Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
LEARNING-STYLE PREFERENCE OF ESL STUDENTS Almasa Mulalic Parilah

Students’ learning styles have been ignored and have been considered as an insignifi cant component in the learning process (Rita Dunn, 1993). Dunn said that lecturers cannot identify student’s styles without using a multidimensional instrument. Lecturers are not aware of their own learning styles and their learning style preferences may differ from that of their students. As such, they are unable to assess students’ learning styles without administering proper learning styles inventory. Since little attention has been paid to how learners learn and how teachers teach in many institutions, this research attempts to determine the learning styles of the students, and the differences in their learning styles according to gender and ethnicity. This research also aims is to determine the Perceptual Learning Style (PLS) of ESL students and to analyse differences in learning styles regarding student’s demographic factors such as gender and race. In this research, the PLS preferences of ESL students was assessed using the PLSPQ research instrument, which Peacock (2001) reported to be of high reliability. In order to familiarise the readers with the larger picture in determining learning styles, some other relevant research instruments are summarised. One hundred and sixty (N=160) students from UNITEN were selected as respondents using the stratifi ed random sampling techniques. Seventy-four female students (46.3%) and eighty-six male students (53.8%) participated in the research. The racial composition of the samples was 56 Malays (35.0%), 52 Chinese (32.5%) and 52 Indian (32.5%). Results revealed that the dominant learning styles of ESL students yielded the following results. In general, students preferred the Kinaesthetic learning style and expressed minor preference for Visual, Auditory, and Group Learning, Keyword: Learning style, Learning Preferences, Students, Lecturers, Learning Styles Inventory, ESL
Approximate Solutions of a Dynamic Forecast-Inventory Model

In this paper we consider a dynamic forecast-inventory model with forecast updates, based on the martingale model of forecast evolution. Two types of updates are considered, additive and multiplicative. The formulation of the model results in a dynamic program with multidimensional state space. We derive some characteristics of optimal policies and also develop a computational approach to obtain approximate solutions. The approach is based on simulation and function approximation.
Thrombopoietin: tickling the HSC's fancy

Thrombopoietin (THPO) has been well characterized as a key regulator of platelet production. THPO also plays an important role in the maintenance and regulation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). In this issue of EMBO Molecular Medicine, Pecci et al ( ) describe a newly identified homozygous mutation in THPO causing congenital amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia, a disease characterized by a significant impairment in platelet production with rapid onset of aplastic anemia within a few years. The paper nicely investigates the underlying pathogenic mechanisms of this disease. Importantly, this study, in tandem with other recent ones, shows that this rare genetic form of aplastic anemia is treatable with THPO receptor agonists, emphasizing the paramount role of genetic testing in cases of aplastic anemia and other bone marrow failure disorders. This report also refines our understanding of the role of THPO in human HSC function and illustrates the important biological insight that can be gained through studies of such rare genetic disorders.
Comparison of the theoretical performance bounds for two wavefront curvature ranging techniques

The range focused beamformer (RFB) and the triple aperture crosscorrelator (TAC) are the two primary wavefront curvature ranging techniques used in fielded sonar systems. Theoretical performance bounds have been presented in the past for both approaches. This paper develops unified array processing performance bounds where the RFB and the TAC are special cases. Specifically, general Cramer-Rao lower bounds (CRLB) on range and bearing estimation for a linear array of directional elements are developed, where the CRLB for the RFB and the TAC are shown to be special cases of the general theory. The ranging performance of the two techniques are then compared.
Factors Associated with Increased Risk of Exacerbation and Hospital Admission in a Cohort of Ambulatory COPD Patients: A Multiple Logistic Regression Analysis

