Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Antidepressant drug exposure during pregnancy. CZTIS small prospective study.

OBJECTIVES Antidepressant drugs are used frequently during pregnancy. The risk assessment of SSRI exposure is still evaluated and re-opened due to studies indicating possible increase of inborn defects, neonatal abstinence syndrome and cognitive ability or behavioral defects. METHODS In our study, we prospectively followed groups of pregnancies in years 2002-2009, that were exposed to SSRI. As control group we used 1) women exposed to new atypical antidepressant and anti-psychotics - APD (risperidone, mirtazapine, venlafaxine, trazodone, aripiprazole, ziprasidone, olanzapine), 2) women exposed to nonteratogenic drugs and 3) the general population according to Institute of Health Informations and Statistics (ÚZIS.) Data were analyzed using software Statistica for Windows No.5. 5. RESULTS The total number of queries on psychotropic drugs performs in CZTIS more than 30% of all calls, constantly. We enrolled a total of 43 women exposed to SSRI and 37 women (1x twins) exposed to new psychotropic drugs (APD) in the study. Exposure to SSRI was often associated with poly-therapy. The most frequent SSRI used were citalopram and/or escitalopram (56%), and setraline (26%). Other SSRI were used sporadically. We observed significantly higher frequency of elective terminations in group of SSRI and higher frequency of abortions a prematurity in APD group. Frequency of malformations does not varied, being in all groups in expected range. CONCLUSIONS We confirmed that SSRI exposure during pregnancy was not associated with the higher risk of major malformation. However, number of cases was low and did not allow the statistical treatment with higher power.
The importance of manganese in the cytoplasmic maturation of cattle oocytes: blastocyst production improvement regardless of cumulus cells presence during in vitro maturation

Summary Adequate dietary intake of manganese (Mn) is required for normal reproductive performance in cattle. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of Mn during in vitro maturation of bovine cumulus–oocyte complexes (COC) on apoptosis of cumulus cells, cumulus expansion, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the COC. The role of cumulus cells on Mn transport and subsequent embryo development was also evaluated. Early apoptosis decreased in cumulus cells matured with Mn compared with medium alone. Cumulus expansion did not show differences in COC matured with or without Mn supplementation. SOD activity was higher in COC matured with 6 ng/ml Mn than with 0 ng/ml Mn. Cleavage rates were higher in COC and denuded oocytes co-cultured with cumulus cells, either with or without Mn added to in vitro maturation (IVM) medium. Regardless of the presence of cumulus cells during IVM, the blastocyst rates were higher when 6 ng/ml Mn was supplemented into IVM medium compared with growth in medium alone. Blastocyst quality was enhanced when COC were matured in medium with Mn supplementation. The results of the present study indicated that Mn supplementation to IVM medium enhanced the ‘health’ of COC, and improved subsequent embryo development and embryo quality.
Incentivising Excellence: School choice and education quality

School choice has in the past decades gone from a fringe academic theory to become a mainstream policy option exercised by governments worldwide. In theory, school choice and competition can increase achievement through facilitating better matches between pupil and school (‘choice effects’), allowing the reallocation of pupils to better schools (‘school effects’), and forcing schools to compete to attract pupils (‘competition effects’). The success of these effects depends on a number of assumptions being met:
Surfactant Effect on the Buoyancy‐Driven Motion of Bubbles and Drops in a Tube

Abstract: The effect of surfactants on the buoyancy‐driven motion of bubbles and drops in a vertical tube is experimentally examined. The terminal velocities of fluid particles are measured and their steady shapes are quantitatively characterized in systems with various bulk‐phase concentrations of surfactant. In the case of air bubbles, the presence of surfactant retards the motion of small bubbles due to the development of adverse Marangoni stresses, whereas it enhances the motion of large bubbles by allowing them to deform away from the tube wall more easily. For viscous drops, the surfactant‐enhanced regime of particle motion becomes more pronounced in the sense that the terminal velocity becomes more sensitive to surfactant concentration, whereas the surfactant effect in the surfactant‐retarded regime becomes weaker.
Comparison of taurine, alpha-tocopherol, retinol, selenium, and total triglycerides and cholesterol concentrations in cats with cardiac disease and in healthy cats.

