Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Immunomodulatory Effect of Sevoflurane in Endotoxin-Injured Alveolar Epithelial Cells

BACKGROUND:Endotoxin-induced lung injury is a useful experimental system for the characterization of immunopathologic mechanisms in acute lung injury. Although alveolar epithelial cells (AEC) are directly exposed to volatile anesthetics, there is limited information about the effect of anesthetics on these cells. In this study we investigated the effect of pretreatment with the inhaled anesthetic sevoflurane on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-injured AEC. METHODS:AEC were incubated with 1.1 vol % sevoflurane for 0.5 h, followed by LPS stimulation for 5 h. Expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), macrophage inflammatory protein-1β (MIP-1β), macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2), cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-1 (CINC-1), and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) was analyzed. In addition, functional tests were performed through chemotaxis and adherence assays to underline the biological relevance of the findings. RESULTS:Exposure of AEC to sevoflurane resulted in a 50% downregulation of MCP-1 protein in the sevoflurane-LPS group when compared with non-sevoflurane- LPS cells (P < 0.05). MIP-1β concentration in LPS-stimulated cells decreased by 32% with sevoflurane (P < 0.05), MIP-2 by 29% (P < 0.05), and CINC-1 by 20% (P < 0.05). ICAM-1 protein expression was attenuated by 36% (P < 0.05). This inhibition caused substantial changes in the inflammatory response of neutrophils. 33% less chemotactic activity was seen in sevoflurane-treated LPS cells (P < 0.001) as well as 47% decreased adhesion of neutrophils to AEC (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS:This study shows that sevoflurane alters the LPS-induced inflammatory response, not only with respect to the expression pattern of inflammatory mediators, but also regarding the biological consequences with less accumulation of effector cells such as neutrophils.
Effectiveness of Youth Mental Health First Aid USA for Social Work Students

Purpose: Adolescent mental health is a public health priority. Considered an early intervention approach, Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) trains adults to provide initial assistance to adolescents experiencing a mental health problem or crisis. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the U.S. version of YMHFA (YMHFA-USA) among graduate social work students. Method: A quasi-experimental design (N = 73; intervention, n = 39; comparison, n = 34), using the Mental Health Beliefs and Literacy Scale, assessed the effectiveness of YMHFA-USA. Outcomes were measured at pretest, posttest, and 5 months in the intervention group. Differences between groups were compared at 5 months. Results: Statistically significant improvements in attitudes, beliefs, self-confidence, and knowledge were observed among intervention group students. At 5 months, these students had significantly better attitudes and greater knowledge and self-confidence than the comparison group. Conclusion: Results indicate YMHFA-USA may improve factors related to master’s level social work students’ abilities to engage with youth experiencing mental health problems.
BrainGazer - Visual Queries for Neurobiology Research

Neurobiology investigates how anatomical and physiological relationships in the nervous system mediate behavior. Molecular genetic techniques, applied to species such as the common fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, have proven to be an important tool in this research. Large databases of transgenic specimens are being built and need to be analyzed to establish models of neural information processing. In this paper we present an approach for the exploration and analysis of neural circuits based on such a database. We have designed and implemented \emph{BrainGazer}, a system which integrates visualization techniques for volume data acquired through confocal microscopy as well as annotated anatomical structures with an intuitive approach for accessing the available information. We focus on the ability to visually query the data based on semantic as well as spatial relationships. Additionally, we present visualization techniques for the concurrent depiction of neurobiological volume data and geometric objects which aim to reduce visual clutter. The described system is the result of an ongoing interdisciplinary collaboration between neurobiologists and visualization researchers.
Paradigm shift to the integrative Big Five trait taxonomy: History, measurement, and conceptual issues.

