Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Molecular prognostic factors in small-intestinal neuroendocrine tumours

Background Small-intestinal neuroendocrine tumours (SI-NETs) represent a heterogeneous group of rare tumours. In recent years, basic research in SI-NETs has attempted to unravel the molecular events underlying SI-NET tumorigenesis. Aim We aim to provide an overview of the current literature regarding prognostic and predictive molecular factors in patients with SI-NETs. Method A PubMed search was conducted on (epi)genetic prognostic factors in SI-NETs from 2000 until 2019. Results The search yielded 1522 articles of which 20 reviews and 35 original studies were selected for further evaluation. SI-NETs are mutationally quiet tumours with a different genetic make-up compared to pancreatic NETs. Loss of heterozygosity at chromosome 18 is the most frequent genomic aberration (44–100%) followed by mutations of CDKN1B in 8%. Prognostic analyses were performed in 16 studies, of which 8 found a significant (epi)genetic association for survival or progression. Loss of heterozygosity at chromosome 18, gains of chromosome 4, 5, 7, 14 and 20p, copy gain of the SRC gene and low expression of RASSF1A and P16 were associated with poorer survival. In comparison with genetic mutations, epigenetic alterations are significantly more common in SI-NETs and may represent more promising targets in the treatment of SI-NETs. Conclusion SI-NETs are mutationally silent tumours. No biomarkers have been identified yet that can easily be adopted into current clinical decision making. SI-NETs may represent a heterogeneous disease and larger international studies are warranted to translate molecular findings into precision oncology.
Seasonal variation in marine-snow-associated and ambient-water prokaryotic communities in the northern Adriatic Sea

The structure and activity of prokaryotic communities were determined in marine snow and in the ambient water of the northern Adriatic Sea in different seasons (autumn, spring and summer). The seasonal variation in the composition of marine-snow-associated and ambient- water bacterial communities was assessed by T-RFLP (Terminal Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism) on the 16S rRNA gene (16S rDNA) and 16S rRNA transcript (16S rRNA) level. On the 16S rDNA level, the bacterial community composition of the marine snow and ambient water was similar in summer and autumn, but not in spring. In contrast, on the 16S rRNA level, indica- tive of the active bacterial community, the marine-snow-associated bacterial community was different from that of the ambient-water, and different from the bacterial community on the 16S rDNA level, except in autumn. To phylogenetically characterize the bacterial and archaeal com- munity composition associated with marine snow and the ambient water, clone libraries of 16S rDNA and 16S rRNA were constructed from 2 contrasting seasons. Phylogenetic profiling re vealed a higher similarity among bacterial communities in summer compared to late autumn. Certain bacterial and archaeal groups were exclusively associated with summer or autumn marine snow, suggesting that marine-snow-associated prokaryotic communities are subjected to successional changes similar to ambient-water communities. Moreover, the presence of bacterial groups enriched in marine snow including Vibrionales and sulphate-reducing bacteria is consistent with niche partitioning and metabolic adaptations of the particle-associated microbiota.
Baseline retinal OCT measurements in normal female beagles: The effects of eccentricity, meridian, and age on retinal layer thickness.

OBJECTIVE Our aim was to generate baseline optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurements of retinal thickness in female Beagles and to determine how these are affected by meridian, eccentricity, and age. METHODS Twenty-three female Beagles, including six puppies (<6 months old), six mature (1.8-8.2 years old), and 11 elderly dogs (>11 years old) were studied. Both retinas of each dog were scanned (in 4 principal meridians) using the Heidelberg Spectralis following ophthalmic examination, refraction, and sedation. In each eye and each meridian, total retinal, outer retinal, and nerve fiber layer (NFL) thickness were measured from the disc rim up to 6 mm peripherally. RESULTS The canine retina is thickest dorsally and thinnest ventrally. Total retinal, outer retinal, and NFL thickness decrease progressively and significantly as a function of eccentricity. The greatest eccentricity-dependent thinning occurs dorsally. This thinning is due mostly to NFL tapering, while the eccentricity-dependent change in outer retinal thickness is more moderate, especially in the lateral meridian, possibly due to the presence of the visual streak. The retina is thickest in puppies, but there were no significant differences between mature and elderly dogs. CONCLUSIONS Our results provide normative values for total, outer, and inner retinal thickness in female dogs and may facilitate OCT use in the diagnosis of canine glaucoma and inherited retinopathies.
Effect of thymol on the broiler chicken antioxidative defence system after sustained dietary thyme oil application