Epidemiologic relations were evaluated between plasma concentrations of nutrients and cardiovascular diseases. A total of 220 cats were assessed: 144 cats with noninduced acquired heart disease and 76 clinically normal cats. Plasma was assayed for taurine, alpha-tocopherol, selenium, retinol, and total cholesterol and triglycerides concentrations. Cardiovascular disease groups included dilated cardiomyopathy (n = 53), left ventricular hypertrophy (n = 28), hyperthyroidism (n = 11), and uncertain classification (n = 52). In cats with dilated cardiomyopathy, mean plasma taurine concentration was the lowest of that in cats of any group, being only 38% of the value in healthy cats; females had less than half the mean value of males. Tocopherol concentration was 20% lower than normal, and retinol concentration was 40% higher than normal. Total cholesterol concentration was 36% lower than normal. Triglycerides concentration was higher in these cats than in any other group--twice the value recorded in healthy cats and 67% higher than that in hyperthyroid cats. In cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, almost 15% had mean plasma taurine concentration < 30 mumol/L. Retinol concentration was 15% higher, and triglycerides concentration was 54% higher than normal. Approximately 27% of hyperthyroid cats had mildly decreased plasma taurine concentration. Hyperthyroid cats had the lowest tocopherol and cholesterol values; both were at least 30% lower than normal. Retinol concentration was 30% higher than normal. Approximately 14% of cats with uncertain classification had mildly decreased plasma taurine concentration. Plasma retinol and triglycerides concentrations were higher than normal in 25 and 38% of these cats, respectively. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Palm Kernel Oil Cake as an alternative to earth resistance-reducing agent

This paper presents a study on Palm Kernel Oil Cake (PKOC) as an earth resistance-reducing agent. The PKOC is a derivative of palm kernel nut after extraction of oil. Significant earth resistance reduction is obtained by means of replacing soil within ‘critical resistance area’ of an earth electrode with the PKOC.The properties of PKOC as an earth resistance-reducing agent is investigated. Among the important properties considered are moisture content, moisture holding capacities, pH (acidity) level, and its resistivity. The paper presents and discusses the techniques in the PKOC application and reports the results achieved which demonstrate effectiveness of the PKOC.
A Generation Comparison of Mobile Payment Acceptance Factors: an Empirical Investigation

Many unsuccessful initiatives for establishing technological solutions of mobile payment (m-payment) services in stationary trade have been detected in the past few years. Therefore, following research deals with possible explanations for insufficient diffusion. A lack of research was analyzed by investigating the moderating effect of being a Digital Native (DN) or Digital Immigrant (DI) regarding technological factors influencing the attitude towards using m-payment systems. Our findings deepen the understanding of consumers’ needs and personal characteristics in the adoption of m-payment technology. The theoretical basis is built on a modified TAM and Prensky’s (2001) cultural generation concept. Hence, the technical field of m-payment is connected to a theory of identity. The study results displayed a greater degree of technological affinity concerning all factors examined in the group of DNs. By using a moderated regression analysis, we verified the negative influence of perceived security and risk having a significantly stronger effect on the attitude of DIs. Additionally, further results confirm the enormous importance of security in innovative payment processes. The results reinforce the importance of a target group-specific communication of an easy and secure payment-transaction to DIs. Furthermore, divergence of former research could be explained through the results of our cultural approach.
A research on obesity among Turkish seafarers.

BACKGROUND Obesity and overweight threaten not only seafarer's health but also the safety of operations on board a ship. The aim of the study was to investigate the statistical distribution of obesity and overweight among Turkish seafarers by using the health examination reports data collected between 2009 and 2012. MATERIALS AND METHODS The data on weight, height and age obtained from 143,341 medical examination reports of Turkish seafarers were used with the official permission of Directorate General of Health for Border and Coastal Areas. Considering the data in the health reports, body mass index (BMI) values were calculated, analysed and compared with Turkish general population and Danish seafarers. RESULTS It has been found that BMI values of Turkish seafarers were boomed over the years. While Turkish male seafarers get older, their BMI values rise progressively. After the age of 28, BMI scores exceed the acceptable level. In addition, they reach maximum average 27.8 BMI value in their 50s. CONCLUSIONS The activities, which will provide awareness to Turkish seafarers and the ship operators about the dangers of obesity, should be done. Also convenient environments and time for physical exercise on board a ship must be provided for seafarers.
Performance of Time-Bound Negotiation in Agent-Based Manufacturing Control

Agent-based software technology plays an impor- tant role in the manufacturing industry for achieving agility. Shop floor control applications can be designed based on the paradigm of agent negotiation to cope with variabilities and disturbances in the production environment. This often involves the contract net protocol (CNP) and previous research has suggested that the timing parameters of CNP can affect significantly the performance of agent negotiation. This work extends our knowledge in this area of research by considering the performance effects of the combinatorial variations of these parameters in a discrete-event simulation case study. The results provide not only a deeper understanding of the time-bound agent negotiation process, but also insights into the performance fine-tuning of CNP-based control schemes. Index Terms—multi-agent systems; negotiation protocol; sim- ulation; work-in-progress; cycle time
Intestinal Microparticles and Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Incidental or Pathogenic?

