Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Review of the Literature Examining the Association of Serum Uric Acid with Osteoporosis and Mechanistic Insights into Its Effect on Bone Metabolism.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Osteoporosis is a common bone disorder that increases susceptibility to fragility bone fractures. The clinical and public health repercussions of osteoporosis are huge due to the morbidity, mortality, and cost of medical care linked with fragility fractures. Clinical assessment of osteoporotic risk factors can help to identify candidates at an early stage that will benefit from medical intervention and potentially lowering the morbidity and mortality seen with fractures and complications. Given this, research is ongoing to evaluate the association of osteoporosis with some novel or less well-studied risk factors/bio-markers such as uric acid (UA). DISCUSSION Uric acid's antioxidant activity has been proposed to be one of the factors responsible for increasing longevity and lowering rates of age-related cancers during primate evolution, the level of which increased markedly due to loss of uricase enzyme activity (mutational silencing). Accumulated evidence shows that oxidative stress is the fundamental mechanism of age-related bone loss and acts via enhancing osteoclastic activity and increasing bone resorption. Antioxidant substances such as ascorbic acid scavenge free radicals are positively related to bone health. Thus, it is hypothesized that uric acid holds bone-protective potential owing to its potent antioxidative property. Several correlation studies have been conducted globally to investigate the relationship between serum uric acid with bone mineral density and osteoporosis. Few pre-clinical studies have tried to investigate the interaction between uric acid and bone mineral density and reported important role played via Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2)/core-binding factor subunit alpha-1 (CBF-alpha-1), Wingless-related integration site (Wnt)-3a/β-catenin signaling pathway and 11β Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase type 1. CONCLUSION In this review, the authors provided a comprehensive summary of the literature related to association studies reported in humans as well work done until date to understand the potential cellular and molecular mechanisms that interplay between uric acid and bone metabolism.
Experiences of LNU Neophyte Teachers: Cues for a Viable Mentoring Program

Abstract The usefulness of teachers’ mentoring program cannot be underestimated. Some universities and colleges in the Philippines have been implementing this kind of program with different approaches, content, and scope. The extent of mentoring programs to improve teaching careers has been studied here and abroad. Results remain inconclusive. This case study with a phenomenological peg has explored the lived experiences of neophyte teachers through semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. Their experiences in the first years of teaching were characterized by uncertainties, anxieties, struggles, and difficulties emanating from their lack of expertise on various aspects related to teaching practice, lack of knowledge about the culture and context of the university in which they were teaching, and lack of knowledge about the learners. With these specific inadequacies identified and the novice teachers’ implicit desire to be mentored, cues for a viable neophyte teacher’s mentoring program are drawn in the context of a teacher-training university.
Management Practices and Activities Influencing the Effectiveness of Organisations in Namibia

One of the long-running debates within the research dealing with developing countries’ situations, has been the extent to which management theories and practices rooted in the developed countries’ perspectives can be applied by organisations in the developing countries. To contribute to this debate, this study aimed to discover new insights that could highlight the superseding management practices and activities associated with the effectiveness of organisations in a developing country. The study applied an inductive research approach through data obtained via interviews from 54 key role players and ultra-elites in organisations such as members of the board, management and employees. Qualitative research techniques were used to analyse data. The study findings suggest context-specific management practices and activities, unique from those typically cited in the developed countries, as influencing the effectiveness of organisations in Namibia. Moreover, the study found that management practices and activities related to human fundamentals, such as those embodied in the resource-based view of organisations, appear to be significantly associated with the effectiveness of companies in the Namibian context. The findings of the study have theoretical and practical value for those teaching, consulting and leading organisations in developing countries, especially in African organisations. Also, the findings have value for organisational development and design specialists, human resources professionals, Namibian business practitioners, and expatriates who manage operations and people in Namibia.
SHOPPING MOTIVATIONS OF GENERATION Z CUSTOMERS FOR DIFFERENT RETAILER TYPES AND SHOPPING COMPANION

This study is into the changes in shopping motivations of Generation Z customers. The first objective is to reveal whether or not Generation Z customers visit different retailer types with different shopping motivations. The study also aims to investigate whether or not shopping motivations of Generation Z customers change by existence of a shopping companion. The results showed that Generation Z customers visit different retailer types with different shopping motivations. Additionally, they act with different shopping motivations when they visit retailers alone or with a shopping companion. This research has some practical implications. It creates an opportunity to determine right retailing strategies for different retailer types. It also helps to sales assistants about how to approach Generation Z customers when they visit retailers alone or with a shopping companion.
Study Design and Statistical Analysis: A Practical Guide for Clinicians