ABSTRACT 1. The purpose of this study was to examine if the concentration of thymol as the main compound of Thymus vulgaris essential oil (TEO) influenced the antioxidant defence system in broilers. 2. Twenty-four broiler chickens were randomly divided at the day of hatching into three dietary treatment groups (0%, 0.05% and 0.1%, w/w TEO) with eight birds in each and were fed until four weeks of age. 3. Thymol content in plasma, duodenal wall and breast muscle significantly increased when 0.1% of thyme oil was added to the diet (P < 0.05). Thymol concentration in plasma significantly correlated with levels measured in the duodenal wall and feed (rs = 0.7857, P < 0.05; rs = 0.7647, P < 0.05). Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased, and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in blood from chickens fed 0.1% TEO supplementation. Although the thymol concentration did not significantly decrease MDA amounts in breast muscle, a declining trend was observed. 4. The trial data confirmed the efficient absorption of thymol from the digestive tract into the systemic circulation, but only traces were found in breast muscle. Thymol content was sufficient for expressing its antioxidant properties in blood, but its low content in breast muscle was insufficient to significantly affect lipid oxidation and fatty acid composition.
Spirometry Measurement of Peak Inspiratory Flow Identifies Suboptimal Use of Dry Powder Inhalers in Ambulatory Patients with COPD.

Objectives Determine the prevalence of suboptimal peak inspiratory flow rate (PIFR) and associated patient characteristics and compare PIFR measurements obtained with spirometry and In-Check DIAL® device in ambulatory patients with COPD. Methods Patients underwent PIFR measurement with In-Check DIAL® device and pulmonary function testing with calibrated equipment. Group characteristics and lung function were compared for patients with suboptimal (≤ 60 L/min) and optimal (> 60 L/min) PIFR. Receiver operating curve analysis determined the best maximal forced inspiratory flow (FIF max) value in identifying optimal PIFR by gender and height. Results From July 1, 2016 to January 31, 2018, a total of 303 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) had PIFR and pulmonary function measurements. Group mean age was 65.5 ± 11.3 years with equal gender distribution. Suboptimal PIFR was observed in 61 (20.1%) patients. A significant correlation was observed between PIFR and FIF max, inspiratory capacity and residual volume (RV) to total lung capacity (TLC) ratio. In the suboptimal PIFR group, mean FIF max measured by spirometry was significantly less compared with the optimal PIFR group; 178.5 ± 56.9 L/min and 263.4 ± 89.9 L/min, respectively (p<0.0001). Receiver operator curve analysis of FIF max to identify an optimal PIFR yielded an area under the curve of 0.79. Males < 65 inches had a suboptimal PIFR in 16.7 % of the male cohort, while females < 65 inches had a suboptimal PIFR in 27.4 % of the women. Conclusions Suboptimal PIFR was present in 1 in 5 stable patients with COPD and was more frequent in short statured females. Spirometry determined FIF max was associated with PIFR based on gender and height.
The Teacher as a Public Speaker in the Classroom

For classroom communication to be effective, the teacher needs to observe the principles of successful public speaking while also paying attention to rhetorical and linguistic knowledge. Since the role of the speaker in pedagogical speech alternates between the teacher and the student, the characteristics of the teacher’s speech in the classroom were described by comparing them to those of the student. In practice, the teacher’s share of speaking remains substantially higher than that of the students. The teacher must remain aware of how his role in pedagogical speech serves to organise and steer the learning process. As the teacher’s public speaking is mostly linked to what is known as “instructional speech”, special attention is paid to the characteristics of this. Instructional speech is a component of pedagogical speech with which the teacher communicates field-specific knowledge (by explaining, illustrating, posing instructional questions etc.), and through which students acquire new knowledge. The teacher’s instructional (specialised) speech is distinguished from everyday practical communication, a fact to be taken into account by the teacher when speaking publicly.
2,4-Thiazolidinedione in Well-Fed Lactating Dairy Goats: II. Response to Intra-Mammary Infection

