Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of polyphenols and vitamin E on the antioxidant status and meat quality of broiler chickens fed diets naturally contaminated with ochratoxin A

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a polyphenol product (PP) (Proviox) and vitamin E on the antioxidant status and meat quality of broiler chickens fed diets contaminated with ochratoxin A (OTA). One hundred and twenty ROSS 308 broiler chickens were randomly divided into six groups (10 replications, 2 birds per replication). Group I received an uncontaminated and unsupplemented diet, diets of groups II to VI were contaminated with OTA at 172 µg and 200 µg/kg for the starter and grower period, respectively. Furthermore, diets of groups III, IV and V were supplemented with vitamin E at 100, 200 and 100 mg, respectively, and to diets of groups V and VI additionally 100 and 2200 mg PP was added, respectively. Supplementation with PP and vitamin E had no significant effects on the growth performance, dressing percentage or carcass trait parameters of broiler chickens. In chickens exposed to stress, dietary supplementation with vitamin E and/or PP improved the total antioxidant status (p ≤ 0.05), enhanced the blood activity of antioxidant enzymes (p ≤ 0.01) and increased the concentrations of non-enzymatic antioxidants (p ≤ 0.01) in the liver and breast muscles. Regardless of the administered antioxidants, chickens fed diets contaminated with OTA were characterised by lower dressing percentage (p ≤ 0.01), a higher proportion of the liver in the carcass (p ≤ 0.01), lower carcass fat content (p ≤ 0.01), and longer small intestines (p ≤ 0.01) and caeca (p ≤ 0.01). Dietary supplementation with PP improved the water-holding capacity of meat (p ≤ 0.01). The breast muscles of chickens fed diets supplemented with PP and vitamin E were characterised by higher (p ≤ 0.05) concentrations of eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5). It was concluded that PP can be an insufficient component of diets for broiler chickens to improve growth performance and mitigate the negative effects of high dose of OTA in diets.
Atlantic meridional overturning circulation stable over the last 150 years

Abstract The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) describes the northward flow of warm, salty water in the upper layers, and the southward flow of colder water in the deep Atlantic layers. AMOC strength estimates at 41°N latitude based on satellite sea surface height (SSH), and ARGO ocean temperature, salinity and velocity, and finally the difference in between the absolute mean sea levels (MSL) of the tide gauges of The Battery, New York, 40.7°N latitude, and Brest, 48.3°N latitude. Results suggest that the AMOC has been minimally reducing but with a positive acceleration since 2002, has been marginally increasing but with a negative acceleration since 1993, and has not been reducing but only oscillating with clear periodicities up 18 years, 27 years and about 60 years since 1856.
Multicolor flow cytometric analysis of cryopreserved bovine sperm. A tool for the evaluation of bull fertility.

