Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of L-Carnitine on the sperm parameters disorders, apoptosis of spermatogenic cells and testis histopathology in diabetic Rats

Abstract Background Diabetes mellitus affects male reproductive system that is known to cause male infertility. Objective The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of L-carnitine (LC) on sperm parameters, apoptosis of spermatogenic cells and testis histopathology in Streptozotocin-induced diabetic Rats. Materials and Methods The study was carried out on 36 male Wistar adult rats (220 ± 30 gr) randomly divided into six groups (n = 6/each). 1 (Control); 2 (LC 100 mg/kg); 3 (Diabetic); 4, 5, and 6 (Diabetic + LC 50 or 100 or 200 mg/kg, respectively). Daily injections were administered intraperitoneally for 48 days. Then, rats were sacrificed, left testis and epididymis were harvested for sperm analysis and histopathology, morphometric and spermatogenesis assessments, and Tunnel assay. Results L-carnitine in group 6 significantly decreased blood glucose level (p < 0.01) in comparison with group 3. L-carnitine in groups 5 and 6 significantly (p < 0.001) and dose-dependently increased the count, motility, viability, maturity, and chromatin quality of sperm and decreased the abnormal morphology of sperm in comparison with group 3. In groups 4, 5, and particularly 6, in comparison with group 3, there has been a significant difference in the increase of seminiferous tubule diameter, germinal epithelium height (p < 0.001), maturity quality of the seminiferous tubules (p < 0.001), decrease apoptosis of spermatogenic cells (p < 0.001), and testis tissue histopathological complications. Conclusion The data obtained from the present study suggest that in the diabetic rats, LC decreases serum glucose level, improves the diameter and thickness of the epithelium of spermatogenic cells, reduces germ cells' apoptosis, and improves epididymal sperm parameters. Therefore, it seems that LC plays an effective role in diabetes-induced infertility.
A cross-sectional study of the factors associated with male circumcision status among college youth in Ndola, Zambia, 2016

Background: New cases of HIV are increasing among young adults in Zambia; yet voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) coverage as an HIV prevention measure remains low. Despite having the highest HIV burden in the province, Ndola district had a VMMC coverage of 23% in 2015 compared to the national target of 80% among high-risk groups. Objectives: To determine predictive factors associated with circumcision status among male students in Ndola district. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in May 2016 among students aged 18–35 years enrolled in five conveniently sampled colleges. We administered a structured questionnaire to assess the knowledge, attitudes and perceptions about VMMC. We used multivariable logistic regression to determine factors associated with male circumcision (MC) status. Results: Of 136 students interviewed, 63% were circumcised, and of those, 96% were medically circumcised. Half of all students were aged 21–24 years. Those who perceived the circumcision procedure to be ‘safe’ (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 5.13; 95% CI: 2.09–14.82), and knew that it reduced female to male HIV transmission risk (aOR = 3.65; 95% CI: 3.12–11.67), were more likely to be circumcised. The perception that MC promotes ‘promiscuous behaviour’ (aOR = 0.20; 95% CI: 0.07–0.61), and that sexual sensitivity is the ‘same’ regardless of circumcision status, were associated with not being circumcised (aOR = 0.13; 95% CI: 0.02–0.80). Conclusion: Students had adequate knowledge about the safety of medical circumcision, and the subsequent risk reduction of HIV infection. Interventions aimed at addressing negative sexual perceptions about circumcision may increase VMMC coverage among college students.
THE USE OF RUNNING DICTATION TECHNIQUE TO IMPROVE STUDENTS’ WRITING IN DESCRIPTIVE TEXT(An Action Research of the Tenth Graders of SMAN 1 BawangBanjarnegara in the Academic Year 2014-2015)

