Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Faculty and academic staff perceptions, experiences and expectations of the PASS Program: A case study

Current research largely explores the evaluation and perceptions of Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) from the student perspective. The purpose of this study was to identify and evaluate institutional, faculty, and academic staff perceptions, experiences, and expectations of an established PASS program in the Faculty of Business in an Australian University. A survey and semi structured interviews were used to collect responses from participants from each level of the university, including the PASS program coordinators, Dean of Faculty, Head of School, and subject coordinators. Results highlight the importance of “closing the communication loop” between PASS leaders and academics to maintain the efficacy of such programs and aid in their continuous improvement. This research contributes to the literature concerning peer learning. The findings may be used in the future development of programs such as PASS to further inform the engagement of academic staff to enhance the student learning experience in such programs.
Use, patient selection and outcomes of P2Y12 receptor inhibitor treatment in patients with STEMI based on contemporary European registries.

AIMS Among acute coronary syndromes (ACS), ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) has the most severe early clinical course. We aimed to describe the effectiveness and safety of P2Y12 receptor inhibitors in patients with STEMI based on the data from contemporary European ACS registries. METHODS AND RESULTS Twelve registries provided data in a systematic manner on outcomes in STEMI patients overall, and seven of these also provided data for P2Y12 receptor inhibitor-based dual antiplatelet therapy. The registries were heterogeneous in terms of site, patient, and treatment selection, as well as in definition of endpoints (e.g. bleeding events). All-cause death rates based on the data from 84 299 patients (9612 patients on prasugrel, 11 492 on ticagrelor, and 27 824 on clopidogrel) ranged between 0.49 and 6.68% in-hospital, between 3.07 and 7.95% at 30 days (reported in 6 registries), between 8.15 and 9.13% at 180 days, and between 2.41 and 9.58% at 1 year (5 registries). Major bleeding rates were 0.09-3.55% in-hospital (8 registries), 0.09-1.65% at 30 days, and 1.96% at 1 year (only 1 registry). Fatal/life-threatening bleeding was rare occurring between 0.08 and 0.13% in-hospital (4 registries) and 1.96% at 1 year (1 registry). CONCLUSIONS Real-world evidence from European contemporary registries shows that death, ischaemic events, and bleeding rates are lower than those reported in Phase III studies of P2Y12 inhibitors. Regarding individual P2Y12 inhibitors, patients on prasugrel, and, to a lesser degree, ticagrelor, had fewer ischaemic and bleeding events at all time points than clopidogrel-treated patients. These findings are partly related to the fact that the newer agents are used in younger and less ill patients.
Isoprene Emissions from Downy Oak under Water Limitation during an Entire Growing Season: What Cost for Growth?

Increases in the production of terpene- and phenolic-like compounds in plant species under abiotic stress conditions have been interpreted in physiological studies as a supplementary defense system due to their capacity to limit cell oxidation. From an ecological perspective however, these increases are only expected to confer competitive advantages if they do not imply a significant cost for the plant, that is, growth reduction. We investigated shifts of isoprene emissions, and to a lesser extent phenolic compound concentration, of Quercus pubescens Willd. from early leaf development to leaf senescence under optimal watering (control: C), mild and severe water stress (MS, SS). The impact of water stress was concomitantly assessed on plant physiological (chlorophyll fluorescence, stomatal conductance, net photosynthesis, water potential) functional (relative leaf water content, leaf mass per area ratio) and growth (aerial and root biomass) traits. Growth changes allowed to estimate the eventual costs related to the production of isoprene and phenolics. The total phenolic content was not modified under water stress whereas isoprene emissions were promoted under MS over the entire growing cycle despite the decline of Pn by 35%. Under SS, isoprene emissions remained similar to C all over the study despite the decline of Pn by 47% and were thereby clearly uncoupled to Pn leading to an overestimation of the isoprene emission factor by 44%. Under SS, maintenance of isoprene emissions and phenolic compound concentration resulted in very significant costs for the plants as growth rates were very significantly reduced. Under MS, increases of isoprene emission and maintenance of phenolic compound concentration resulted in moderate growth reduction. Hence, it is likely that investment in isoprene emissions confers Q. pubescens an important competitive advantage during moderate but not severe periods of water scarcity. Consequences of this response for air quality in North Mediterranean areas are also discussed.
Genetic Factors Explain a Major Fraction of the 50% Lower Lipoprotein(a) Concentrations in Finns