M icroparticles (MPs) are defined as nonbiological undegradable particles of the gastrointestinal lumen that are of suitable size and shape (typically 0.2–1.0 mm diameter) for uptake by mucosal phagocytes. MPs can be classified into 2 groups, endogenous and exogenous, based on their source of origin. The endogenous MPs are mainly composed of calcium phosphate deriving from the co-precipitation of Ca2+ and PO32 4 ions secreted by the intestinal mucosa and, a smaller portion, from food intake. In the human intestine, the endogenous MPs, together with luminal constituents (namely bacterial lipopolysaccharide [LPS]), are scavenged by M cells of Peyer’s patches and passed to underlying phagocytic cells for processing. The exogenous MPs are mainly composed of aluminosilicates and titanium dioxide, which are common additives to food, pharmaceuticals, and toothpaste. Research has shown that in the United Kingdom, the typical intake of titanium dioxide and aluminosilicates are up to 1012 particles and 5 · 1012 particles per day per person, respectively. The exogenous MPs are highly resistant to chemical breakdown, so they survive both gastrointestinal digestion and cellular processing after ingestion and uptake into the mucosa. These MPs may “hijack”(capture) the putative route for endogenous MP uptake and use the some pathways for macrophage uptake. Located in the base of the human Peyer’s patches in the terminal ileum, there is a population of cells that have been termed “pigment cells. ” The pigment in fact is micron-sized cellular lysosomes that are full of small, dense submicron particles that do not allow transmission of light and thus appear black under regular light microscopy. Studies seeking to characterize these intracellular pigments showed that the pigments are composed of aluminosilicates, titanium dioxide, and a small percentage of non– aluminium containing silicates, such as silica (SiO2) or magnesium trisilicate (talc), indicating that they have been derived mainly from dietary intake. In contrast, the mechanism of translocation of calcium phosphate MPs into the intestinal mucosa is yet to be defined. This has mainly been due to technical challenges in preserving and observing freshly precipitated and thus labile mineral structures in situ. Here, we briefly overview MP detection techniques, the clinical relevance of MPs in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) (focusing on Crohn’s disease [CD]), and conflicting results of MP research to date.
Coagulation kinetics and aggregate morphology in the intermediate regimes between diffusion-limited and reaction-limited cluster aggregation.

We investigate the kinetics and fractal morphology of aggregating polystyrene latex in an intermediate region between diffusion-limited cluster aggregation (DLCA) and reaction-limited cluster aggregation two (RCLA)? The measurements are made by means of a low-angle elastic-light-scattering setup covering two decades in scattering wave vectors
The safety and efficacy of safinamide mesylate for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease

ABSTRACT Safinamide (brand name Xadago®, Zambon S.p.A) is a third-generation reversible MAO-B inhibitor, which also blocks sodium voltage-sensitive channels and modulates stimulated release of glutamate. Safinamide was recently licensed by EMA for the treatment of PD as add-on therapy to a stable dose of levodopa alone or in combination with other PD medicinal products in mid-to advanced-stage fluctuating patients. It is also under review by the US FDA. Studies in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-treated monkeys and 6OHDA-lesioned rats suggest antiparkinsonian efficacy and antidyskinesic effects. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials have shown efficacy for the treatment of motor symptoms in stable PD patients on dopamine agonists and in fluctuating PD patients on levodopa. Significant improvement in daily ON time was also observed in the latter. This effect was maintained for at least 2 years in double-blind conditions and, interestingly, without significant worsening of dyskinesia. Clinical studies have not detected any specific safety issue other than those already known with MAO-B inhibitors.
Characterization of Novel Phages Isolated in Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci Reveals Evolutionary Relationships with Staphylococcus aureus Phages

ABSTRACT Despite increasing interest in coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), little information is available about their bacteriophages. We isolated and sequenced three novel temperate Siphoviridae phages (StB12, StB27, and StB20) from the CoNS Staphylococcus hominis and S. capitis species. The genome sizes are around 40 kb, and open reading frames (ORFs) are arranged in functional modules encoding lysogeny, DNA metabolism, morphology, and cell lysis. Bioinformatics analysis allowed us to assign a potential function to half of the predicted proteins. Structural elements were further identified by proteomic analysis of phage particles, and DNA-packaging mechanisms were determined. Interestingly, the three phages show identical integration sites within their host genomes. In addition to this experimental characterization, we propose a novel classification based on the analysis of 85 phage and prophage genomes, including 15 originating from CoNS. Our analysis established 9 distinct clusters and revealed close relationships between S. aureus and CoNS phages. Genes involved in DNA metabolism and lysis and potentially in phage-host interaction appear to be widespread, while structural genes tend to be cluster specific. Our findings support the notion of a possible reciprocal exchange of genes between phages originating from S. aureus and CoNS, which may be of crucial importance for pathogenesis in staphylococci.
The effects of a counselling intervention on lifestyle change in people at risk of cardiovascular disease

