Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Larvicidal Activity against Aedes Aegypti of Foeniculum Vulgare Essential Oils from Portugal and Cape Verde

Dengue is a potentially fatal mosquito-borne infection with 50 million cases per year and 2.5 billion people vulnerable to the disease. This major public health problem has recurrent epidemics in Latin America and occurred recently in Cape Verde and Madeira Island. The lack of anti-viral treatment or vaccine makes the control of mosquito vectors a high option to prevent virus transmission. Essential oil (EO) constituents can affect insect's behaviour, being potentially effective in pest control. The present study evaluated the potential use of Foeniculum vulgare (fennel) EO in the control of the dengue vector Aedes aegypti. EOs isolated from fennel aerial parts collected in Cape Verde and from a commercial fennel EO of Portugal were analysed by NMR, GC and GC-MS. trans-Anethole (32 and 30%, respectively), limonene (28 and 18%, respectively) and fenchone (10% in both cases) were the main compounds identified in the EOs isolated from fennel from Cape Verde and Portugal, respectively. The larvicidal activity of the EOs and its major constituents were evaluated, using WHO procedures, against third instar larvae of Ae. aegypti for 24 h. Pure compounds, such as limonene isomers, were also assayed. The lethal concentrations LC50, LC90 and LC99 were determined by probit analysis using mortality rates of bioassays. A 99% mortality of Ae. aegypti larvae was estimated at 37.1 and 52.4 μL L−1 of fennel EOs from Cape Verde and Portugal, respectively. Bioassays showed that fennel EOs from both countries displayed strong larvicidal effect against Ae. aegypti, the Cape Verde EO being as active as one of its major constituents, (-)-limonene.
The Most Effective Strategy to Improve Customer Satisfaction in Iranian Banks : A Fuzzy AHP Analysis

With the intense competition in banking systems, customer satisfaction has become more important issue in customer marketing. In existing studies, customer satisfaction has examined based on customers’ viewpoint. This study investigates customer satisfaction based on viewpoint of bank managers who understand their customers’ needs. This study aims to examine importance of various strategies that improve customer satisfaction and also determines their priorities. The results indicate that improving services and facilities is the most effective strategy to improve customer satisfaction in Iranian banks. In this strategy, interest rate and fair facilities are most important factors.
Oxytocin and Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Abstract Aim: Oxytocin presents an exciting potential to target the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) pharmacologically in an easily administered, cost-effective form with possibly minimal adverse effects. But, there are still major gaps in this area of research. This paper reviewed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining the effects of oxytocin administration on social cognition and restricted, repetitive behaviors in individuals with an ASD. Method: Electronic literature searches were conducted from PsycINFO, PubMed, Web of Knowledge, and EMBASE for RCTs published through June 2015. Results: 12 RCTs were included in this review. 7 out of the 11 studies that examined social cognition reported improvements. Additionally, one out of the 4 studies on restricted, repetitive behaviors, reported improvements following oxytocin administration. However, results from our meta-analyses suggest that oxytocin has no significant effect on these 2 domains. Conclusion: Previous evidence revealed mixed findings about the effects of oxytocin on ASD. Given the limited number of RCTs, our summary of findings on the effectiveness of oxytocin on ASD should still be considered tentative.
The microRNA156-SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE3 Module Regulates Ambient Temperature-Responsive Flowering via FLOWERING LOCUS T in Arabidopsis1[C][W][OA]