In a prior experiment, treatment of goats with the putative PPARγ agonist 2,4-thiazolidinedione (2,4-TZD) ameliorated the response to intramammary infection without evidence of PPARγ activation. The lack of PPARγ activation was possibly due to deficiency of vitamin A and/or a poor body condition of the animals. Therefore, the present study hypothesized that activation of PPARγ by 2,4-TZD in goats supplemented with adequate amounts of vitamin A can improve the response to sub-clinical mastitis. Lactating goats receiving a diet that met National Research Council requirements, including vitamin A, were injected with 8 mg/kg BW of 2,4-TZD (n = 6) or saline (n = 6; control (CTR)) daily. Two weeks into treatment, all goats received Streptococcus uberis (IMI) in the right mammary gland. Blood biomarkers of metabolism, inflammation, and oxidative status plus leukocytes phagocytosis were measured. Mammary epithelial cells (MEC) and macrophages were isolated from milk and liver tissue collected for gene expression analysis. Milk fat was maintained by treatment with 2,4-TZD, but decreased in CTR, after IMI. Haptoglobin was increased after IMI only in 2,4-TZD without any effect on negative acute phase proteins, indicating an improved liver function. 2,4-TZD vs. CTR had a greater amount of globulin. The expression of inflammation-related genes was increased by IMI in both macrophages and MEC. Except for decreasing expression of SCD1 in MEC, 2,4-TZD did not affect the expression of measured genes. Results confirmed the successful induction of sub-clinical mastitis but did not confirm the positive effect of 2,4-TZD on the response to IMI in well-fed goats.
Factors Affecting Utilization of Reproductive Health Services by Adolescent Females Using the Health Belief Model in Maraka District, Dawuro Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Background: According to the World Health Organization, adolescents were defined as persons between 10 -19 years of age and were characterized by significant physiological, psychological, and social changes; these were put them at high risk for Reproductive health problem. The objective of the study: It was assessed factor affecting utilization of reproductive health services among rural adolescent females using the health belief model in Mareka district, Dawuro Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Methods : A community based cross sectional design with both quantitative &qualitative was conducted in Dawuro zone, southern Ethiopia from February 20 th to April 30 th 2014. Sample size was 844 and calculated using single population proportion formula. Interviewer administered structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Four FGDs were conducted for qualitative study. Frequency table and cross tabulation was done. AOR and OR with 95% CI were considered for statistical significance. Bivariate analysis was used to determine presence of crude association. Multivariate logistic regression model was employed to control confounding. Result: Majority of the respondents had high score of perceived susceptibility for RHP, perceived severity for RHP, and perceived barrier for utilization. The minimum and maximum scores of the model constructs were (9, 45), (6, 30), (9, 45), and (7, 35) respectively. The likelihood of utilizing reproductive health services by adolescent female was significantly associated with perceived susceptibly of RHP, perceived severity of RHP, and perceived barrier with PV<0.05 and CI of 95%. Conclusion: Almost one third of adolescent females were not utilized RH services which were more stressing despite there were health post in each kebele and four health centers in the wereda to introduce reproductive health problems preventive massage to increase perceived susceptibility and perceived severity on adolescent females. The role of community leaders, parents, religion leader, teachers, media, and IEC materials had significant positive influence on the use of RH services by the adolescent females. Recommendation: Multi-sectoral integration was required to increase reproductive health services utilization by the adolescent female because she was the primer victim for many reproductive health problems due to various reasons but she was vital for gene preservation. Keywords : Adolescent females, Health Belief Model, Utilization of RHS
Characteristics of Hearing in Elderly People