Since the first version of this chapter (John, 1990) was completed in the late 1980s, the field of personality trait research has changed dramatically. At that time, the Big Five personality dimensions, now seemingly ubiquitous, were hardly known. Researchers, as well as practitioners in the field of personality assessment, were faced with a bewildering array of personality scales from which to choose, with little guidance and no organizing theory or framework at hand. What made matters worse was that scales with the same name might measure concepts that were quite different, and scales with different names might measure concepts that were quite similar. Although diversity and scientific pluralism can be useful, systematic accumulation of findings and communication among researchers had become almost impossible amidst the cacophony of competing concepts and scales. At the University of California, Berkeley, for example, researchers studied personality with as few as two, and as many as 20 concepts, including the two dimensions of egoresilience and egocontrol that Block and Block (1980) measured with their California Q-sort; the four scales on the Myers– Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI; Myers & McCaulley, 1985) that measure extraversion, feeling, judging, and intuition; and the 20 scales on the California Psychological Inventory (CPI; Gough, 1987) measuring folk concepts such as capacity for status, selfcontrol, wellbeing, tolerance, and achievement via independence (see Table 4.1). At the time, many personality researchers were hoping to be the one who would discover the right structure that all others would then adopt, thus transforming the fragmented field into a community speaking a common language. However, we now know that such an integration was not to be achieved by any one researcher or by any one theoretical perspective. As Allport once put it, “each assessor has his own pet units and uses a pet battery of diagnostic devices” (1958, p. 258). What personality psychology lacked was a descriptive model, or taxonomy, of its subject matter. One of the central goals of scientific taxonomies is the definition of overarching domains within which large numbers of specific instances can be understood in a simplified way. Thus, in personchAPTeR 4
PENGARUH PEMAHAMAN INVESTASI, MODAL MINIMAL INVESTASI DAN MOTIVASI TERHADAP MINAT MAHASISWA BERINVESTASI DI PASAR MODAL (Studi pada Mahasiswa Sekolah Tinggi Kesuma Negara)

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui bagaimana pengaruh pemahaman investasi, modal minimal investasi, dan motivasi terhadap minat mahasiswa berinvestasi di pasar modal.Penelitian menggunakan metode kuantitatif deskriptif.Responden dalam penelitian ini adalah mahasiswa STIE Kesuma Negara Blitar semester 6 dan 8 melalui kuesioner.Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa pemahaman investasi yang diperoleh mahasiswa ketika mendapat mata kuliah manajemen investasi dan pasar modal tidak berpengaruh terhadap minat mahasiswa untuk berinvestasi di pasar modal. Namun, dengan adanya modal minimal yang keci dan motivasi dari diri sendiri maupun orang lain sangat mempengaruhi mahasiswa untuk berinvestasi di pasar modal. Kontribusi dari penelitian ini adalah sebagai wacana untuk mahasiswa mengenai apa yang dapat mempengaruhi mahasiswa untuk berinvestasi di pasar modal. Kunci: Minat, Modal Minimal Investasi, Motivasi, Pemahaman Investasi
Agile Software Development: A Case for Adequate Decision Support Tools

While there are many purported benefits of agile software development, use of these methods often has a significant impact on project coordination and information management, particularly where large, distributed teams are concerned. Effective coordination requires easily accessible, preferably structured information that is typically unavailable. In this paper we present a comprehensive argument for the need to develop supporting tools for extracting information in agile projects. Such tools may improve the coordination, information management and tracking processes in agile teams with automated highlighting of salient issues arising from project meetings using documentation generated automatically from unstructured information, such as Instant Messaging (IM) history or transcribed audio records of team meetings. We discuss the relevance of our methodology for large-scale, distributed, multi-project agile teams and present guidelines for designing information systems to support such tasks. We present a description and evaluation of the proposed information extraction method using an actual dataset.
The role of the oncofetal H19 lncRNA in tumor metastasis: orchestrating the EMT-MET decision