Writing tends to be a difficult subject for most of Indonesian students. This problem was also faced by XI Social 1 students of SMAN 1 Bawang- Banjarnegara as the subject of this study. The students‟ writing achievement was categorized as poor. The objectives of this study are to find out students‟ responses in writing descriptive text using running dictation technique and to find out how running dictation technique improve the students‟ writing ability of descriptive text. The technique used in this study was task-based teaching that referred to running dictation technique to teach written descriptive text, whereas I divided into two cycles. During the activities, I observed the students in the form of teacher‟s interview sheets and students‟ observation sheet, pre-assessment, and individual test in the end of both cycles. For the teaching procedure of running dictation technique, it was conducted in six writing steps namely assessing the assignment, generating ideas, exploring ideas, organizing ideas, writing a first draft, rewriting and writing the final draft. The observation results show that most of the students are witnessed to improve their writing ability. There are four tests that are divided into pre- assessment, cycle 1, cycle 2 and post-test. The mean of pre-assessment‟s score is 70.96 of the maximum score 100. After being treated by using running dictation technique in cycle 1, the mean of the score goes up to 78.41. After reflecting and conducting the cycle 2, the students‟ average score improve again into 81.27. Finally, the students get the best score in post-test. It is 86.20. The comparison between the average scores indicate the improvement of students‟ writing ability of descriptive text. In teacher interview sheet 2 shows that the running dictation technique motivates the students to encourage the students to write as before in the teacher interview sheet 1 shows that the students get difficulty to write. It also supported by the result of the questionnaire that the students are being helped by applying running dictation in writing descriptive text. The conclusion drawn from the study is that running dictation technique gives good contribution to improve the writing ability of X Social 1 students of SMAN 1 Bawang-Banjarnegara in academic year 2014/2015.
gamboostLSS: An R Package for Model Building and Variable Selection in the GAMLSS Framework

Generalized additive models for location, scale and shape (GAMLSS) are a flexible class of regression models that allow to model multiple parameters of a distribution function, such as the mean and the standard deviation, simultaneously. With the R package gamboostLSS, we provide a boosting method to fit these models. Variable selection and model choice are naturally available within this regularized regression framework. To introduce and illustrate the R package gamboostLSS and its infrastructure, we use a data set on stunted growth in India. In addition to the specification and application of the model itself, we present a variety of convenience functions, including methods for tuning parameter selection, prediction and visualization of results. The package gamboostLSS is available from CRAN (this http URL).
MORPHOSYNTAX OF COMPLEX PREDICATES IN SOUTH CAUCASIAN LANGUAGES

The argument structure of complex predicates such as causatives and applicatives is closely associated with the functional heads that introduce core and non-core arguments: Voice, causative and applicative. These elements merge in a sentence structure at various cycles of derivation and take complements whose ‘size’ accounts for the meaning and thematic interpretations of these arguments. This thesis shows that the variation in the meaning of causatives and applicatives is not so much due to the morphological realization of the relevant heads in these predicates (causative and applicative) ,but rather the complement ‘size’ and the place where these heads are introduced. Specifically, lexical causatives result from the CAUSE head selecting for a RootP complement while syntactic causatives include two CAUSE heads taking argument-full vP as their complement and these CAUSEs are realized by separate phonological exponents at the Morphological Structure. In applicatives, Goal, Recipient or possessor interpretations may be obtained not only for non-core applied arguments in double-object constructions but for the highest external arguments of two-place predicates and also, for dative internal arguments of internally-caused events. It is argued that external arguments take on the meaning of non-core applied arguments in double-object constructions due to the different type of Voice head such as reflexive. The morphological realization of these predicates is distinct from the ones in which applied arguments represent additional, noncore elements of DOCs. The thesis shows that along with the change in morphology the syntactic structure of various types of applicatives accounts for the resulting meaning of
Does Diabetic Microvascular Complications Affect Gastrointestinal Symptoms?