Objective— Lp(a) (lipoprotein(a)) concentrations are widely genetically determined by the LPA isoforms and show 5-fold interpopulation differences. Two- to 3-fold differences have been reported even within Europe. Finns represent a distinctive population isolate within Europe and have been repeatedly reported to present lower Lp(a) concentrations than Central Europeans. The significance of this finding was unclear for a long time because of the difficult comparability of Lp(a) assays. Recently, a large standardized study in >50 000 individuals from 7 European populations confirmed this observation but could not provide insights into the causes. Approach and Results— We investigated Lp(a) concentrations, LPA isoforms, and genotypes of established genetic variants affecting Lp(a) concentrations (LPA variants, APOE isoforms, and PCSK9 R46L) in the Finnish YFS (Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study) population (n=2281) and 3 Non-Finnish Central European populations (n=10 003). We observed ≈50% lower Lp(a) concentrations in Finns. The isoform distribution was shifted toward longer isoforms, and the percentage of low-molecular-weight isoform carriers was reduced. Most interestingly, however, Lp(a) was reduced in each single-isoform group. In contrast to the known inverse relationship between LPA isoforms and Lp(a) concentrations, especially very short isoforms presented unexpectedly low Lp(a) concentrations in Finns. The investigated genetic variants, as well as age, sex, and renal function, explained 71.8% of the observed population differences. Conclusions— The population differences in Lp(a) concentrations between Finnish and Central European populations originate not only from a different LPA isoform distribution but suggest the existence of novel functional variation in the small-isoform range.
Denture Stomatitis – A Clinical Update.

Denture stomatitis is a benign condition, usually asymptomatic, that can affect edentulous patients. Studies have reported a prevalence of denture stomatitis affecting over 75% of denture wearers and, whilst the aetiology may be multifactorial, Candida albicans has a strong association with the condition, along with denture trauma and poor denture hygiene being associated local risk factors. This paper describes the aetiology, diagnosis and treatment of denture stomatitis, with the aim of helping clinicians to provide appropriate management of this condition. Clinical relevance: Denture stomatitis can be a recurrent problem amongst denture wearers and is often asymptomatic to the patient. Dental practitioners should be able to identify and manage this condition. Clinical relevance: Denture stomatitis can be a recurrent problem amongst denture wearers and is often asymptomatic to the patient. Dental practitioners should be able to identify and manage this condition.
Basic practical skills teaching and learning in undergraduate medical education – a review on methodological evidence

Objective: Practical skills are an essential part of physicians’ daily routine. Nevertheless, medical graduates’ performance of basic skills is often below the expected level. This review aims to identify and summarize teaching approaches of basic practical skills in undergraduate medical education which provide evidence with respect to effective students’ learning of these skills. Methods: Basic practical skills were defined as basic physical examination skills, routine skills which get better with practice, and skills which are also performed by nurses. We searched PubMed with different terms describing these basic practical skills. In total, 3467 identified publications were screened and 205 articles were eventually reviewed for eligibility. Results: 43 studies that included at least one basic practical skill, a comparison of two groups of undergraduate medical students and effects on students’ performance were analyzed. Seven basic practical skills and 15 different teaching methods could be identified. The most consistent results with respect to effective teaching and acquisition of basic practical skills were found for structured skills training, feedback, and self-directed learning. Simulation was effective with specific teaching methods and in several studies no differences in teaching effects were detected between expert or peer instructors. Multimedia instruction, when used in the right setting, also showed beneficial effects for basic practical skills learning. Conclusion: A combination of voluntary or obligatory self-study with multimedia applications like video clips in combination with a structured program including the possibility for individual exercise with personal feedback by peers or teachers might provide a good learning opportunity for basic practical skills.
Effect of fiber fractionation on refinability and strength propertes of wheat straw soda-AQ pulp

Environmental and population growth pressures increased the interest in nonwood raw materials such as wheat straw for pulp and paper manufacture. Beating studies for straw based pulps showed that its freeness decreases faster than wood pulps. In other words wheat straw requires considerably lower energy or fewer PFI refiner revolutions than wood based furnish to reach the same level of freeness due to higher content of primary fines and thiner fibers at lower cell wall thickness. The effect of seperate refining of long fiber fraction on refinability and strength properties of wheat straw soda-AQ pulp are disscused in this paper. Thus soda-AQ pulp of wheat straw was fractionated using modified Buaer-Mc Nett fiber classifier having only a 50 mesh screen into a long fiber fraction (reject) and a short fiber fraction (accept) at two different mass split ratios of LFR 80 (80:20) and LFR 60 (60:40). The refined long fiber fractions were remixd with the related unrefined short fiber fraction and their properties were determined in comparison with the control sample. The air resistance, tensile and burst indices improved by the fractionation treatments especialy in the case of LFR 80, due to higher applied refining energy which lead to higher fiber to fiber bonding. By fractionation of wheat straw pulp and separate refining of longer fiber fraction it is possible to increase PFI revolution or refining energy to develop inter-fiber bonding strength without decreasing the tear index.
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for the Treatment of Executive Function Deficits in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Clinical Trial Approach.