The flowering time of plants is affected by modest changes in ambient temperature. However, little is known about the regulation of ambient temperature-responsive flowering by small RNAs. In this study, we show that the microRNA156 (miR156)-SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE3 (SPL3) module directly regulates FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) expression in the leaf to control ambient temperature-responsive flowering. Overexpression of miR156 led to more delayed flowering at a lower ambient temperature (16°C), which was associated with down-regulation of FT and FRUITFULL expression. Among miR156 target genes, SPL3 mRNA levels were mainly reduced, probably because miR156-mediated cleavage of SPL3 mRNA was higher at 16°C. Overexpression of miR156-resistant SPL3 [SPL3(−)] caused early flowering, regardless of the ambient temperature, which was associated with up-regulation of FT and FRUITFULL expression. Reduction of miR156 activity by target mimicry led to a phenotype similar to that of SUC2::rSPL3 plants. FT up-regulation was observed after dexamethasone treatment in GVG-rSPL3 plants. Misexpression and artificial microRNA-mediated suppression of FT in the leaf dramatically altered the ambient temperature-responsive flowering of plants overexpressing miR156 and SPL3(−). Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay showed that the SPL3 protein directly binds to GTAC motifs within the FT promoter. Lesions in TERMINAL FLOWER1, SHORT VEGETATIVE PHASE, and EARLY FLOWERING3 did not alter the expression of miR156 and SPL3. Taken together, our data suggest that the interaction between the miR156-SPL3 module and FT is part of the regulatory mechanism controlling flowering time in response to ambient temperature.
Delivery outcome after maternal use of antidepressant drugs in pregnancy: an update using Swedish data

Background Concerns have been expressed about possible adverse effects of the use of antidepressant medication during pregnancy, including risk for neonatal pathology and the presence of congenital malformations. Method Data from the Swedish Medical Birth Register (MBR) from 1 July 1995 up to 2007 were used to identify women who reported the use of antidepressants in early pregnancy or were prescribed antidepressants during pregnancy by antenatal care: a total of 14 821 women with 15 017 infants. Maternal characteristics, maternal delivery diagnoses, infant neonatal diagnoses and the presence of congenital malformations were compared with all other women who gave birth, using the Mantel–Haenszel technique and with adjustments for certain characteristics. Results There was an association between antidepressant treatment and pre-existing diabetes and chronic hypertension but also with many pregnancy complications. Rates of induced delivery and caesarean section were increased. The preterm birth rate was increased but not that of intrauterine growth retardation. Neonatal complications were common, notably after tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) use. An increased risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) was verified. The congenital malformation rate was increased after TCAs. An association between use of paroxetine and congenital heart defects was verified and a similar effect on hypospadias was seen. Conclusions Women using antidepressants during pregnancy and their newborns have increased pathology. It is not clear how much of this is due to drug use or underlying pathology. Use of TCAs was found to carry a higher risk than other antidepressants and paroxetine seems to be associated with a specific teratogenic property.
Vision Diagnoses Are Common After Concussion in Adolescents

Objective. To determine the prevalence of vision diagnoses after concussion in adolescents. Methods. Cross-sectional study from July 1, 2013 to February 28, 2014, of patients aged 11 to 17 years with concussion evaluated in a comprehensive concussion program. Results. A total of 100 adolescents were examined, with a mean age of 14.5 years. Overall, 69% had one or more of the following vision diagnoses: accommodative disorders (51%), convergence insufficiency (49%), and saccadic dysfunction (29%). In all, 46% of patients had more than one vision diagnosis. Conclusions. A high prevalence of vision diagnoses (accommodative, binocular convergence, and saccadic eye movement disorders) was found in this sample of adolescents with concussion, with some manifesting more than one vision diagnosis. These data indicate that a comprehensive visual examination may be helpful in the evaluation of a subset of adolescents with concussion. Academic accommodations for students with concussion returning to the classroom setting should account for these vision diagnoses.
Recent and near-future advances in nucleic acid-based diagnosis of stroke

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability in adults, but at present, treatment for ischemic stroke reaches only a small percentage of patients. This is because of the very short time window for treatment and the time-consuming evaluation involved. Intense efforts are underway to find novel approaches to expedite stroke diagnosis and treatment. In this review, we provide the rationale for the use of blood-based nucleic acid biomarkers to advance stroke diagnosis. We describe mRNA markers identified in genomic profiling of circulating leukocytes and then outline technological issues involved in the application of these results. We then describe the novel point-of-care technology that is in development for the rapid detection of multiple mRNA molecules in circulating leukocytes.
Determination of the chemical composition, amino acid levels and energy values of different poultry offal meals for broilers