Background: The study assessed the effects of a counselling intervention on lifestyle changes in certain-aged people at risk of cardiovascular disease. Design and methods: This was an intervention study at baseline and six- and 12-month follow-ups. The participants were 40 years old (n= 53 at baseline, n=33 at six months and n=34 at 12 months). The main outcomes were cardiovascular health parameters, such as weight, BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, cholesterol (total, high density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein), blood glucose, and self-assessed and reported lifestyle and adherence to lifestyle changes. The counselling intervention was Internet-based and carried out via Skype or face-to-face in small groups (on average, six participants). Results: There were statistically significant differences between the baseline and the 12-month follow-up with respect to the consumption of fat and snacks. Some positive cardiovascular health improvements were detected between baseline and six months, but not as clearly between baseline and 12 months. The participants reported having a healthier diet at 12 months than at baseline. At 12 months, BMI measurements indicated that all participants were overweight (mean BMI 29.8), but according to the self-assessed data, only 25% considered themselves to be so. Conclusions: Changes in lifestyle were detected as a result of the intervention. These lifestyle changes may improve cardiovascular health in the long term. Discrepancies were found between the measured indicators of cardiovascular health and information obtained from questionnaires and diary records. In order to achieve sustainable lifestyle changes, long-term support is required.
Mapping of chromosomal gains and losses in prostate cancer by comparative genomic hybridization

Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) allows detection of chromosomal imbalances in whole genomes in a comprehensive manner. With this approach, ten cases of prostate cancer (seven primary tumors and three metastases) were analyzed. Frequent chromosomal gains detected by CGH involved chromosome arms 7q, 8q, 9q, and 16p, and chromosomes 20 and 22, as well as frequent losses of chromosome arms 16q and 18q, in at least three of the ten cases. Overrepresentation of chromosome arm 9q has not been described in published reports. The CGH data were compared with results of a loss of heterozygosity (LOH) study, in which complete allelotyping was performed in the same prostate tumors with 74 different polymorphic markers. In general, a high concordance between the CGH and LOH results was observed (92%). Tumors revealing discrepancies by CGH and LOH analysis were investigated further by interphase cytogenetics, and the resulting picture regarding the genomic alterations is discussed in detail.
Establishment and Maintenance of Heritable Chromatin in C . elegans

Mounting evidence suggests that environmental exposures in one generation may result in changes in gene expression that are heritable for multiple generations, yet are unaccompanied by genetic mutations. These phenomena are considered to be the result of epigenetic mechanisms, which can establish metastable states of chromatin-based genome architecture that can be passed through the gametes into subsequent generations. Such heritability requires that normally transient epigenetic changes become stabilized in the germline and become part of the information that is passed from one generation to the next. Work in the genetic model organism Caenorhabditis elegans has uncovered a number of mechanisms that influence transgenerational epigenetic inheritance. These include non-coding RNA-based mechanisms that target genomic loci for heritable repression through the recruitment of histone modifiers. Less understood is how heritable gene activation may be established and maintained. In this review we summarize results that indicate that a network of antagonistic chromatin modifying activities may help maintain heritable gene transcription in the germline of C. elegans. Chief among these activities may be RNA Polymerase II, and the histone methyl transferases with which it is associated, which “mark” regions of transcriptional activity in germ cell chromatin. These patterns are then further maintained by transcription-independent mechanisms that are essential for germline function in subsequent generations.
Evaluating TM1019.6 ELDRS screening methods using gated lateral PNP transistors

The total-dose response of gated lateral PNP transistors is presented for the first time for the various enhanced low-dose-rate sensitivity (ELDRS)-related test conditions of Mil-STD 883F Test Method 1019.6. We compare the PNP results to those of NPN transistors from ELDRS test chips manufactured at National Semiconductor Corporation (NSC). These data provide a physical basis for the limitations placed on the TM1019.6 ELDRS tests and confirm the conservative nature of these tests for the NSC ELDRS process.
Fat supplementation in animal production—ruminants

The effect of adding fat to the diet of the ruminant is a very complex subject. For animals with a low production potential, the role of fat is probably limited but, as the potential output is increased, energy intake becomes a more important limiting factor and the use of more fat may then be justified. If this is so, certain problems require solution. These include the effects on food intake and its metabolizability and the ME value to be assigned to the fat itself. In dairy cows, the best way to feed fat, either early in lactation or throughout, needs to be assessed together with any effects in later lactations. Finally, the best form of fat to use and the method of incorporating it into the diet also needs to be investigated.