The study aimed at the analysis of the functional status of cryopreserved bovine sperm using multicolor flow cytometry. The value of sperm functional traits as predictors of bull fertility was further evaluated through a retrospective fertility study. For this purpose, 20 Holstein-Friesian bulls serving as mature sperm donors in an artificial insemination (AI) center were selected based on their annual 56-d non-return rate (%) after at least 1,000 AI, and were accordingly classified as high (HF; nHF = 10 bulls) or low fertility bulls (LF; nLF = 10 bulls). Four to 5 cryopreserved ejaculates per bull (91 ejaculates in total) were examined immediately after thawing (0 h) and after a 3-h incubation at 38°C (3 h). A panel of 5 fluorochromes including calcein violet, propidium iodide, pycoerythrin-conjugated lectin of Arachis hypogea, Fluo-4, and cyanine dye DiIC1(5) was configured by means of a 3-laser flow cytometer, to simultaneously assess sperm esterase activity, plasma membrane integrity, acrosomal status, intracellular Ca2+ levels, and mitochondrial membrane potential, respectively. The % relative size of 18 sperm sub-populations showing 2 or more of a combination of the following features was determined: high esterase activity (Cpos), intact plasma membrane (PIneg), unstained acrosome (PNAneg), low intracellular Ca2+ levels (Fneg), and high mitochondrial membrane potential (Mpos). In both fertility groups, Mpos cells comprised more than 90 and 84% of PInegPNAneg sperm at 0 and 3 h, respectively. The percentage of CposPInegPNAnegFnegMpos sperm did not differ between HF and LF ejaculates; however, the percentage of Fneg cells within the PInegPNAneg and PInegMpos sperm populations at 0 h was higher in the HF than in the LF bulls. Applying the random forest ensemble learning method, approximately two-thirds of ejaculates could be correctly assigned to their fertility group. The fraction of Fneg sperm within the PInegMpos population at 0 h was the most important fertility predictor among the 18 defined sperm populations. In conclusion, multicolor flow cytometry offered an insight into the functional heterogeneity of cryopreserved bovine sperm. Indeed, the ability of viable sperm to retain low Ca2+ levels differed between bulls of diverse fertility. A classifier based on selected sperm populations assessed through multicolor flow cytometry could contribute to the prognosis of bull fertility after AI.
The experiences and perceptions of employers and caregivers of individuals with mild-moderate traumatic brain injury in returning to work.

BACKGROUND Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has contributed significantly to the burden of health care in many countries. The scarcity of resources in the public sector available for rehabilitation has caused many families to take responsibility for the care and rehabilitation of their family members who sustain a TBI. The roles of employers and caregivers in facilitating the return to work (RTW) process of individuals who sustained a TBI, is now commonly acknowledged. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to explore the perceptions and experiences of employers and caregivers of individuals with mild to moderate traumatic brain injury who are returning to work after completing a vocational rehabilitation program (VR), using the Model of Occupational Self-Efficacy (MOOSE). METHODS A qualitative research design was used to explore the experiences and perceptions of caregivers and employers of ten individuals who sustained a mild to moderate brain injury. Semi-structured interviews were completed and data analyzed according to thematic analysis. RESULTS Five themes emerged: Themes one and two describe the employers' and caregivers' experiences and perceptions that hinder the RTW process. Theme three relates to the enabling aspects that the employers and caregivers, as well as the TBI individuals concerned, derive from engaging in the VR process. Themes four and five present the coping strategies that aid the employers and caregivers in playing an ongoing role in the RTW process. All ethical principles with regard to confidentiality, anonymity and informed consent were adhered to in the study. CONCLUSIONS Occupational therapists (OT) using the MOOSE should regard employers and caregivers as key role players during therapy. Employers should have a better understanding of TBI and allow for sick leave to be granted to individuals with TBI during the rehabilitation process. Caregivers would benefit from establishing a support network for themselves, and by connecting with employers of the individuals with TBI in order to understand the their work environment.
Identifying drivers for bedtime social media use despite sleep costs: The adolescent perspective.

OBJECTIVES Bedtime social media use is associated with poor sleep during adolescence, which in turn contributes to poor mental health, impaired daytime functioning and lower academic achievement. However, the underlying drivers for these bedtime social media habits remain understudied. This study adds an adolescent perspective on motivations for bedtime social media use and perceived impact on sleep. METHODS Adolescents aged 11-17 years (n = 24) participated in focus group discussions exploring their experiences of using social media, particularly at night. Inductive reflexive thematic analysis produced themes that captured underlying drivers for social media use and associated impact on sleep. RESULTS Our analyses produced two overarching themes: Missing Out and Norms & Expectations. Adolescents' nighttime social media use was driven by concerns over negative consequences for real-world relationships if they disconnected (often reporting delayed bedtimes, insufficient sleep and daytime tiredness). These concerns included the risk of offline peer exclusion from missing out on online interactions, and the fear of social disapproval from violating norms around online availability and prompt responses. CONCLUSIONS These findings offer novel insight into why adolescents may choose to prioritize social media over sleep. Researchers and practitioners can respond to the evolving needs of today's adolescents by approaching social media use not as a technology-based activity, but as an embedded social experience underpinned by the same concerns as offline interactions.
miR-744-5p Inhibits Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Proliferation and Invasion by Directly Targeting PAX2