The aim of this study was to determine the chemical composition, amino acid content and energy values, as well as to quantify the passage rate in the digestive tract of three different poultry offal meals (POM), in two experiments carried out with broilers. In the first experiment, metabolizable energy values were determined (AMEn and TMEn) using the method of total excreta collection. In this experiment, 150 15-d-old male and female broilers were distributed according to a completely randomized experimental design with 5 treatments of 5 replicates of 6 birds each. The following treatments were applied: a reference diet, three test diets consisting of 250 g/kg of the tested ingredient (POM) + 750 g/kg of the reference diet, and one group of birds fasted for excreta collection to determine endogenous and metabolic losses. In the second experiment, POM passage rate results were obtained using 90 26-d-old broilers distributed according a completely randomized design with three treatments of 5 replicates of 6 birds each. POM passage rate was correlated (r = -99.86%) with its EE content. The evaluated POMs presented the following ME values: 16,727; 15,781 and 17,443 MJ AMEn /kg and 17,877; 15,882 and 17,527 MJ TMEn /kg for samples A, B and C, respectively.
Deep breathing heart rate variability is associated with inspiratory muscle weakness in chronic heart failure.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE There is a synchronism between the respiratory and cardiac cycles. However, the relationship of inspiratory muscle weakness in chronic heart failure (CHF) on cardiac autonomic modulation is unknown. The purpose of the present investigation was to evaluate the impact of inspiratory muscle strength on the magnitude of respiratory sinus arrhythmia. METHODS Ten CHF (62 ± 7 years--left ventricle eject fraction of 40 ± 5% and New York Heart Association class I-III) and nine matched-age healthy volunteers (64 ± 5 years) participated in this study. Heart rate variability (HRV) was obtained at rest and during deep breathing manoeuvre (DB-M) by electrocardiograph. RESULTS CHF patients demonstrated impaired cardiac autonomic modulation at rest and during DB-M when compared with healthy subjects (p < 0.05). Moreover, significant and positive correlations between maximal inspiratory pressure and inspiratory-expiratory differences (r = 0.79), expiratory/inspiratory ratio (r = 0.83), root mean square of the successive differences (r = 0.77), standard deviation of NN intervals (r = 0.77), low frequency (r = 0.77), and high frequency (r = 0.70) were found during DB-M. At rest, significant correlations were found also. CONCLUSION Patients with CHF presented impaired cardiac autonomic modulation at rest. In addition, cardiac autonomic control of heart rate was associated with inspiratory muscle weakness in CHF. Based on this evidence, recommendations for future research applications of respiratory muscle training can bring to light a potentially valuable target for rehabilitation.
Work stress, occupational burnout and depression levels: a clinical study of paediatric intensive care unit nurses in Taiwan.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES This study aimed to examine the relationship between work stress and depression; and investigate the mediating effect of occupational burnout among nurses in paediatric intensive care units. BACKGROUND The relationships among work stress, occupational burnout and depression level have been explored, neither regarding occupational burnout as the mediating role that causes work stress to induce depression nor considering the paediatric intensive care unit context. DESIGN A cross-sectional correlational design was conducted. METHODS One hundred and forty-four female paediatric intensive care unit nurses from seven teaching hospitals in southern Taiwan were recruited as the participants. Data were collected by structured questionnaires including individual demographics, the Nurse Stress Checklist, the Occupational Burnout Inventory and the Taiwan Depression Questionnaire. RESULTS The results indicated that after controlling for individual demographic variables, the correlations of work stress with occupational burnout, as well as work stress and occupational burnout with depression level were all positive. Furthermore, occupational burnout may exert a partial mediating effect on the relationship between work stress and depression level. CONCLUSION This study provides information about work stress, occupational burnout and depression level, and their correlations, as well as the mediating role of occupational burnout among paediatric intensive care unit nurses. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE It suggests government departments and hospital administrators when formulating interventions to prevent work stress and occupational burnout. These interventions can subsequently prevent episodes of depression in paediatric intensive care unit nurses, thereby providing patients with a safe and high-quality nursing environment.
MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES OF BABESIA GIBSONI GROWN IN CANINE RED BLOOD CELL-SUBSTITUTED SEVERE COMBINED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY MICE