Katz M. 200 pages. New York: Cambridge Univ Pr; 2006. $36.00. ISBN 0521534070. Order at www.cambridge. org/us. Field of medicine: Clinical research. Format: Softcover book. Audience: Clinicians or medical students with an interest in conducting observational research or clinical studies, and those who want to better understand research methods in medical literature. Purpose: With its companion book, to enable clinical researchers to design rigorous studies and analyse the data using both basic and advanced statistical techniques. Content: The book surveys clinical research from the formulation of a research question through the collection and analysis of data to the publication of results. Chapters are organized by the natural history of clinical research, from Designing a Study to Publishing Research. Chapters are divided into topics headed by questions that a clinical researcher might ask during the process. Early topics include How do I choose a study design? , advice on getting institutional review board approval, and How do I manage my data? Core sections are devoted to detailed statistical topics, such as How do I determine the number of subjects needed for my study? and How is validity determined for predictive studies? The book concludes with sections about interpreting results, publishing manuscripts, and even answers the question: How do I deal with the media? Highlights: The book succeeds in providing a comprehensive overview of the nuts and bolts of clinical research in a concise, readable package. The author presents information in a style that is light and enjoyable to read, and he excels at explaining tedious topics with a generous amount of appropriate anecdotes. Limitations: Although the book provides an overview of clinical research, details of important concepts are sometimes omitted. For example, considerable discussion of the randomization of participants to eliminate confounding excludes any mention of the role that intention-to-treat analysis plays in this method. This book may best be viewed as a conversational course in the terms and methods of clinical research. Understanding the concepts and methods that the book present may enable one to perform a basic study or collaborate in more complex, interdisciplinary clinical research, but fluency in clinical research methods will require something more. Related readings: This book is a companion to Katz's Multivariable Analysis: A Practical Guide for Clinicians (Cambridge Univ Pr, 1999). Other books on this topic include Gallin's Principles and Practice of Clinical Research (Academic Pr, 2002) and Portney's Foundations of Clinical Research: Applications to Practice, second edition (Prentice Hall, 2000). However, both books aim to serve more as reference texts than books one might read straight through. Reviewer: Halcyon Skinner, PhD, MPH, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin.
Lipopolysaccharide from Escherichia coli stimulates osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament stem cells through Wnt/&bgr;‐catenin–induced TAZ elevation

Human periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs), a type of dental tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), can be clinically applied in periodontal tissue regeneration to treat periodontitis, which is initiated and sustained by bacteria. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the major component of the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria, is a pertinent deleterious factor in the oral microenvironment. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of LPS on the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs, as well as the mechanisms involved. Proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs were detected under the stimulation of Escherichia coli-derived LPS. The data showed that E. coli-derived LPS did not affect the proliferation, viability, and cell cycle of PDLSCs. Furthermore, it promoted osteogenic differentiation with the activation of TAZ. Lentivirus-mediated depletion of TAZ (transcriptional activator with a PDZ motif) was used to determine the role of TAZ on LPS-induced enhancement of osteogenesis. PDLSCs cultured in osteogenic media with or without LPS and DKK1 (Wnt/β-catenin pathway inhibitor) were used to determine the regulatory effect of Wnt signaling. We found that TAZ depletion offset LPS-induced enhancement of osteogenesis. Moreover, treatment with DKK1 offset LPS-induced TAZ elevation and osteogenic promotion. In conclusion, E. coli-derived LPS promoted osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs by fortifying TAZ activity. The elevation and activation of TAZ were mostly mediated by the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. PDLSC-governed alveolar bone tissue regeneration was not necessarily reduced under bacterial conditions and could be modulated by Wnt and TAZ.
Tokat İlin’deki Uzun Yıllar Yağış Parametrelerinin CLIGEN Yağış Modeli ile Değerlendirilmesi

Bu calismada, Tokat meteoroloji istasyonundan 2005-2015 yillarina ait gunluk yagis verileri, CLIGEN yagis modeli kullanilarak tahmin edilmistir. Gozlenen ve tahmin edilen gunluk, aylik ve yillik yagislarin istatistiksel analizleri (ortalama, standart sapma, ve carpiklik) karsilastirilmistir. Elde edilen sonuclardan, gozlenen ve tahmin edilen yagis verileri arasindaki iliskinin istatistiksel olarak onemsiz oldugu gorulmustur. CLIGEN ozellikle ilkbahar ve kis aylarinda gunluk yagis verilerini gozlenen degerin hafif altinda tahmin etme egilimdedir. Yillik toplam ortalama ve aylik ortalama yagislari ise tahmin etmede oldukca yuksek bir performans gostermistir.
Effects of Early Enteral Nutrition on Immune Function and Prognosis of Patients With Sepsis on Mechanical Ventilation

Objective: To explore the therapeutic effects of early enteral nutrition (EEN) on patients with sepsis on mechanical ventilation. Methods: Patients with sepsis on mechanical ventilation in the medical intensive care unit (ICU) from January 2013 to March 2016 were treated with enteral nutrition. Patients treated within 48 hours of initiation of mechanical ventilation were assigned to the EEN group, and the rest were assigned to the delayed enteral nutrition (DEN) group. Peripheral blood Th17 cells and Treg cells, endotoxin (ET) level, 28-day mortality, duration of mechanical ventilation, lengths of ICU stay and hospital stay, and incidence of ICU-acquired weakness (ICU-AW) were analyzed between the 2 groups. Results: The proportion of Th17 cells and ET levels in the EEN group were significantly lower than those in the DEN group, whereas the proportion of Treg cells in the EEN group was remarkably higher than that in the DEN group (P < .05). The duration of mechanical ventilation, lengths of ICU stay and hospital stay, and incidence of ICU-AW were higher in the DEN group than in the EEN group (P < .05), but there was no significant difference in the 28-day mortality between the 2 groups. Conclusion: Patients with sepsis mainly present with an increased proportion of Th17 cells in the early stage, manifesting as enhanced immune response. Early enteral nutrition can inhibit the excessive immune response, shorten the duration of mechanical ventilation, lengths of ICU stay and hospital stay, and reduce the incidence of ICU-AW, but it has no obvious effect on 28-day mortality.
Influence of Feeding Albizia lebbeck and Terminalia arjuna Leaves on Growth Performance and Nutrient Utilization in Surti Kids