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) genes are emerging as key players in the metastatic cascade. Current evidence indicate that H19 lncRNA and the microRNA(miRNA) miR-675, which is processed from it, play crucial roles in metastasis, through the regulation of critical events specifically the epithelial to mesenchymal (EMT) and the mesenchymal to epithelial transitions (MET). This review summarizes recent mechanistic pathways and tries to put together seemingly conflicting data from different reports under one proposed general scheme underlying the various roles of H19/miR-675 in the metastatic cascade. We propose several approaches to harnessing this knowledge for translational medicine.
Deskripsi Percakapan Kritis Matematis Siswa dalam Pembelajaran Socrates Saintifik

This qualitative research aimed to describe the student’s critical mathematics discourse in Socrates scientific learning. The subjects of this research were 9 students of VII-D class of MTs Negeri 2 Bandar Lampung in academic year 2018/2019 consists of each 3 students with high, medium, and low mathematical ability. The data of this research were obtained through observation, interview, and documentation. Data analysis were processed through three steps that refered to Miles and Huberman models, which were data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. Based on the research, the results were: (1) The number of students who did the critical mahematics discourse was successfully increased by Socrates scientific learning, (2) Student’s critical mathematics discourse through Socrates scientific learning more dominantly showed the indicator of student’s critical thinking skill in interprettation and analysis, (3) Student’s critical mathematics discourse was more likely to occur when the teacher asked Socrates’ questions types of clarifycations and reasons and evidence of investigation, (4) Student’s critical mathematics discourse more dominantly showed when the students did scientific approach, which were associating and communicating.
Enhancing Support of Conversations by Improving Mobile Computing Input

Mobile devices are becoming more commonplace and part of our daily lives. In this work we explore enhancing conversations by improving input for mobile computing. We are researching two ways to enhance mobile input: reusing conversational information through dual–purpose speech and increasing a user’s data entry capability with the Twiddler chording keyboard.
Facebook groups as LMS: A case study

This paper describes a pilot study in using Facebook as an alternative to a learning management system (LMS). The paper reviews the current research on the use of Facebook in academia and analyzes the differences between a Facebook group and a regular LMS. The paper reports on a precedent–setting attempt to use a Facebook group as a course website, serving as a platform for delivering content and maintaining interactions among the students and between the students and the lecturer. The paper presents findings from the students’ self-assessments and reflections on their experience. The students expressed satisfaction with learning in Facebook and willingness to continue using these groups in future courses.
Importance of Beta Cell Function for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is characterized by insulin resistance and beta cell dysfunction. Recent evidence has emerged that beta cell dysfunction is a common pathogenetic feature of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and T2DM never develops without beta cell dysfunction. Therefore, treatment of T2DM should aim to restore beta cell function. Although the treatment of T2DM has greatly improved over the past few decades, remaining issues in the current treatment of T2DM include (1) hypoglycemia; (2) body weight gain; (3) peripheral hyperinsulinemia and (4) postprandial hyperglycemia, which are all associated with inappropriate insulin supplementation, again underpinning the important role of endogenous and physiological insulin secretion in the management of T2DM. This review summarizes the current knowledge on beta cell function in T2DM and discusses the treatment strategy for T2DM in relation to beta cell dysfunction.
Factors influencing the adoption of mobile financial services in the unbanked population

To deliver financial services to the poor has remained a challenge for many decades. However, the growth of technology has emerged as a key solution of financial service delivery to the poor. Financial services delivery through mobile phone platforms can be provided where formal financial institution like banks cannot reach. Despite these developments, the use of these services by the poor in the unbanked areas is very low. This study investigated the factors influencing the adoption of mobile financial services in the unbanked population. We employed a cross-sectional design by collecting data at a single point in time. We used six variables in the study based on the Technology Acceptance Model, TAM. The variables were Perceived usefulness, Perceived ease of use, Perceived trust, Perceived cost, Perceived risk and Social influence. The construct validity of the measurement items was established by using confirmatory factor analysis conducted using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) and the reliability was established by using Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient. The hypothesis was tested by using multiple regression analysis. The sample size used was 250 respondents selected from the study area. The study revealed that perceived usefulness, perceived cost and social influence had a significant influence on the adoption of mobile financial services. Perceived ease of use, perceived risk and perceived trust were found to have an insignificant influence on the adoption of mobile financial services. The implication of the findings forms the basis for product or service development, pricing, marketing and policy formulation. In this study we recommend a longitudinal research to be conducted in order to understand the influences of the adoption behaviour at different level of market maturity and points of time. Keywords: Mobile financial services, Adoption, Tanzania
Structure and Compressive Properties of Invar-Cenosphere Syntactic Foams