Background and Objective: The aim of this study was to develop and validate two models to estimate the probabilities of frequent exacerbations (more than 1 per year) and admissions for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that can be used in a primary care setting. Methods: Information was obtained in a cross-sectional observational study on ambulatory COPD patients performed in 201 general practices located throughout Spain. The model for admissions included 713 cases, 499 for the developmental sample and 214 in the validation sample; the model for frequent exacerbations included 896 patients, 627 in the developmental sample and 269 in the validation model. Candidate variables to be included in both models were: age, sex, body mass index (BMI), FEV1 as percent predicted [FEV1 (% pred.)] , active smoking, chronic mucus hypersecretion (CMH) and significant comorbidity. Results: The admission model contained 2 readily obtainable variables: comorbidity (OR = 1.97; CI 95% = 1.24–3.14) and FEV1(% pred.) (OR = 0.72; 0.58–0.88, for every 10 units), and well calibrated in developmental and validation samples (goodness-of-fit tests: p = 0.989 and p = 0.720, respectively). The model for frequent exacerbations included 3 variables: age (OR = 1.21; 1.01–1.44; for every 10 years of increasing age), FEV1 (% pred.) (OR = 0.82; 0.70–0.96, for every 10 units) and CMH (OR = 1.54; 1.11–2.14) and also well calibrated (p = 0.411 and p = 0.340 in the developmental and validation samples, respectively). Conclusions: Our results suggest that FEV1 impairment explains part of the risk of frequent exacerbations and hospital admissions. Furthermore, CMH and increasing age are significantly associated with the risk of frequent exacerbations, but severity of exacerbations provoking hospital admissions is associated with the presence of significant comorbidity. These important and easily measurable variables contain valuable information for optimal management of ambulatory patients with COPD.
All-trans retinoic acid and arsenic trioxide induce apoptosis and modulate intracellular concentrations of calcium in hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Abstract We investigated the effects of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and arsenic trioxide (ATO), alone and in combination, on apoptosis and intracellular calcium concentration in hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells. We used HepG2 cells to test the effects of ATRA and ATO, individually and in combination, on cell proliferation, apoptosis, and intracellular-free calcium concentration. The results indicate that each drug decreased cell proliferation, increased apoptosis, and increased intracellular-free calcium in a time- and dose-dependent manner. We also calculated the coefficients of drug interaction for sub-threshold administration of both drugs in combination (1 μmol/L each). ATRA and ATO acted synergistically in inhibition of cell proliferation and additively in the promotion of apoptosis. All-trans retinoic acid and ATO interacted synergistically to reduce cell proliferation in HepG2 cells.
Effects of Supplemental Phytase and Xylanase on Phytate Phosphorus Degradation, Ileal Protein and Energy Digestibility of a Corn-soybean-wheat Bran Diets in Broiler Chicks.

Effects of supplemental phytase and xylanase in a corn-soybean meal based diet containing 250 g/Kg wheat bran, were investigated. on broiler performance and phosphorus degradability and nitrogen digestibility. Phytase (500 and 1000 FTU) and xylanase (2700 and 5400 EXU) individually and in combination were added to the basal diet and given to 6 replicate groups (4 birds per replicate). At 21 days of age, birds were weighed and killed , ileal contents were collected and analyzed for P, N, chromic oxide and gross energy. Added phytase significantly (P<0.01) improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) (1.59 vs 1.62 g /g) and tibia ash (464.4 vs 444.3 g/Kg). Protein digestibility was increased (81.7 vs 79.4%) significantly (P<0.01) by 500 FTU/Kg added phytase. Supplemental xylanase significantly (P<0.01) improved FCR (1.58 vs 1.63 g/g) and protein digestibility (82.0 vs 80.4%). Phytate P degradability was significantly (P<0.02) improved by added phytase (41.4 vs 27.8%). Combination of supplemental phytase and xylanase had some beneficial effects on improving the nutritive value of diets containing wheat bran for broilers.
Resistin is present in human breast milk and it correlates with maternal hormonal status and serum level of C-reactive protein