Abstract- Due to high prevalence of diabetes in our region (16.3%) and no data on the frequency of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in this population, we performed a cross-sectional study to evaluate the frequency of GIsymptoms in diabetic patients and its association between microvascular complications (retinopathy and nephropathy) and gastrointestinal symptoms in diabetic subjects.This analytical crosssectional study was conducted from 2014 to 2016 on 233 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), 3065-year, referred to Yazd diabetic research center. They were selected by convenient sample method. A questionnaire according to Rome III Criteria was used to collect digestive information related to diabetes. Last HbA1c (Since 2-3 months ago) was available in the patient's medical folder. Diabetic nephropathy defines to increased excretion rate of albumin in the urine in the range of above 30 mg/g creatinine. Diabetic retinopathy was examined by an expert ophthalmologist (retinal specialist). For the current study, 233 patients (age 30-65 years with mean age of 57.43±10.49 years, 102 (43.8%) males and 131 (56.2%) females) were included. Among 233 patients, 91 cases (39.1%) had nephropathy,and 111(47.6%) subjects had different degrees of retinopathy. Bloating and early satiety and upper GI symptoms were higher in the subjects with retinopathy than another group. In summary, this study provides evidence that GI symptoms in diabetic subjects are independently linked to diabetic complications, particularly to retinopathy.
Theory and applications of formation control in a perceptive referenced frame

A general method of controller design is developed in this paper for the purpose of formation keeping and reconfiguration of multiple autonomous vehicles. Controllers are designed to keep multiple vehicles in a required formation, and to coordinate the vehicles in the presence of environmental changes. The method is applicable to a large variety of autonomous agents. Examples and simulations are given for ground vehicles, robotic arms and satellites.
Air quality modelling: a technical review of mathematical approaches

A short review paper is presented for the subject area of air quality modelling. The paper is geared towards equipping new researchers and workers with a basic appreciation for the technical aspects of their field, providing a staging point for further investigation, and highlighting useful source materials. The paper is introduced through a discussion of the philosophical and practical implications regarding mathematical air quality modelling. A critique of relevant mathematical modelling techniques is presented and includes a treatment of Box, Gaussian, Eulerian, Lagrangian and Particle modelling approaches. Conclusions on the future of mathematical air quality modelling are drawn. Copyright © 1997 Royal Meteorological Society
Robust learning algorithm for blind separation of signals

The authors present a novel, efficient, self-normalising, unsupervised adaptive learning algorithm for the on-line (real-time) separation of statistically independent unknown source signals from a linear mixture of them. In contrast to the known algorithms the new algorithm allows the separation (or extraction) of extremely badly scaled signals (i.e. some or even all of the source and/or sensor signals can be very weak). Moreover, the mixing matrix can be very ill-conditioned. >
Venous Thromboprophylaxis in Spine Surgery

Study Design: Review article. Objective: A review of the literature on postoperative initiation of thrombophylactic agents following spine surgery. Methods: A review of the literature and synthesis of the data to provide an update on venous thromboprophylaxis following spine surgery. Results: Postoperative regimens of venous thromboprophylaxis measures following spine surgery remain a controversial issue. Recommendations regarding mechanical versus chemical prophylaxis vary greatly among institutions. Conclusion: Postoperative spine surgery initiation of thromboprophylaxis remains controversial regarding optimal timing and agent selection. The benefits of deep vein thrombosis/pulmonary embolism prophylaxis must be weighed against the possible postoperative complications associated with spine surgery.
PRIMARY ANTIBIOTIC SUSCEPTIBILITY AGAINST STREPTOCOCCI IN ODONTOGENIC INFECTIONS – A CLINICAL STUDY

Antibiotics form an intergral part in the management of odontogenic infections. Streptococci group of bacteria have been implicated as one of the important causative agents in dental caries and dental abscess. The objective of this study was to determine the sensitivity and resistance of pathogenic facultative anaerobic streptococci to various routinely used antibiotics in odontogenic infections and also to determine appropriate empirical antibiotic therapy for the orofacial infections of odontogenic origin. Primary culture was performed for duration of 48 hours with the samples obtained from the patient. A lawn culture from the primary culture was made and antibiotic sensitivity testing was done using commercially available antibiotic disks by disk diffusion method. Standard strain of Streptococcus mutans (MTCC 497) was subjected to susceptibility testing by the above mentioned method. Poor susceptibility was seen in amoxicillin (18.4%), amoxicillin clavulanic acid (14.3%), and erythromycin (26.5%). Maximum resistance was noted for metronidazole (89.8%). High susceptibility was observed in tetracycline (67.3%), streptomycin (61.2%) and ciprofloxacin (44.9%). Low resistance was also exhibited by gentamycin (22.4%) and doxycycline (40.8%). Streptococcus mutans (MTCC 497) too showed similar results as that of the test samples. Due to the evolving resistance to all major antimicrobial agents used for treatment of odontogenic infections, antibiotic susceptibility testing is important to direct therapy. Antimicrobial susceptibility helps in monitoring the changing patterns of resistance and can be useful for empirical treatment of odontogenic infections.
Characteristics of the Discussion in Online and Face-to-Face Focus Groups