OBJECTIVE Executive function (EF) deficits in patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are ubiquitous and understudied. Further, there are no effective, neuroscience-based treatments to address this impairing feature of ASD. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has demonstrated promise in addressing EF deficits in adult neuropsychiatric disorders. This article will outline the design of a novel randomized-controlled trial of bilateral, 20 Hz, rTMS applied to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) for treatment of EF deficits in ASD that is currently ongoing. We describe prior therapeutic rTMS research for ASD and prior rTMS trials targeting EFs in adult neuropsychiatric disorders. A neurophysiological rationale for rTMS treatment of EF deficits in ASD is presented. METHODS An ongoing protocol will enroll participants aged 16-35 with ASD and no intellectual disability. Psychotropic medications will be continued during the 4-week trial of active 20 Hz versus sham rTMS applied to the DLPFC. Twenty, active treatment sessions consisting of 25 stimulation trains at a 90% motor threshold will be administered. The primary outcome measure is the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) spatial working memory task. At present, recruitment, enrollment, and treatment within the described clinical trial are ongoing. CONCLUSIONS EF deficits are common and impairing symptoms of ASD. There are no evidence-based treatments for EF deficits in ASD. The protocol described here will provide important preliminary data on the feasibility and efficacy of 20 Hz rTMS to DLPFC for EF deficits in ASD.
Tobacco rattle virus-induced PHYTOENE DESATURASE (PDS) and Mg-chelatase H subunit (ChlH) gene silencing in Solanum pseudocapsicum L.

Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) is an attractive tool for determining gene function in plants. The present study constitutes the first application of VIGS in S. pseudocapsicum, which has great ornamental and pharmaceutical value, using tobacco rattle virus (TRV) vectors. Two marker genes, PHYTOENE DESATURASE (PDS) and Mg-chelatase H subunit (ChlH), were used to test the VIGS system in S. pseudocapsicum. The photobleaching and yellow-leaf phenotypes of the silenced plants were shown to significantly correlate with the down-regulation of endogenous SpPDS and SpChlH, respectively (P ≤ 0.05). Moreover, the parameters potentially affecting the efficiency of VIGS in S. pseudocapsicum, including the Agrobacterium strain and the inoculation method (leaf syringe-infiltration, sprout vacuum-infiltration and seed vacuum-infiltration), were compared. The optimized VIGS parameters were the leaf syringe-infiltration method, the Agrobacterium strain GV3101 and the growth of agro-inoculated plants at 25°. With these parameters, the silencing efficiency of SpPDS and SpChlH could reach approximately 50% in S. pseudocapsicum. Additionally, the suitability of various reference genes was screened by RT-qPCR using three candidate genes, and the results demonstrated that glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) can serve as a suitable reference for assessing the gene expression levels of VIGS systems in S. pseudocapsicum. The proven application of VIGS in S. pseudocapsicum and the characterization of a suitable reference gene in the present work will expedite the functional characterization of novel genes in S. pseudocapsicum.
The effect of Nordic hamstring exercise training volume on biceps femoris long head architectural adaptation

The aim of this study was to determine the time course of architectural adaptations in the biceps femoris long head (BFLH) following high or low volume eccentric training. Twenty recreationally active males completed a two week standardized period of eccentric Nordic hamstring exercise (NHE) training, followed by four weeks of high (n = 10) or low volume (n = 10) training. Eccentric strength was assessed pre‐ and post intervention and following detraining. Architecture was assessed weekly during training and after two and four weeks of detraining. After six weeks of training, BFLH fascicles increased significantly in the high (23% ± 7%, P < .001, d = 2.87) and low volume (24% ± 4%, P < .001, d = 3.46) groups, but reversed following two weeks of detraining (high volume: −17% ± 5%, P < .001, d = −2.04; low volume: −15% ± 3%, P < .001, d = −2.56) after completing the intervention. Both groups increased eccentric strength after six weeks of training (high volume: 28% ± 20%, P = .009, d = 1.55; low volume: 34% ± 14%, P < .001, d = 2.09) and saw no change in strength following a four week period of detraining (high volume: −7% ± 7%, P = .97, d = −0.31; low volume: −2% ± 5%, P = .99, d = −0.20). Both low and high volume NHE training stimulate increases in BFLH fascicle length and eccentric knee flexor strength. Architectural adaptations reverted to baseline levels within two weeks after ceasing training, but eccentric strength was maintained for at least four weeks. These observations provide novel insight into the effects of training volume and detraining on BFLH architecture and may provide guidance for the implementation of NHE programs.
Potential utilization of recycled waste paper fibres in cement composites