Non-small cell lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide. MicroRNAs have been characterized as critical regulators for cancer progression including non-small cell lung cancer. This work explored microRNA-744-5p expression in non-small cell lung cancer cell lines and normal cell line using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Connection of microRNA-744-5p and paired box 2 was analyzed with bioinformatic analysis, luciferase activity reporter assay, and Western blot. Effects of microRNA-744-5p or paired box 2 expression on non-small cell lung cancer cell behaviors were analyzed using a series of in vitro experiments. MicroRNA-744-5p was found to have decreased expression in non-small cell lung cancer cell lines compared with normal cell line. Paired box 2 was identified as a direct target for microRNA-744-5p in non-small cell lung cancer. Overexpression of microRNA-744-5p inhibits non-small cell lung cancer cell proliferation, colony formation, and cell invasion in vitro through targeting paired box 2. The present study provided novel insights into the biological functions of microRNA-744-5p in non-small cell lung cancer.
A systematic review of the prevalence and risk factors of smoking among Saudi adolescents

Objectives: To systemically review the evidence concerning the prevalence and reported risk factors of smoking among adolescents in Saudi Arabia. Methods: Following the PRISMA guidelines, studies that examined the prevalence and risk factors of smoking among adolescents in Saudi Arabia were identified through a computerized literature search using the following databases up to March 2018: PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, and BIOSIS. The following search terms were used: smoking OR smok* OR tobacco OR cigar* OR shisha OR shesha OR sheesha AND Saudi Arabia OR KSA. Peer-reviewed articles published within the period from 2007 to 2018 were selected. Studies that reported prevalence data, patterns, and risk factors of smoking among adolescents were included. Extracted data from each study were tabulated, and data were narratively synthesized. Results: Thirty-two studies that reported the prevalence of smoking in the adolescent age group were included in the narrative evidence synthesis. These studies were conducted on secondary school students (n=11), college students (n=14), and an adolescent age group without educational specifications (n=7). According to published reports between 2007 and 2018, the prevalence of tobacco smoking among adolescents in Saudi Arabia ranged from 2.4% to 39.6%. Influence of friends, and family negligence were the most commonly reported risk factors for smoking. Conclusion: The prevalence of smoking is relatively high among adolescents in Saudi Arabia. The social influence of friends, teachers or parents, low academic performance, having spare time, living away from home, and the desire to relieve stress were the most commonly reported risk factors for smoking. PROSPERO REG. NO: CRD: 42018108053
Language ideologies, family language policy, and a changing societal context in Kansas

Abstract This paper examines the language ideologies among parents of Mexican family origin from Garden City, Kansas, and considers the ways in which Latinxs from different sociolinguistic generations have responded to an evolving societal context when making decisions about language use within the family. The analysis is based on 24 video-recorded interviews with parents of Mexican family background who reside in Garden City, a rural town in western Kansas where the majority of the population is of Hispanic origin. Drawing from the linguistic anthropological notion of ‘language ideologies’ and the framework of family langauge policy, the study examines (a) the ideologies that the participants express about the value of Spanish and particular varieties of Spanish in Kansas and (b) how they make reference to local language policies and personal beliefs and attitudes when describing their home language policies. The analysis reveals that local language policies and the availability of resources can dramatically influence the ways in which participants’ linguistic policies and practices reflect their ideological positionings. Findings suggest that there is a need to expand resources for emergent bilinguals and multilingual families in the region.
Dietary and lifestyle factors influencing iron stores in Australian women: an examination of the role of bio-available dietary iron