Focus groups are widely used in qualitative research. Recently, focus groups that are held online have become increasingly popular despite the objection by some researchers that the Internet is a poor medium for focus group research. The present study was conducted to reveal differences in the characteristics of focus group discussions in the online and face-to-face formats. Participants in 4 online focus groups and 4 face-to-face focus groups discussed their opinions about several health-related Web sites. Statistical analysis of the transcripts suggested that online participants tended to contribute shorter comments and were more likely to say just a few words of agreement. In the online focus groups, participation levels tended to be more uniform; in the face-to-face groups, some participants tended to contribute a disproportionately large number of words, whereas other participants were relatively silent. The results suggest different roles for online and face-to-face focus groups in qualitative research.
Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes in People With a History of Hospitalization for Major Mental Illness in Scotland, 2001–2015: A Retrospective Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE To determine the incidence of type 2 diabetes in people with a history of hospitalization for major mental illness versus no mental illness in Scotland by time period and sociodemographics. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We used national Scottish population-based records to create cohorts with a hospital record of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or depression or no mental illness and to ascertain diabetes incidence. We used quasi-Poisson regression models including age, sex, time period, and area-based deprivation to estimate incidence and relative risks (RRs) of diabetes by mental illness status. Estimates are illustrated for people aged 60 years and in the middle deprivation quintile in 2015. RESULTS We identified 254,136 diabetes cases during 2001–2015. Diabetes incidence in 2015 was 1.5- to 2.5-fold higher in people with versus without a major mental disorder, with the gap having slightly increased over time. RRs of diabetes incidence were greater among women than men for schizophrenia (RR 2.40 [95% CI 2.01, 2.85] and 1.63 [1.38, 1.94]), respectively) and depression (RR 2.10 [1.86, 2.36] and 1.62 [1.43, 1.82]) but similar for bipolar disorder (RR 1.65 [1.35, 2.02] and 1.50 [1.22, 1.84]). Absolute and relative differences in diabetes incidence associated with mental illness increased with increasing deprivation. CONCLUSIONS Disparities in diabetes incidence between people with and without major mental illness appear to be widening. Major mental illness has a greater effect on diabetes risk in women and people living in more deprived areas, which has implications for intervention strategies to reduce diabetes risk in this vulnerable population.
The negative association between inflammatory bowel disease and Helicobacter pylori seropositivity

Background: The role of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in inflammatory bowel disease is a controversial argument. The initial theory of this study was that Helicobacter is a risk factor for inflammatory bowel disease. In this study, we investigated the coincidence of H. pylori exposure and IBDs. Methods: This case-control study has been done in Babol, teaching Hospitals; 60 newly diagnosed IBD cases without any Helicobacter eradicating treatment and 120 control patients without inflammatory bowel disease evidence in biopsy, investigated for H. pylori exposure by IgA and IgG ELISA tests. Clinical information, demographics and ELISA test results have been analyzed using SPSS.Version. 18 (level of significance was less than 0.05). Results: Mean age of case group was 42.27±13.64 years; in control group it was 45.52±13.83 years. There was a significant difference between the case and control groups in IgG study of the following subgroups: age under 30, females, males, urban, higher education level and BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 (p-value was respectively; 0.004, 0.014, 0.047, 0.002, 0.013, 0.003). On the basis of logistic regression; IBD was less common in females, patients with lower education and patients with positive result of IgG (p-value was respectively 0.002, 0.013, 0.010). Conclusion: As a result of this study, Helicobacter pylori exposure, may could play a protective role against inflammatory bowel disease.
Testing the Importance of Individual Growth Curves in Predicting Performance on a High-Stakes Reading Comprehension Test in Florida. Summary. REL 2014-006.