This paper deals with the utilization of waste paper fibres in cement composites. The characterization of waste cellulosic fibres, their processing methods as well as the density and mechanical properties of cement-based composites with the 2 and 5 wt% fibre content of three fibre kinds compared to a composite based on 99.5 wt. % cellulosic fibre and the control sample without fibres are presented. It is shown that the density and mechanical properties of tested fibre-cement composites are affected by cellulosic fibre content and depend on the nature of fibres, their dimension and dispersion in the matrix. The density of each composite with fibre content was checked in a narrow range (1921–1968 kg/m 3 at 2 % and 5 % replacement of the filler). Composites with recycled waste paper fibres had an increasing character in the values of flexural strength up to 14.9 % in comparison with the wood pulp mortar sample. The compressive strength of composites with 2 % of filler replacement reached up to 18 MPa. However, the 5 % replacement of the filler caused a reduction in the compressive strength values to 7.5 % in comparison with the sample containing wood pulp after 28 days of hardening. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.5755/j01.ct. 67.1. 15001
Response Surface Modelling of Electrosprayed Polyacrylonitrile Nanoparticle Size

Electrospraying (electrohydrodynamic spraying) is a method of liquid atomization by electrical forces. Spraying solutions or suspensions allow production of fine particles, down to nanometer size. These particles are interesting for a wide variety of applications, thanks to their unprecedented chemical and physical behaviour in comparison to their bulk form. Knowledge of the particle size in powders is important in many studies employing nanoparticles. In this paper, the effect of some process parameters on the size of electrosprayed polyacrylonitrile particles is presented in the form of response surface model. The model is achieved by employing a factorial design to evaluate the influence of parameters on the polyacrylonitrile nanoparticle size and response surface methodology. Four electrospraying parameters, namely, applied voltage, electrospraying solution concentration, flow rate, and syringe needle diameter were considered.
Overexpression of the RieskeFeS Protein Increases Electron Transport Rates and Biomass Yield1[CC-BY]

Overexpression of the Rieske FeS protein results in significant increases in the quantum efficiencies of PSI and PSII, increases in Amax, and has the potential to increase crop productivity. In this study, we generated transgenic Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) plants overexpressing the Rieske FeS protein (PetC), a component of the cytochrome b6f (cyt b6f) complex. Increasing the levels of this protein resulted in concomitant increases in the levels of cyt f (PetA) and cyt b6 (PetB), core proteins of the cyt b6f complex. Interestingly, an increase in the levels of proteins in both the photosystem I (PSI) and PSII complexes also was seen in the Rieske FeS overexpression plants. Although the mechanisms leading to these changes remain to be identified, the transgenic plants presented here provide novel tools to explore this. Importantly, overexpression of the Rieske FeS protein resulted in substantial and significant impacts on the quantum efficiency of PSI and PSII, electron transport, biomass, and seed yield in Arabidopsis plants. These results demonstrate the potential for manipulating electron transport processes to increase crop productivity.
Regional Gray Matter Volumes as Related to Psychomotor Slowing in Adults with Type 1 Diabetes

Objective Psychomotor slowing is a common cognitive complication in type 1 diabetes (T1D), but its neuroanatomical correlates and risk factors are unclear. In nondiabetic adults, smaller gray matter volume (GMV) and presence of white matter hyperintensities are associated with psychomotor slowing. We hypothesize that smaller GMV in prefronto-parietal regions explains T1D-related psychomotor slowing. We also inspect the contribution of microvascular disease and hyperglycemia. Methods GMV, white matter hyperintensities (WMH), and glucose levels were measured concurrently with a test of psychomotor speed (Digit Symbol Substitution Test [DSST]) in 95 adults with childhood-onset T1D (mean age/duration = 49/41 years) and 135 similarly aged non-T1D adults. Linear regression models tested associations between DSST and regional GMV, controlling for T1D, sex, and education; a bootstrapping method tested whether regional GMV explained between-group differences in DSST. For the T1D cohort, voxel-based and a priori regions-of-interest methods further tested associations between GMV and DSST, adjusting for WMH, hyperglycemia, and age. Results Bilateral putamen, but no other regions examined, significantly attenuated DSST differences between the cohorts (bootstrapped unstandardized indirect effects: −3.49, −3.26; 95% confidence interval = −5.49 to −1.80, −5.29 to −1.44, left and right putamen, respectively). Among T1D, DSST was positively associated with GMV of bilateral putamen and left thalamus. Neither WMH, hyperglycemia, age, nor other factors substantially modified these relationships. Conclusions For middle-aged adults with T1D and cerebral microvascular disease, GMV of basal ganglia may play a critical role in regulating psychomotor speed, as measured via DSST. Studies to quantify the impact of basal ganglia atrophy concurrent with WMH progression on psychomotor slowing are warranted.