Abstract Background: The main objectives of our study were to determine whether resistin was present in human breast milk and to assess resistin status in breast milk and serum in breastfeeding women for up to 180 days post-partum. Methods: Blood and breast milk samples were collected from 160 breastfeeding women enrolled on 1–3, 4–14, 15–30, 31–90 or 91–180 post-partum days. Blood samples were collected from 48 breast-fed infants at 8–24 days after birth. Milk and serum resistin levels were measured by ELISA. Results: Serum and breast milk resistin concentrations were highest (5800±1100 and 1710±68 pg/mL, respectively) at 1–3 post-partum days and decreased to 1645±210 and 1130±115 pg/mL, 1600±105 and 710±25 pg/mL, 1980±155 and 595±20 pg/mL and to 2060±300 and 670±18 pg/mL at 4–14, 15–30, 31–90 and 91–180 post-partum days, respectively. Serum resistin concentrations were correlated with those of milk (r=0.822, p<0.001). Both milk and serum resistin concentrations were correlated positively with maternal serum estradiol, progesterone, prolactin, thyroxine, triiodothyronine, cortisol, leptin and C-reactive protein concentrations. Serum resistin concentration in breast-fed infants (4915±340 pg/mL) was higher than that observed in their consumed breast milk (1745±70 pg/mL, p<0.001) or in serum of their breastfeeding mothers (3760±360 pg/mL, p<0.05). Conclusions: Resistin is present in human breast milk and its concentration in breast milk decreases with time during lactation. Its concentrations in breast milk and serum are correlated with circulating levels of various reproductive and metabolic hormones and with those of the general inflammatory marker, C-reactive protein. Clin Chem Lab Med 2008;46:118–24.
Relation between glycemic levels and low tract urinary symptoms in elderly

Abstract Introduction: Due the low mortality attributed to BPH, the evaluation of the impacts of LUTS on quality of life of the patients has great importance, especially on the concern of therapeutic choices, except on cases of formal surgery indication. This increase is directly related with difficulties to perform ordinary tasks and a normal living in community. Objectives: Determinate an association among Diabetes mellitus II and BPH symptoms in a group of elder men. Methodology: This is an observational clinic trial, comparative. About 62 male subjects, 60 years old or more have been active interviewed. They were divided in two similarly groups. First was composed by men without diabetes and the second with diabetic men. For the evaluation of prostatic symptoms, it was utilized the IPSS. Results: Mean age on Group I was 67.6 years old, while on Group II was 68.7 years old (p = 0.1521). After questionnaire, 51.5% of participants on Group I and 54.2% on Group II presented Systemic Arterial Hypertension (p = 0.099). IPSS was higher on group II (p < 0.0005). Discussion: Diabetes mellitus was positively associated with the increasing of the LUTS, especially NOCTÚRIA. Patients on group I had a media of 14.2 points on IPSS questionnaire, while those on group II reached the media of 7 points. This pattern was the same even after the age, corporal mass and social/economic adjustment. Conclusion: There is a statistically association between DM and LUTS on Elder men, evaluated through a specific questionnaire.
Rhinoplasty for African American Patients

Methods: Open structure rhinoplasty, using the 3-tiered approach, was performed on all 75 patients. An anonymous questionnaire addressed postoperative patient satisfaction, maintenance of ethnic characteristics, selfesteem, and nasofacial harmony. The rate of complications was determined by medical record review. Results: On a scale of 1 to 5 (1, no change; 5, complete change), patients reported a significant degree of preservation of ethnic characteristics (mean,2.3), high self-esteem (mean, 4.3), and very high satisfaction (mean,4.6) and facial harmony (mean, 4.3) postoperatively (P .001 for all). The overall complication rate was 2.7%.
Broadband nanostructured antireflection coating on glass for photovoltaic applications

