perspective of secondary school teachers and to examine the teachers' different responses to these factors. Interview data were collected from 13 secondary school teachers in Guangdong Province, China. The findings identify seven factors influencing the implementation of blended learning from the teachers' perspective, including blended learning curriculum design, teaching resources, teaching ability, teacher-student interactive behavior, teacher motivation, students' ability, and workload. The distinct differences between urban and rural teachers' responses to the aforementioned influential factors provide a reference for the government and schools to establish a moderating mechanism for blended learning implementation.
Functional and Transcriptome Analysis Reveal Specific Roles of Dimocarpus longan DlRan3A and DlRan3B in Root Hair Development, Reproductive Growth, and Stress Tolerance

Ran GTPases play essential roles in plant growth and development. Our previous studies revealed the nuclear localization of DlRan3A and DlRan3B proteins and proposed their functional redundancy and distinction in Dimocarpus longan somatic embryogenesis, hormone, and abiotic stress responses. To further explore the possible roles of DlRan3A and DlRan3B, gene expression analysis by qPCR showed that their transcripts were both more abundant in the early embryo and pulp in longan. Heterologous expression of DlRan3A driven by its own previously cloned promoter led to stunted growth, increased root hair density, abnormal fruits, bigger seeds, and enhanced abiotic stress tolerance. Conversely, constitutive promoter CaMV 35S (35S)-driven expression of DlRan3A, 35S, or DlRan3B promoter-controlled expression of DlRan3B did not induce the alterations in growth phenotype, while they rendered different hypersensitivities to abiotic stresses. Based on the transcriptome profiling of longan Ran overexpression in tobacco plants, we propose new mechanisms of the Ran-mediated regulation of genes associated with cell wall biosynthesis and expansion. Also, the transgenic plants expressing DlRan3A or DlRan3B genes controlled by 35S or by their own promoter all exhibited altered mRNA levels of stress-related and transcription factor genes. Moreover, DlRan3A overexpressors were more tolerant to salinity, osmotic, and heat stresses, accompanied by upregulation of oxidation-related genes, possibly involving the Ran-RBOH-CIPK network. Analysis of a subset of selected genes from the Ran transcriptome identified possible cold stress-related roles of brassinosteroid (BR)-responsive genes. The marked presence of genes related to cell wall biosynthesis and expansion, hormone, and defense responses highlighted their close regulatory association with Ran.