The authors define the term presbycusis and discuss the prevalence of hearing loss in elderly people, its etiology, and methods of diagnostics (anamnesis, evaluation of the peripheral and central parts of the hearing system). The authors emphasize that central auditory processing disorder (CAPD) significantly impairs speech perception in elderly people and makes difficult the rehabilitation of patients with presbycusis. The possibility of improving speech intelligibility by using auditory training is considered. Improved functioning of the central auditory pathways in hearing aid (HA) users with moderate to moderately severe chronic sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and symptoms of CAPD was shown after the auditory training with the use of two approaches (“bottom-up” and “top-down”). The algorithm of the auditory training was designed based on distinction between nonverbal and verbal stimuli of varying complexity, as well as tasks to improve memory (e.g., memorizing poetry). The benefits of the auditory training in the rehabilitation of HA users with low speech intelligibility were demonstrated. Improvement of speech intelligibility in elderly patients with SNHL proves that plasticity of the auditory regions of the brain remains possible throughout the life. Options of the presbycusis pro- phylaxis are summarized.
Stroop-like effects of derived stimulus-stimulus relations.

Automaticity can be established by consistently reinforcing contingencies during practice. During reinforcement learning, however, new relations can also be derived, which were never directly reinforced. For instance, reinforcing the overlapping contingencies A → B and A → C, can lead to a new relation B-C, which was never directly reinforced. Across 5 experiments we investigated if such derived relations can also induce automatic effects. We first trained participants to derive a relation between a nonsense word and a color word, and then used the nonsense words as distractors in a Stroop task. Results indicate that derived color-word associates induce Stroop effects. This effect, however, is present only when sufficient attention is allocated to the distractor words during the Stroop task, and is driven by a response conflict. We conclude that, under the present training conditions, derived color-word associates became related to the corresponding color word at the lexical level, but did not gain direct access to the corresponding semantic color representation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).
A field study on glucose, non-esterified fatty acids, beta-hydroxybutyrate and thyroid hormones in dairy cows during the breeding period in Fars province, Iran.

Background It was hypothesized that under apparently good management practices in dairy farms, some cows may not be metabolically perfect during the breeding period and this may affect their performance. Aims This study was conducted to assess probable metabolic drawbacks in mid-lactation dairy cows affecting their performance. Methods Thirty-seven clinically healthy Holstein cows were assessed for plasma concentrations of glucose, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), thyroxin (T4), and tri-iodothyronine (T3) on days 60, 90 and 120 of lactation. The relationships of the measured analytes with some performance indices were also studied. Results Continuous declines in plasma glucose (within reference values; P<0.006), T4 (P<0.001) and T3 (0.003) were found during the study. Non-esterified fatty acids showed relatively high levels through the study with a rise at day 90 (P<0.041). Beta-hydroxybutyrate concentrations did not change significantly (P>0.05) but were higher than those reported by others in mid-lactation cows. By progress in lactation 27% of cows had glucose concentrations <2.5 mmol/L, 62% had NEFA concentrations >0.40 mmol/L and 13.5% had BHB levels above 1200 µmol/L, which are the threshold levels of peri- and post-parturient problems. Milk production had negative correlations with glucose and T4 while the correlation was positive with NEFA. The interval between calving to the 1st heat had positive correlations with BHB concentrations. The interval between calving and the 1st insemination was inversely correlated with glucose and positively correlated with NEFA levels. Conclusion The changes of the studied analytes in mid-lactation cows resembled those that would happen during negative energy balance in early lactation cows and feed restriction in mid-lactation cows and may affect the general health and the performance of the cows.
Adverse neonatal outcomes of adolescent pregnancy in Northwest Ethiopia

