Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prevalence Of Anemia And Its Associated Factors Among Chronic Kidney Disease Patients At University Of Gondar Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia: A Hospital-Based Cross Sectional Study

Background Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global public health problem associated with progressive decline in kidney function and adverse cardiovascular outcome. Anemia of CKD has substantial adverse outcomes in CKD patients. There is paucity of published data on prevalence of anemia and its associated factors among CKD patients in Northwest Ethiopia. Objective This study aimed to determine the prevalence of anemia and its associated factors among CKD patients at the University of Gondar hospital, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from May 1, to September 30, 2018. Consecutive sampling was used to recruit 251 study subjects. Patients were interviewed to obtain demographic data, and the patients’ medical records were reviewed to obtain information on relevant medical history and laboratory parameters. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify independently associated factors of anemia among CKD patients. P-value <0.05 was used to declare association. Results The overall prevalence of anemia in CKD patients was high (64.5%), and the magnitude worsened as kidney function declined. Hypertension (45%), chronic glomerulonephritis (24%) and diabetes (20%) were common causes of CKD. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed rural residence (AOR= 2.75, 95%CI: 1.34–5.65, P=0.006), BMI <18.5 kg/m2 (AOR=6.78, 95%CI: 1.32–34.73, P=0.022) and BMI of 18.5–24.9 kg/m2 (AOR=5.04, 95%CI: 1.26–20.10, P=0.022), and having hemodialysis history (AOR=3.59, 95%CI: 1.24–10.38, P=0.018) were independently associated with anemia among CKD patients. Conclusion Periodic screening and intervention programs for anemia of CKD should be practiced to change the existing situation in the setting.
Real‐time presurgical resting‐state fMRI in patients with brain tumors: Quality control and comparison with task‐fMRI and intraoperative mapping

Resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) is a promising task‐free functional imaging approach, which may complement or replace task‐based fMRI (tfMRI) in patients who have difficulties performing required tasks. However, rsfMRI is highly sensitive to head movement and physiological noise, and validation relative to tfMRI and intraoperative electrocortical mapping is still necessary. In this study, we investigate (a) the feasibility of real‐time rsfMRI for presurgical mapping of eloquent networks with monitoring of data quality in patients with brain tumors and (b) rsfMRI localization of eloquent cortex compared with tfMRI and intraoperative electrocortical stimulation (ECS) in retrospective analysis. Five brain tumor patients were studied with rsfMRI and tfMRI on a clinical 3T scanner using MultiBand(8)‐echo planar imaging (EPI) with repetition time: 400 ms. Moving‐averaged sliding‐window correlation analysis with regression of motion parameters and signals from white matter and cerebrospinal fluid was used to map sensorimotor and language resting‐state networks. Data quality monitoring enabled rapid optimization of scan protocols, early identification of task noncompliance, and head movement‐related false‐positive connectivity to determine scan continuation or repetition. Sensorimotor and language resting‐state networks were identifiable within 1 min of scan time. The Euclidean distance between ECS and rsfMRI connectivity and task‐activation in motor cortex, Broca's, and Wernicke's areas was 5–10 mm, with the exception of discordant rsfMRI and ECS localization of Wernicke's area in one patient due to possible cortical reorganization and/or altered neurovascular coupling. This study demonstrates the potential of real‐time high‐speed rsfMRI for presurgical mapping of eloquent cortex with real‐time data quality control, and clinically acceptable concordance of rsfMRI with tfMRI and ECS localization.
Transport pathways of decapod larvae under intense mesoscale activity in the Canary-African coastal transition zone: implications for population connectivity

We investigate the transport dynamics of decapod larvae in the Canary-African coastal transition zone (C-ACTZ), where larval assemblages are poorly known. In August 1999, during the FAX99 cruise, the waters downstream of the Canary Island archipelago displayed intense mesoscale activity, with numerous cyclonic and anticyclonic eddies as well as upwelling filaments. Our results illustrate a close relationship between these mesoscale oceanographic structures and the distribution of decapod larvae, using both field observations and Lagrangian transport modelling. Analysis of plankton samples shows that larvae of pelagic species were excluded from filament waters, whereas larvae of neritic species were heterogeneously distributed, suggesting that the C-ACTZ is a mixing area where larvae originating from both the Canary Islands and the African coast may be present at the same time. This finding was supported by the simulations, which suggested that the larvae collected in the offshore waters south of Gran Canaria came mainly from the African population (between Cape Bojador and Cape Juby) during early August, whereas during the second half of August the targeted area was dominated by larvae released from Fuerteventura populations. Our observations introduce new insights into our understanding of marine population connectivity, the dispersal pathways of the terrestrial biota, and general biogeography in the region.
Neural Networks Applications in Pavement Engineering: A Recent Survey