Ultra-high, omnidirectional transmittance through a coated glass window is demonstrated over the entire accessible portion of the solar spectrum. The average broadband transmittance has been increased to greater than 98.5% at normal incidence, and exceeds 97.8% at all wavelengths between 440 nm and 1800 nm, significantly outperforming conventional MgF2 coated glass. The measured improvement in transmittance results from coating the window with a new class of materials consisting of porous SiO2 nanorods. The step-graded antireflection structure also exhibits excellent omnidirectional performance, enabling average broadband transmittance in excess of 96% at incident angles as high as 70°.
DSM-III compulsive personality disorder: an epidemiological survey

SYNOPSIS A two-stage probability sample of community subjects was developed with a full psychiatric examination employing DSM-III criteria in conjunction with the Epidemiological Catchment Area (ECA) survey conducted in Baltimore, MD. This report details the observation on those subjects diagnosed with compulsive personality disorder and compulsive personality traits. The results indicate that this condition has a prevalence of 1·7% in a general population. Male, white, married and employed individuals receive this diagnosis most often. Our data suggest a dimensional rather than categorical character for this disorder. The disorder imparts a vulnerability for the development of anxiety disorders.
Streamwise vortices in shear flows: harbingers of transition and the skeleton of coherent structures

The relationship between asymptotic descriptions of vortex–wave interactions and more recent work on ‘exact coherent structures’ is investigated. In recent years immense interest has been focused on so-called self-sustained processes in turbulent shear flows where the importance of waves interacting with streamwise vortex flows has been elucidated in a number of papers. In this paper, it is shown that the so-called ‘lower branch’ state which has been shown to play a crucial role in these self-sustained processes is a finite Reynolds number analogue of a Rayleigh vortex–wave interaction with scales appropriately modified from those for external flows to Couette flow, the flow of interest here. Remarkable agreement between the asymptotic theory and numerical solutions of the Navier–Stokes equations is found even down to relatively small Reynolds numbers, thereby suggesting the possible importance of vortex–wave interaction theory in turbulent shear flows. The relevance of the work to more general shear flows is also discussed.
Bendamustine and subcutaneous alemtuzumab combination is an effective treatment in relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients

Alemtuzumab has been extensively used in the salvage setting of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) resulting less effective on bulky lymphadenopathy. [1][1] Higher response rates have been achieved when combined with fludarabine and cyclophosphamide (FC), but this regimen has led to some safety
Volumetric visualization of the near- and far-field wake in flapping wings

The flapping wings of flying animals create complex vortex wake structure; understanding its spatial and temporal distribution is fundamental to animal flight theory. In this study, we applied the volumetric 3-component velocimetry to capture both the near- and far-field flow generated by a pair of mechanical flapping wings. For the first time, the complete three-dimensional wake structure and its evolution throughout a wing stroke were quantified and presented experimentally. The general vortex wake structure maintains a quite consistent form: vortex rings in the near field and two shear layers in the far field. Vortex rings shed periodically from the wings and are linked to each other in successive strokes. In the far field, the shed vortex rings evolve into two parallel shear layers with dominant vorticity convected from tip and root vortices. The shear layers are nearly stationary in space compared to the periodic vortex rings shed in the near field. In addition, downwash passes through the centers of the vortex rings and extends downward between the two shear layers.
Pramlintide reduced markers of oxidative stress in the postprandial period in patients with type 2 diabetes

The production of oxidative stress as a result of postprandial hyperglycaemia is now recognized as an important contributing factor in the development of diabetes complications. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of pramlintide on plasma concentrations of glucose and several markers of oxidative stress in patients with type 2 diabetes following a standardized meal.
Vandetanib for the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer

Introduction: The use of targeted therapies in the treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is increasing, especially as conventional chemotherapy affords relatively small benefits at a cost of increased toxicity. Two of the more established therapeutic targets in NSCLC are the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Vandetanib is an orally available inhibitor of VEGFR and EGFR signalling and is an attractive therapeutic agent owing to the simultaneous inhibition of both pathways. Areas covered: This review encompasses the clinical efficacy, safety and tolerability of vandetanib in advanced NSCLC. Of particular interest are the randomized Phase III clinical trials, which did not show clinically significant overall survival benefit for vandetanib monotherapy or in combination with standard chemotherapy regimens. Expert opinion: Vandetanib has anti-tumour activity in NSCLC, with improved objective responses and disease control. However, significant survival benefits were not demonstrated in Phase III clinical trials and at present vandetanib is not in further development for use in NSCLC.
Quetiapine augmentation of serotonin reuptake inhibitors in obsessive-compulsive disorder