Research to date has not been able to adequately describe the relative impact of dietary and lifestyle variables on iron status. While total iron intake appears unrelated to iron sta- tus, bio-available dietary iron should correlate with iron stores, after adjustment for iron losses. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine dietary and lifestyle variables that are important in the determination of iron status for Australian women of child-bearing age. Serum ferritin was measured in 52 iron-deficient and 24 iron-replete women. Dietary data were col- lected using seven-day weighed food records and bio-available dietary iron calculations were performed using the algorithms developed by Monsen et al., Monsen and Balintfy, and Tseng et al. Self-reported data on demographic characteristics, parity, breastfeeding, oral contraceptive pill, intrauterine device and hormone replacement therapy use, menstruation, smoking, alco- hol intake, exercise, dieting, vitamin and mineral supplement use and blood donation were collected. Multiple linear regression was used to examine dietary and lifestyle factors associated with serum ferritin. Current oral contraceptive pill use and alcohol intake were positively associated (P = 0.01 and P =0 .001 respectively) and phytate intake was negatively associated (P = 0.05) with serum ferritin. Total iron, haem iron and bio- available dietary iron intakes were not associated with iron stores. Bio-available dietary iron estimates were well below the recommended intakes for menstruating women, suggesting pos- sible problems with either the algorithms or the assumptions built into the current Australian recommended dietary intakes. Further work to accurately determine bio-available dietary iron estimates for Australian women is needed. (Aust J Nutr Diet 2001;58:107-113)
Survey vs Scraped Data: Comparing Time Series Properties of Web and Survey Vacancy Data

Abstract This paper studies the relationship between a vacancy population obtained from web crawling and vacancies in the economy inferred by a National Statistics Office (NSO) using a traditional method. We compare the time series properties of samples obtained between 2007 and 2014 by Statistics Netherlands and by a web scraping company. We find that the web and NSO vacancy data present similar time series properties, suggesting that both time series are generated by the same underlying phenomenon: the real number of new vacancies in the economy. We conclude that, in our case study, web-sourced data are able to capture aggregate economic activity in the labor market.
Circ_0015756 promotes proliferation, invasion and migration by microRNA-7-dependent inhibition of FAK in hepatocellular carcinoma

ABSTRACT Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) afflicts more than half a million people each year worldwide. It was reported that circ_0015756 was up-regulated in HCC, but the mechanism did not extensively studied. Methods: we collected 24 paired cancerous and noncancerous liver tissues surgically resected from HCC patients. HCC cell proliferation, invasion, migration and apoptosis in vitro were evaluated using MTT assay, Transwell assay, scratch test and Annexin-V/PI staining respectively. Interactions between circ_0015756 and miR-7, miR-7 and FAK were further validated by the luciferase reporter assay. Tumor xenografts of HCC cells with circ_0015756 knockdown were established in nude mice. Results: The expression level of circ_0015756 was increased and the expression level of miR-7 was diminished in cancerous liver tissues relative to noncancerous liver tissues. Circ_0015756 knockdown was shown to increase the expression of miR-7, reduce the proliferation, invasion, migration and resistance to apoptosis, and down-regulate the expression of FAK in HCC. We found miR-7 impaired expression of FAK to inhibit HCC cells, suggesting that miR-7 is responsible for the dysfunction of FAK. Importantly, we showed circ_0015756 could up-regulate FAK via targeting miR-7. These in vitro findings were reproduced in vivo that circ_0015756 knockdown decreased HCC xenograft growth. Conclusion: Our present study reveals a model of HCC development that is composed of circ_0015756, miR-7 and FAK. Modulation of their levels exhibits a promise in the treatment of HCC. Abbreviations: HCC: hepatocellular carcinoma; circRNAs: circular RNAs; miRNA/miR: microRNA; miR-7: microRNA-7; FAK: focal adhesion kinase; KLF-4: kruppel like factor 4; DKK1: dickkopf WNT signaling pathway inhibitor 1; ccRCC: clear cell renal cell carcinoma; PI3K: phosphoinositide 3-kinase; Ct: comparative threshold cycle; RPMI: Roswell Park Memorial Institute; FBS: fetal bovine serum; RT: reverse transcription; qPCR: quantitative polymerase chain reaction; RIPA: radioimmunoprecipitation assay; SDS-PAGE: sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; PVDF: polyvinylidene difluoride; GAPDH: glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase; MTT: 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide; DMSO: dimethyl sulfoxide; DMEM: Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium; PI: propidium iodide; SPF: specific pathogen-free; SD: standard deviation; p-Akt: phosphorylated-Akt; shRNAs: small hairpin RNAs; 3’UTR: 3’-untranslated regions
Rape Aggression Defense Course: Physical, Psychological, and Interpersonal Benefits Among Women With and Without Interpersonal Victimization Histories