The use of neural networks (NNs) has increased tremendously in several areas of engineering over the last three decades. This paper is intended to provide a state-of-the-art survey of NN applications in pavement engineering over the last three decades. The reported studies are briefly summarized under eight different categories: (1) prediction of pavement condition and performance, (2) pavement management and maintenance strategies, (3) pavement distress forecasting, (4) structural evaluation of pavement systems, (5) pavement image analysis and classification, (6) pavement materials modeling, and (7) other miscellaneous transportation infrastructure applications. To maintain consistency, the review was primarily based on archival journal publications although novel application-oriented NN implementations published in peer-reviewed conference proceedings and edited books were also considered. Recent publications focusing on the development and use of hybrid neural systems in pavement engineering were also included in the review. The increasing number of publications in this area of research in combination with other soft computing techniques every year definitely indicates that more and more students, researchers, and practitioners are interested in exploring the use of NNs in the study of pavement engineering problems.
Asteroseismic tests for models of magnetically active close binaries with orbital period modulation

Magnetic activity and orbital period modulation in close binaries are considered in order to identify possible aster- oseismic tests for models that have been proposed to understand their relationship. These models are based on the variation of the gravitational quadrupole moment of the active star, as a consequence of the modification of its internal rotation and magnetic field along its activity cycle (Applegate 1992; Lanza et al. 1998a). An analysis based on the solar analogy shows that surface magnetic activity may produce shifts, splitting and broadening of the p-mode peaks in the oscillation spectrum of a star. Such eects make the direct detection of the internal structural changes predicted by the models very dicult. However, a time variation of the internal rotation can be detectable because the p-mode rotational splittings are proportional to the azimuthal quantum number m, whereas structural and surface eects controlled by the magnetic fields arejmj dependent. Therefore, we propose a method that correlates the variation of the a1 splitting coecients, that sample the internal rotation, with the orbital period variation in order to test the predictions of the models. The RS CVn short-period systems, such as V 471 Tau, RT And or CG Cyg, are the most suitable objects for such a test because surface magnetic eects are likely to be less prominent than in classical or long-period RS CVn binaries.
The Development and Teaching Characteristics of Chinese bel canto

Bel canto in today's can be said is the world's high level of singing arts representatives and symbols. At present, the rapid development of science and technology, the vocal music art genre into the forms and performing techniques have greatly improvement, more and more people accept and appreciate bel canto. The bel canto of the spread and development in China in the history and the development trend of bel canto in China are reviewed, the road of development in China is explored in this paper. It is a practical significance and long-term significance of academic issues.
Evaluation of an Eating Disorders Prevention Curriculum on Eating Attitudes and Behaviors of Female College Students

vii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION . 1 Statement of the Problem . 2 Purpose of the study . 2 Definition of terms . 6 Assumptions . 7 Limitations . 7 Significance of study . 7 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW . 9 CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY . 23 CHAPTER 4: RESULTS . 37 CHAPTER 5: DISCUSSION . 54 APPENDIX A . 67 HUMAN SUBJECTS APPROVALS AND INFORMED CONSENTS . 67 APPENDIX B . 74 EATING ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOR SURVEY: . 74 APPENDIX C . 81 STUDENT COMMENTS FROM EATING DISORDERS, BODY IMAGE AND HEALTHY WEIGHT CURRICULUM . 81 REFERENCES . 84 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH . 90
Antioxidant properties of two varieties of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) and the effect of blanching and boiling on them.

The antioxidant properties of whole fruits and fruits without seeds and pith of two varieties of Momordica charantia (commonly known as bitter gourd), var. minima and var. maxima were investigated. The antioxidant content was investigated using ascorbic acid and total phenolic contents whereas the antioxidant activity was investigated using 2,2-diphenyl-1picryl hydrazyl radical scavenging activity and ferrous ion chelating activity. The results showed that the fruits without seeds and pith and whole fruits of the two varieties of Momordica charantia exhibited different antioxidant content and activities. The ascorbic acid content ranged from 8.12 mg/100g to 24.46 mg/100g whereas the total phenolic content ranged from 1.47 mg GAE/100g – 27.23 mg GAE/100g. The antiradical power ranged from 4.67 to 5.94 and the ferrous ion chelating activity using the fruit extract concentration of 0.34 g/mL ranged from 10.6% to 89.3%. The effect of blanching and boiling on the antioxidant properties of fruits without seeds and pith of Momordica charantia var. maxima and minima was also investigated. Blanching and boiling of fruits without seeds and pith of M. charantia var. maxima and var. minima induced changes in the antioxidant content differently. The radical scavenging activity of the fruits without the seeds and pith of M. charantia var. maxima and var. minima increased as a result of blanching and boiling but their ferrous ion chelating activity became undetectable. There was no clear correlation between the antioxidant content and the antioxidant activities.
Lords of the Harvest: Third-Party Influence and Regulatory Approval of Genetically Modified Organisms