The augmentation of serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) with atypical antipsychotics for the management of treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is gaining increasing acceptance. Quetiapine is a novel antipsychotic which is well tolerated, and which may therefore be particularly useful in this context. Charts of all patients treated in our OCD clinic with the combination of an SRI and quetiapine were reviewed. Demographic details and clinical symptoms on the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale and the Clinical Global Impressions Scale (CGI) were tabulated before and after augmentation. Eight OCD patients who had proven resistance to treatment with SRIs had received quetiapine augmentation. Four of these eight patients were responders (CGI of 1 or 2) within 4 weeks. In the treatment-responders, the medication was well tolerated. Although limited by the retrospective design and lack of controls, these data are consistent with the growing literature suggesting that approximately one-half of OCD patients resistant to treatment with SRIs may respond to augmentation with an atypical antipsychotic. Quetiapine, a relatively well tolerated agent, deserves further controlled study in this context.
Frequency, determinants and consequences of delayed access to care for HIV infection in France

Background and objectives We analysed the frequency and predictors of delayed access to care (DAC) for HIV infection, and its influence on survival. Methods We studied predictors of DAC among 18,721 patients enrolled between 1997 and 2002 in the French Hospital Database on HIV (FHDH), DAC being defined by a CD4+ T-cell count below 200 copies/mm3 and/or AIDS at FHDH enrolment. The association of DAC with the initiation of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) and of DAC with survival were analysed with Cox multivariable models. Results The overall prevalence of DAC was 35.7%. Compared with patients under 30 years of age, patients over 60 were 3.5 times more likely to have DAC (P<10-4). Compared with non-migrant women, odds ratios (OR) of DAC were higher among migrant women (1.5), non-migrant men (1.6) and migrant men (1.9; all P<10-4). Compared with men who have sex with men, other transmission groups had an estimated OR for DAC of 1.6 (P<10-4). DAC was more frequent among patients with a recent diagnosis of HIV infection [OR=1.3, 95% confidence intervals (CI)=(1.2;1.4)]. Patients with DAC received cART earlier than other patients [hazard ratio (HR)=2.2, 95% CI=(2.1;2.3)]. The DAC/mortality HR was 13.9 in the first 6 months after enrolment in the FHDH, and remained significantly higher than 1 during the subsequent 4 years. Conclusion DAC is common in France and was associated with a higher mortality, despite early initiation of cART. Earlier access to care and specific clinical management of patients with DAC should be considered.
Canine Pseudopregnancy: A Review

Canine pseudopregnancy is a normal physiological syndrome that occurs in female dogs in their diestrual phase of estrous cycle. It simulates the peri and post-whelping signs that includes nesting, increase in weight and enlargement of mammary gland, lactation and mothering behavior on toys, shoes, puppies of other bitches. Decreased levels of progesterone, meanwhile raised levels of prolactin predispose the bitches to pseudopregnancy. It is a self-limiting clinical condition; however, anti-prolactin therapy indicated an overt pseudopregnancy. Predisposed bitches not used for breeding purpose. The permanent solution for prevention of this clinical condition is ovariohysterectomy (OHE). In this article reviewed regarding aetiopathophysiology, clinical signs, diagnosis and treatment of pseudopregnancy. Keyword: Canine, pseudopregnancy, syndrome Cite this Article Thangamani A, Srinivas M, Chandra Prasad B, et al. Canine Pseudopregnancy: A Review. Research & Reviews: Journal of Veterinary Science and Technology. 2018; 7(1): 7–11p.