To what extent does individual student change (growth) over the academic year statistically explain why students differ in end-of-year performance after accounting for performance on interim assessments? The four growth estimates examined in this report (simple difference, average difference, ordinary least squares, and empirical Bayes) all contributed significantly to predicting performance on the end-of-year criterion-referenced reading test when performance on the initial (fall) interim assessment was used as a covariate. The simple difference growth estimate was the best predictor when controlling for mid-year (winter) status, and all but the simple difference estimate contributed significantly when controlling for final (spring) status. Quantile regression suggested that the relations between growth and the outcome were conditional on the outcome, implying that traditional linear regression analyses could mask the predictive relations.
Study of maternal and perinatal outcome in placenta praevia at tertiary care center

Latin word Praevia means going beforeand here it means placenta goes before fetus in the birth canal. Implantation of placenta in the lower uterine segment either over or near the internal os.It is one of the major cause of antepartum haemorrhage which complicates 2-5% pregnancies.Incidence of placenta praevia is 45 per thousand deliveries.Common factors associated with placenta previa are advancing maternal age,multiparity,previous caesarean section &previous abortion etc.Dreaded complications seen in placenta praevia are postpartum haemorrhage, need of blood transfusion, caesarean hysterectomy &rarest like maternal death if placentaaccreta.There is always a risk of preterm birth,need of NICU admission, poorapgar score of baby&sos need of ventilator which increases perinatal morbidity and mortality.
Interleukin-1 single nucleotide polymorphisms as risk factors for susceptibility of inflammatory bowel disease: an Iraqi Arab population-based study

ABSTRACT Objectives: It is aimed to determine the association between four single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of IL1 genes (rs1800587: IL1A−889 C/T, rs16944: IL1B−511 T/C, rs2234650: IL1R1pst1 1970 T/C and rs315952: IL1RAmspa1 11100 T/C) and the two types of IBD (UC and CD) in samples of Iraqi Arab patients. Materials and Methods: Hundred Iraqi patients (66 UC and 34 CD) were genotyped for these SNPs by polymerase chain reaction-specific sequence primer (PCR-SSP) assay. Results: A significant increased frequency of IL1A−889 C allele was observed in total IBD patients compared to controls (72.0 vs. 56.5%; Odds ratio = 1.98; Corrected p = 0.001). For IL1B−511 and IL1R1pstl 1970 SNPs, the T allele frequency was significantly increased in total patients (62.0 vs. 49.1%; Odds ratio = 1.69; Corrected p = 0.02 and 65.0 vs. 46.7%; Odds ratio = 2.12; Corrected p = 1 × 10−4, respectively). Allele and genotype frequencies of IL1RAmspa 11100 SNP showed no significant variation between total patients and controls. A similar profile of was observed in UC patients, but IL1RAmspa 11100 T allele frequency was significantly increased in patients (72.7 vs. 60.2%; Odds ratio = 1.76; Corrected p = 0.05). Among CD patients, IL1A−889, IL1R1pstl 1970 and IL1RAmspa 11100 SNP allele frequencies shared their distribution in total IBD patients. For IL1B−511 SNP, allele and genotype frequencies showed no significant difference between CD patients and controls. Conclusion: These data suggests a significant role of IL1 SNPs in etiopathogenesis of IBD in Iraqi Arab population.
Building Knowledge Building Communities: Consistency, Contact and Communication in the Virtual Classroom

This article looks at factors affecting the success of asynchronous online learning both through a review of the research literature and through an empirical investigation of student perceptions and course design factors in one of the largest asynchronous learning networks in the country. It finds that three such factors—consistency in course design, contact with course instructors, and active discussion—have been consistently shown to significantly influence the success of online courses. It is posited that the reason for these findings relates to the importance of building knowledge building communities in asynchronous online learning environments.