Background Adolescents have physical, social and psychological characteristics that are different from adults. Adolescent pregnancy results in pregnancy and childbirth complications- an area neglected in developing countries like Ethiopia. This study, therefore, was conducted to assess the adverse neonatal outcomes of adolescent pregnancy in Northwest Ethiopia. Methods Institutional-based study was conducted in East Gojjam zone, Northwest Ethiopia. A total of 374 adolescent (15–19 years) and 760 adult (20–34 years) women were included in this study. Data were collected among women who came to randomly selected health facilities in East Gojjam zone. Data were collected by trained research assistants using a structured data collection questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, chi-square test, and Student's t-tests were utilized. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis were employed to adjust for confounding factors of adverse neonatal outcomes. Statistical significance was declared when the p-value was less than 0.05. Results Higher proportion of adolescent than adult women were from rural area (57.2% vs 44.7%), were not married (5.1% vs 1.7%), were pregnant for the first time (91.7% vs 34.1%), didn’t attend antenatal care (ANC) follow-up (12% vs 4.5%), and had late initiation of ANC follow-up. After adjusting for known confounding factors, the odds of low birth weight (LBW) was higher among adolescents than adult women (AOR 2.14; 95% CI, 1.36, 3.36, p-value = 0.001). Similarly, the odds of preterm birth was higher among adolescents than adult women (AOR 1.65; 95% CI, 1.09, 2.49, p-value = 0.017). There was no statistically significant difference in the rate of low Apgar score at first and five minutes after birth and neonatal Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission between babies born from adolescent and adult women. Conclusions Adolescent women were less likely to receive ANC service. Babies born from adolescent women are at higher odds of adverse neonatal outcomes like LBW and preterm birth than babies born from adult women. Use of community- and health facility-based intervention programs that can prevent adolescent pregnancy and reduce adverse neonatal outcomes among adolescent girls is recommended.
ournal of C osmology and A stroparticle hysics Probing primordial features with future galaxy surveys

We study the capability of future measurements of the galaxy clustering power spectrum to probe departures from a power-law spectrum for primordial ﬂuctuations. On considering the information from the galaxy clustering power spectrum up to quasi-linear scales, i.e. k < 0 . 1 h Mpc − 1 , we present forecasts for DESI, Euclid and SPHEREx in combination with CMB measurements. As examples of departures in the primordial power spectrum from a simple power-law, we consider four Planck 2015 best-ﬁts motivated by inﬂationary models with diﬀerent breaking of the slow-roll approximation. At present, these four representative models provide an improved ﬁt to CMB temperature anisotropies, although not at statistical signiﬁcant level. As for other extensions in the matter content of the simplest ΛCDM model, the complementarity of the information in the resulting matter power spectrum expected from these galaxy surveys and in the primordial power spectrum from CMB anisotropies can be eﬀective in constraining cosmological models. We ﬁnd that the three galaxy surveys can add signiﬁcant information to CMB to better constrain the extra parameters of the four models considered.
Alcohol Use Disorders in ICD-11: past, present and future.

The Eleventh Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) was formally published in May 2019. Alcohol use disorders form a key part of the section of Disorders due to Substance Use and Addictive Behaviours. This review describes and discusses the alcohol diagnoses within this section of ICD-11, including Alcohol Dependence, Harmful Pattern of Use of Alcohol, and entities such as Alcohol Intoxication, Alcohol Withdrawal and several alcohol-induced mental disorders, and briefly covers Hazardous Alcohol Use, which is listed separately as a health risk factor. We summarise the historical background to the development of these diagnoses, including work within the World Health Organization since the 1970s, and the corresponding diagnoses in the current ICD-10. The process by which ICD-11 diagnoses have been made is described and may be summarised as a conceptual - pragmatic - confirmatory one. The available empirical data supporting the ICD-11 diagnoses are presented, particularly in relation to the diagnostic guidelines for Alcohol Dependence. Comparison is made with the corresponding diagnoses in ICD- 10 and their nearest counterparts in the fourth and fifth editions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV and DSM-5). Field testing of the ICD-11 diagnoses is currently in progress. A plea is made for matching of diagnoses, diagnostic guidelines/criteria and the assessment tools intended to capture these diagnoses. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.