Little is known about the factors that influence regulatory agency decision making. We posit that regulatory agencies are influenced by the firms they regulate but not exclusively via dyadic exchanges, as is traditionally argued in the regulatory capture and business-government literatures. Instead, regulatory decisions are indirectly shaped via third-party actors who shield agencies from legitimacy threats. Focusing empirically on the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) approval of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), we find that product assessments by powerful stakeholders and peer agencies influence product approval and that their effects vary under different threats. We also discuss the implications of these findings for businessgovernment relations, nonmarket strategy, and organization theory.
How Businesses Draw Attention on Facebook through Incentives, Vividness and Interactivity

Businesses often use Facebook to create brand pages and disseminate brand-related posts. However, not all brand-posts equally draw users’ attention. In this vein, this paper identifies three factors—incentives, vividness and interactivity—that are potentially related to users’ attention toward brand-posts. Specifically, the objective of this paper is two-fold. First, it investigates how incentives, vividness and interactivity are separately associated with users’ attention toward brand-posts. Second, it investigates how the interplay of the three factors is associated with attention toward brandposts. Facebook brand pages for businesses in Singapore are considered as the test case for investigation. Attention toward brand-posts is conceived as the volumes of likes, comments and shares attracted by the entries. Results suggest that brand-posts without incentives are most likely to draw attention if they arouse visual appeal, and solicit trivial interactions that are not overly time-consuming.
A study of skin characteristics with long‐term sleep restriction in Korean women in their 40s

Previous studies have demonstrated increased pore size and darkening skin color with total sleep deprivation. There are many studies of skin characteristics with short‐term sleep restriction, but there are few studies on skin characteristics when sleep is restricted more than three consecutive days. This study evaluated skin changes with sleep limited to 4 hours per night for six nights.
Estesia mongoliensis , a New Fossil Varanoid from the Late Cretaceous Barun Goyot Formation of Mongolia 1

A new lizard from the Late Cretaceous Barun Goyot Formation was collected during the 1990 joint Mongolian American paleontological expedition to the Gobi Desert, Mongolia. This lizard is referable to a clade containing the extant genera Lanthanotus, Heloderma, and Varanus, as well as several poorly known extinct taxa including Cherminotus and Saniwa. Although the phylogenetic relationships among these taxa are uncertain, preliminary analysis suggests that the new taxon is the sister group to Lanthanotus and Varanus. Further, it displays the unusual feature oflongitudinal grooves on the teeth, identical to the grooves used for venom conduction in Heloderma.
Study of Parthenium hysterophorus L. Extracts (First Clean-Up Fractions) on Seed Germination Behaviour in Search of Bioactive Fractions for Preparation of Bioherbicide Formulations

Increase in productivity is directly related with increase pesticide consumption. So there is a strong desire to use “greener” chemistry to produce more toxicologically and environmentally benign pesticides and natural products. In this present study, a comparison was made to evaluate the phytotoxicity potential of first cleanup fractions obtained from sequentially extracted solvent (ethyl-acetate, methanol) extracts of Parthenium hysterophorus L. (aerial parts) in vitro through bench-top seed germination assay (Vignaradiata L.). One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Duncan’s multiple range test (DMRT) were done for statistical analysis of the data. The study reveals that germination, growth and vigour was significantly (P<0.05) reduced by ethyl-acetate and methanol fractions. A significant changes in soluble and insoluble sugar content, protein, amino acid content and cellular metabolic activity was aslo observed by 1F3, 1F4, 1F6, and 1F9 fractions. The present study concluded that phytotoxicity of four fractions (1F3, 1F4, 1F6, and 1F9) from ethylacetate and methanolic crude extracts of Partheniumhysterophorus could be exploited as potential bioherbicide for future weed management programme and the development of bioherbicide for commercial use.
Digital Immune Gene Expression Profiling Discriminates Allergic Rhinitis Responders from Non-Responders to Probiotic Supplementation