The present study investigates the mechanical performance of syntactic foams produced by means of the metal powder injection molding process having an Invar (FeNi36) matrix and including cenospheres as hollow particles at weight fractions (wt.%) of 5 and 10, respectively, corresponding to approximately 41.6 and 60.0 vol.% in relation to the metal content and at 0.6 g/cm3 hollow particle density. The synthesis process results in survival of cenospheres and provides low density syntactic foams. The microstructure of the materials is investigated as well as the mechanical performance under quasi-static and high strain rate compressive loads. The compressive stress-strain curves of syntactic foams reveal a continuous strain hardening behavior in the plastic region, followed by a densification region. The results reveal a strain rate sensitivity in cenosphere-based Invar matrix syntactic foams. Differences in properties between cenosphere- and glass microsphere-based materials are discussed in relation to the findings of microstructural investigations. Cenospheres present a viable choice as filler material in iron-based syntactic foams due to their higher thermal stability compared to glass microspheres.
miR-150 Promotes Human Breast Cancer Growth and Malignant Behavior by Targeting the Pro-Apoptotic Purinergic P2X7 Receptor

The P2X7 receptor regulates cell growth through mediation of apoptosis. Low level expression of P2X7 has been linked to cancer development because tumor cells harboring a defective P2X7 mechanism can escape P2X7 pro-apoptotic control. microRNAs (miRNAs) function as negative regulators of post-transcriptional gene expression, playing major roles in cellular differentiation, proliferation, and metastasis. In this study, we found that miR-150 was over-expressed in breast cancer cell lines and tissues. In these breast cancer cell lines, blocking the action of miR-150 with inhibitors leads to cell death, while ectopic expression of the miR-150 results in increased cell proliferation. We deploy a microRNA sponge strategy to inhibit miR-150 in vitro, and the result demonstrates that the 3′-untranslated region (3′UTR) of P2X7 receptor contains a highly conserved miR-150-binding motif and its direct interaction with miR-150 down-regulates endogenous P2X7 protein levels. Furthermore, our findings demonstrate that miR-150 over-expression promotes growth, clonogenicity and reduces apoptosis in breast cancer cells. Meanwhile, these findings can be decapitated in nude mice with breast cancer xenografts. Finally, these observations strengthen our working hypothesis that up-regulation of miR-150 in breast cancer is inversely associated with P2X7 receptor expression level. Together, these findings establish miR-150 as a novel regulator of P2X7 and a potential therapeutic target for breast cancer.
The formal theory of hopf algebras Part I: Hopf monoids in a monoidal category

Abstract The category Hopf ℂ of Hopf monoids in a symmetric monoidal category ℂ, assumed to be locally finitely presentable as a category, is analyzed with respect to its categorical properties. Assuming that the functors “tensor squaring” and “tensor cubing” on ℂ preserve directed colimits one has the following results: (1) If, in ℂ, extremal epimorphisms are stable under tensor squaring, then Hopf C is locally presentable, coreflective in the category of bimonoids in ℂ and comonadic over the category of monoids in C. (2) If, in ℂ, extremal monomorphisms are stable under tensor squaring, then Hopf ℂ is locally presentable as well, reflective in the category of bimonoids in C and monadic over the category of comonoids in ℂ.
Investigation of the Key Pharmacological Activities of Ficus racemosa and Analysis of Its Major Bioactive Polyphenols by HPLC-DAD