Canine red blood cell-substituted severe combined immune deficiency (Ca-RBC-SCID) mice were prepared for canine Babesia gibsoni infection. The Ca-RBC-SCID mice infected with B. gibsoni developed a high level of parasitemia, and showed clinical symptoms such as anemia and hemoglobinuria, which are similar to those observed in dogs infected with B. gibsoni. The B. gibsoni parasites grown in Ca-RBC-SCID mice showed marked morphological changes, including a significantly larger size of parasites than those in dogs and abundant RBCs containing 4, 8, 16, and 32 parasites. The multiple infection may have resulted from 1 parasite because the posterior end of each parasite in a multiply infected cell was connected. The parasites grown in SCID mice retained their infectivity and virulence to dogs and their morphology was dramatically restored to the original state when they were returned to dogs.
Senseless Violence Against Central American Unaccompanied Minors: Historical Background and Call for Help

ABSTRACT The southwestern U.S. border has recently seen a significant increase in the number of unaccompanied children from Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador illegally crossing the Mexican border into the United States. Many of these children leave home to flee violence, starvation, impoverished living conditions, or other life-threatening situations. The treatment of acute stress, anxiety, and depression associated with traumatic events is crucial in helping these children address these negative psychological events they have experienced so that they can move forward with their lives. Untreated, traumatic events experienced by this population can develop into Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, a potentially life-changing and physically threatening psychological and medical issue. The United States needs to effectively address the serious matter of responding to mental health issues facing refugees from war-torn or impoverished nations so as to help them to successfully adjust to American systems. There is a need for researchers in the mental health field to focus efforts in designing, implementing, and evaluating methodologies that can help these children develop healthy strategies for living with a very difficult and complex past.
Expression of survivin in HTLV-I-infected T-cell lines and primary ATL cells.

Human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) is the etiological agent of adult T-cell leukemia (ATL), although the precise mechanisms involved in the transformation process have not yet been defined. Deregulated inhibition of apoptosis may facilitate the insurgence of leukemia. Survivin is an inhibitor of apoptosis and considered to play a role in oncogenesis. We investigated the expression of survivin in HTLV-I-infected T-cell lines and primary ATL cells. Northern blot analysis showed expression of survivin transcript in all 9 HTLV-I-positive T-cell lines. High survivin expression levels were detected in primary cells of patients with acute-type ATL, but no such expression was noted in the cells of chronic-type ATL or normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Treatment of an HTLV-I-infected T-cell line, MT-1, with survivin specific antisense oligonucleotide resulted in reduced cell growth. Our results suggest that expression of survivin may play an important role in the development and pathogenesis of ATL.
Pin1 in Neuronal Apoptosis

While the role of the prolyl isomerase Pin1 in dividing cells has long been recognized, Pin1’s function in postmitotic neurons is poorly understood. We have identified a novel mechanism by which Pin1 mediates activation of the mitochondrial cell death machinery specifically in neurons. This perspective presents a sophisticated signaling pathway that triggers neuronal apoptosis upon JNK-mediated phosphorylation of the BH3-only protein BIMEL at serine 65. Pin1 is enriched at the mitochondria in neurons together with BIMEL and components of a neuron-specific JNK signaling complex and functions as a molecular switch that couples the phosphorylation of BIMEL by JNK to apoptosis specifically in neurons. We discuss how these findings relate to our understanding of the development of the nervous system and the pathogenesis of neurologic disorders.
Effect of genetic potential and level of feeding on milk protein composition