Women’s self-defense training increases self-efficacy and reduces subsequent assaults, but self-defense training’s effects on women’s psychological and interpersonal functioning are understudied, particularly for women with histories of interpersonal victimization. This study examined the effects of a self-defense course on somatic symptoms, post-traumatic stress symptoms, depression, anxiety, interpersonal problems, and locus of control among women with and without interpersonal victimization histories and explored how women’s disinhibition of their aggression during simulated attacks predicts changes in their symptoms and functioning. In all, 82 women reported their symptoms and functioning before participation and 6 weeks after participation in a university-based Rape Aggression Defense course. Among the whole sample, participation in the course led to significantly decreased posttraumatic stress, somatic, and hostility symptoms and problems with being too nonassertive, overly accommodating, and self-sacrificing. Women who reported interpersonal victimization histories (n = 49) did not differ in the degree of improvements when compared with women without interpersonal victimization histories (n = 33). Greater disinhibition during the simulation predicted less improvement in some symptoms; moderation analyses showed that this association occurred only among those women with high baseline anxiety or hostility. These findings highlight the value of self-defense training in improving the health of women, including posttraumatic stress symptoms and interpersonal functioning, regardless of women’s history of interpersonal victimization. Results also suggest the importance of considering women’s baseline symptoms in modulating the degree of aggression that is optimally expressed during training.
Thrombolysis and surgery for mitral prosthetic valve thrombosis: 11-year outcomes

Background Mechanical mitral valve obstruction is a serious and life-threatening complication. Treatment is either thrombolysis or reoperation, with both interventions having its own merits and drawbacks. This study aimed to analyze the outcomes of both interventions at a single tertiary referral center. Methods From January 2005 to December 2010, 127 patients with mechanical mitral valve obstruction were retrospectively analyzed and divided into a thrombolysis group (n = 66) and a reoperation group (n = 61), based on our institute’s inclusion and exclusion criteria. A heart valve team comprising a cardiologist, a surgeon, and the patient was involved in the decision-making, based on the criteria for thrombolysis and reoperation in our institute. The patients had a maximum follow-up period of 14 years (mean 11.2 years). The analysis was divided into in hospital (within 30 days) and follow-up outcomes. Results At the end of 10 years, the reoperation group had significantly greater freedom from embolism (100% vs. 95.4% ± 0.7%), bleeding events (94.5% ± 0.8% vs. 89.2% ± 0.4%), and reintervention (96.4% ± 0.5% vs. 92.3% ± 2.3%) as well as better actuarial survival (97.4% ± 1.2% vs. 92.3% ± 0.4%) compared to the thrombolysis group. The complete failure rate of thrombolysis was 12%. The thrombolysis group had shorter intensive care unit and hospital stays. Conclusion Reoperation has significant advantages over thrombolysis in terms of embolic and bleeding complications and reintervention. Hence one should consider surgery for stuck mechanical mitral valves, with thrombolysis being useful in a specific subset of patients.