Objective. Oxidative stress leads to numerous physiological disorders including infectious diseases, inflammation, and cancer. The present study was carried out to investigate antioxidant, antibacterial, and cytotoxic activity of methanol crude extract of leaves and fruits of the Ficus racemosa (LCME and FCME, resp.) and to analyse its major bioactive polyphenols by HPLC-DAD. Methods. Antioxidant capacity of the extracts was evaluated by DPPH free radical scavenging, reducing power, total phenolic, total flavonoid, total tannin content assay, superoxide radical, hydroxyl radical, and hydrogen peroxide scavenging assay. Identification and quantification of bioactive polyphenols were done by HPLC-DAD method. Antibacterial activity was tested by “disc diffusion” method. Brine shrimp lethality assay was carried out to check the cytotoxic potential. Result. Both LCME and FCME showed DPPH scavenging ability and concentration dependent reducing power activity. They had phenolic content, flavonoid content, and tannin content. Both the extracts showed superoxide radical scavenging ability, hydroxyl radical scavenging ability, and hydrogen peroxide scavenging ability. HPLC analysis of LCME and FCME indicated the presence of significant amount of gallic acid along with other phenolic constituents. Conclusion. Significant amount of gallic acid along with other phenolic constituents might have played an important role in the observed antioxidant, antibacterial, and cytotoxic activity.
Serum Levels of Soluble CD26, A Novel Prognostic Marker for Hepatitis E Infection

Background: Even without treatment, most acute hepatitis E virus (HEV) infected patients resolve HEV but sometimes the disease leads to acute liver failure, chronic infection, or extrahepatic symptoms. The mechanisms of HEV pathogenesis appear to be substantially immune mediated. However, the immune responses to HEV are not precisely identified. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the Th1/Th2 ratio by investigating serum soluble markers from Th1 and Th2 cells in acute HEV infected patients. Patients and Methods: This case-control study included 35 acute HEV infected patients and 35 age and gender matched anti-HEV negative healthy controls. The serum levels of Interferon (IFN)-γ, IL-4, soluble CD26 (sCD26) and sCD30 were determined by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The results showed a significant difference in IFN-γ and sCD26 (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.001) yet not IL-4 and sCD30 (P = 0.354 and P = 0.159) between acute HEV patients and controls, respectively. There was a positive direct correlation between serum levels of sCD26 and IFN-γ in acute HEV patients (r = 0.64, P = 0.001). In addition, the ratio of sCD26/sCD30 in the acute HEV group was more than two folds higher than in the HEV negative controls. Conclusions: Acute HEV infection shows a pattern of Th1-type immune response, and the direct significant positive correlation between the serum level of sCD26 and IFN-γ in acute HEV infected patients, suggests that the trend of sCD26 levels is a valuable marker for predicting hepatic inflammation in hepatitis E.
A diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging study of frontal cortex connections in very-late-onset schizophrenia-like psychosis.

OBJECTIVE Onset of psychosis after the age of 60 may be associated with structural abnormalities within cerebral white matter. The authors looked within white-matter tracts, which mediate connectivity of the frontal lobes, in psychotic patients for evidence of loss of fiber integrity consistent with degenerative damage. METHODS Fourteen patients with very-late-onset schizophrenia-like psychosis and an age-matched control group underwent diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging. Tract maps were constructed for each subject from the imaging data, and measurements of fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity were made within the uncinate, superior longitudinal, and inferior occipito-frontal fasciculi, and the cingulum. RESULTS There were no significant differences in fractional anisotropy, a measure of the ordering of axons within fiber tracts, nor in mean diffusivity, an orientationally-averaged measure of the bulk diffusivity within each voxel, between patients and control subjects. CONCLUSION The lack of difference in fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity measures between patients and controls argues against the presence of structural abnormalities within these tracts and the notion that a focal white-matter abnormality within the tracts investigated underpins the onset of psychosis.