Two groups of 15 multiparous cows in mid-lactation were used in a Latin square design experiment with 4-week experimental periods. The genetic milk protein concentration level was high in the first group and low in the second. Each group of cows was given in a random order three feeding levels that covered 85, 100 and 115% of energy requirements and 90, 110 and 125% of nitrogen requirements, respectively. In both groups, increasing level of feeding induced a significant increase in milk yield (+2·4 kg/d between lowest and highest levels) and in protein concentration (+1·7 g/kg). The proportion of paracasein in total proteins was not altered by either genetics or nutrition. The proportion of casein in total proteins was slightly increased by 0·5 percentage points (P<0·05) with the intermediate level of feeding. Plasmin and plasminogen activities were not significantly modified by the genetic milk concentration level. Plasmin activity significantly increased with nutrient supplementation, but only in animals of low genetic potential (+21% between low and high levels, P<0·01). Casein composition was not significantly altered by the genetics or level of nutrition. Over the whole range of individual measurements taken (n = 90), the relationships between casein or paracasein and total protein concentrations were linear and very narrow (R2 = 0·92 and 0·95, respectively). The proportion of casein or paracasein in total proteins significantly decreased as plasmin activity increased.
MACROEVOLUTIONARY CONSEQUENCES OF DEVELOPMENTAL MODE IN TEMNOPLEURID ECHINOIDS FROM THE TERTIARY OF SOUTHERN AUSTRALIA

Abstract Taxonomic revision and cladistic analysis of a morphological dataset for Australian Tertiary temnopleurids resolve the phylogeny of the group and allow the testing of a series of hypotheses about the evolution of larval development and consequences of changes in development. Australian Tertiary temnopleurids encompass all three major developmental types found in marine invertebrates (planktotrophy, lecithotrophy, and brooding). Planktotrophy is plesiomorphic for this clade, and nonplanktotrophic larval development evolved independently at least three times during the Tertiary. The change to a nonplanktotrophic mode of larval development is unidirectional with no evidence of reversal. In addition, there is no evidence of an ordered transformation series from planktotrophy through planktonic lecithotrophy to brooding. In common with previous studies of other invertebrate groups, analysis of the raw data suggests that nonplanktotrophic taxa within this clade have significantly shorter species longevities, more restricted geographic ranges and higher speciation rates than taxa with planktotrophic development. However, analysis using phylogenetically independent contrasts is unable to confirm that the stratigraphic and geographic patterns are unbiased by the phylogenetic relationships of the included taxa.
Breeding and Productive Performance of Three Breeds of Rabbit in South-West Nigeria

Three breeds of rabbit-Giant Flemish (GF), Chinchilla (CH) and Rex (RX) were procured from a reputable farm in South-West Nigeria for crossbreeding to determine the productive performance of each breed and with the aim of selecting the most superior genotype(s) for increased rabbit production. Animals were paired and the pairing resulted into six genetic groups. A total of twenty-one animals (18 does and 3 bucks) were involved. Data on productive traits such as litter size at birth and at weaning, litter weight at birth and at weaning, gestation length in each female breed, percentage mortality during pre-weaning in each group and percentage survivability till weaning were collected for each crossing. Results shows that mean litter size at birth in the genetic groups ranged from 1.67±0.33 to 4.00±0.00 and mean litter size at weaning was between 1.67±0.33 and 3.00±0.58 in groups CH vs. RX and RX vs. GF, respectively. Mean litter weight at birth was between 39.18±0.74 and 43.56±0.88 g. In the genetic groups with the exception of CH vs. RX, mean litter size at birth (MLS@B) was greater than mean litter size at weaning (MLS@W). Gestation length of the breeds of rabbit used ranged from 29.67±0.66 to 30.33±0.67 days. Genetic group CH vs. GF has the highest mean litter weight at birth and highest mean litter weaning weight.