Probiotic supplementation for eight weeks with a multi-strain probiotic by individuals with allergic rhinitis (AR) reduced overall symptom severity, the frequency of medication use and improved quality of life. The purported mechanism of action is modulation of the immune system. This analysis examined changes in systemic and mucosal immune gene expression in a subgroup of individuals, classified as either responders or non-responders based on improvement of AR symptoms in response to the probiotic supplement. Based on established criteria of a beneficial change in the mini-rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (mRQLQ), individuals with AR were classified as either responders or non-responders. Systemic and mucosal immune gene expression was assessed using nCounter PanCancer Immune Profiling (Nanostring Technologies, Seattle, WA, USA) kit on blood samples and a nasal lysate. There were 414 immune genes in the blood and 312 immune genes in the mucosal samples expressed above the limit of detection. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering of immune genes separated responders from non-responders in blood and mucosal samples at baseline and after supplementation, with key T-cell immune genes differentially expressed between the groups. Striking differences in biological processes and pathways were evident in nasal mucosa but not blood in responders compared to non-responders. These findings support the use of network approaches to understand probiotic-induced changes to the immune system.
Assessing Gains in Science Teaching Self-Efficacy After Completing an Inquiry-Based Earth Science Course

ABSTRACT Preservice elementary teachers are often required to take an Earth Science content course as part of their teacher education program but typically enter the course with little knowledge of key Earth Science concepts and are uncertain in their ability to teach science. This study investigated whether completing an inquiry-based Earth Science course for preservice elementary teachers improved their self-efficacy beliefs toward science teaching using the Science Teaching Efficacy Belief Instrument (STEBI-B). The results were compared against the number of years the students had been undergraduates. All students improved their science teaching self-efficacy (including the freshmen) but only the juniors and seniors experienced significant gains in outcome expectancy. The observed gains in self-efficacy were likely due to increases in cognitive content mastery—the process of successfully learning new material, and the gain in outcome expectancy were probably influenced by the number of field experiences within their teacher-education program. Geoscience departments should, therefore, offer inquiry-based Earth Science content courses designed specifically for preservice elementary teachers to improve their self-efficacy and content knowledge, thus, meeting the needs of this critical student population.
Pattern of biopsy-proven kidney diseases: experience of a teaching hospital in Bahawalpur, Pakistan

This descriptive observational study was conducted at the Department of Nephrology, Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur, Pakistan, from January 2012 to April 2018, to study the pattern of biopsy-proven kidney diseases in that region as a part to establish a national renal biopsy registry. All adult patients who underwent renal biopsy at the Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur, Pakistan, from January 2012 to April 2018, were included in the study. All the biopsies were evaluated by light microscopy and immunofluorescence. All the patients underwent urine dipstick, microscopic examination, and quantification of proteinuria. Hepatitis B surface antigen, anti-hepatitis C virus, human immunodeficiency virus, and serology (antinuclear antibody, anti-ds DNA, and C3 and C4) were checked in all the patients. There were a total of 195 patients, with a mean age of 30.5 ± 12.8 years. Females were comparatively younger than males (P = 0.0154). Primary glomerulonephritis (GN) accounted for 77% (155) of all the patients, whereas secondary GN contributed 15.8%. Focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) was the most common diagnosis (28.2%) followed by membranous nephropathy (MN) (18.9%). Lupus nephritis was the third-most common pathology, and it predominated among females (P= 0.0026). Out of the eight diabetic patients, one each had FSGS and crescentic GN. In conclusion, primary glomerular diseases were the predominant biopsy-proven kidney diseases, and FSGS and MN were the most common glomerular diseases. This pattern in South Punjab closely resembles that in southern and northern parts of the country.
Can cigarette smoking make a man appear sexier and stronger to women

This paper focuses on naďve theories, illusions, and misconceptions regarding the outcome of men’s cigarette smoking on female impressions. Beliefs about those outcomes were examined in a correlational study and their content was compared with the results of previous experimental verifi cation. Male and female participants (N = 396) responded to an advertisement placed on an online general-interest forum and completed a questionnaire concerning their beliefs about the impact of cigarette smoking in men on their self-presentation to women. This included impressions of attractiveness, intelligence, strength, sexiness, and other male qualities. Results show that people believe that smoking decreases a man’s perceived aptitude for being a woman’s long-term partner. The belief that smoking enhances a man’s attractiveness to a woman as a short-term partner was limited to female smokers. Non-smokers believed that smoking in men signals poor impulse-control. Gender, age, smoking status (smoker vs non-smoker), and number of cigarettes smoked daily appeared to play an important role in predicting expressed beliefs. Young female smokers were indicated as the subgroup bearing the most optimistic illusions.