Thirty growing Surti kids were divided into five treatments of six animals each to evaluate the effects of feeding Albizia lebbeck (AL) and Terminalia arjuna (TA) leaves on growth performance and nutrient utilization. The kids in treatment T1 (control) were fed with basal diet containing 200 g of green jowar which was replaced with AL leaves (T2), TA leaves (T2) or equal mixture of AL and TA leaves in treatment T4 (200 g) and T5 (300 g). The nutrient intake was not affected by feeding of tree leaves. Digestibility of all the nutrients and fibre fractions were higher (P<0.05) in treatmnet T4 which was at par with treatments T3 and T1. Balances of nitrogen and Ca (% of intake) were similar in all the groups while that of phosphorus was higher (P<0.05) in treatment T4. Growth rate was higher in treatment T3 (45.04±0.56 g) and lower in T2 (37.25±0.57 g). FCR was similar in all the treatments. Cost of feeding showed a reduction due to inclusion of tree leaves while economics of growth (Feed cost/kg gain) was comparable among groups. It could be concluded that replacement of sorghum with TA leaves improved the digestibility and growth performance without affecting economics in terms of cost/kg gain.
A New Model of Sensorial Neuron-Like Cells for HTS of Novel Analgesics for Neuropathic Pain

In this study we developed a new translational phenotypic in vitro model for high-throughput screening (HTS) of novel analgesics for treating neuropathic pain, in order to address the poor translation of traditional recombinant models. The immortalized dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neuron-like F11 cell line was selected based on its phenotype after differentiation. The acquisition of neuronal characteristics was evaluated by measuring the expression of TrkA as a DRG neuron marker (p < 0.01) as well as by measuring the global neurite length (p < 0.001). The response of F11 cells to ATP and KCl was obtained by measuring intracellular calcium concentration, dynamic mass redistribution, and membrane potential. A KCl-induced increase of intracellular calcium levels was chosen as the readout because of the better signal quality, higher reproducibility, and greater compatibility with HTS assay requirements compared with other methods. The response to KCl differed significantly between differentiated and undifferentiated cells (p < 0.05), with an EC50 value of 5 mM in differentiated cells. The model was validated by screening the Prestwick Chemical Library. Five hits already proposed for neuropathic-related pain were identified, with IC50 values between 1 and 7 µM. This cell model provides a new tool for screening novel analgesics for the relief of neuropathic pain.
TGFβ1 and TGFβ2 Concentrations Are Elevated in Parkinson's Disease in Ventricular Cerebrospinal Fluid

Transforming growth factor (TGF)β plays a role in injury repair in sites surrounding brain injury. The present study tested the hypothesis that TGFβ1 and TGFβ2 levels in the postmortem CSF of patients with neurodegenerative disorders would be elevated compared to those in normal subjects. Free TGFβ1 and total TGFβ2 were measured by ELISA in postmortem ventricular cerebrospinal fluid (vCSF) of patients with Parkinson's disease (n = 30), Alzheimer's disease (n = 30), multiple sclerosis (n = 15), and schizophrenia (n = 12) and of normal controls (n = 16). In addition, albumin, IgG, and total protein in vCSF were measured. Both TGFβ1 and TGFβ2 were significantly different between groups (P < 0.002 andP < 0.001, respectively). Parkinson's disease vCSF showed significant increases in both TGFβ1 (P = 0.015) and TGFβ2 (P = 0.012) compared to normal controls. There was a trend for TGFβ2 to be elevated in Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis vCSFs, which failed to achieve significance. There were no differences between controls and schizophrenics in TGFβ1 or TGFβ2. Alzheimer's disease vCSF showed a significant decrease in protein compared to all other groups, which was not related to blood–brain barrier permeability, age, or autolysis differences. Evidence is presented suggesting that some TGFβ1 may leak into the vCSF from plasma. Autopsy vCSF levels of TGFβ isoforms were found to be distinctly different from those reported for human serum, especially for TGFβ2, which is undetectable in plasma. These results indicate that furtherin vivostudies of TGFβ2 in the CSF of Parkinson's disease patients are warranted to determine the relationship between clinical status, medication, and TGFβ2 concentrations.
An Audit of An Intensive Care Unit of A Tertiary Care Hospital

ABSTRACT Introduction The patients with the most severe and life threatening illnesses requiring constant monitoring and support are admitted in the intensive care unit. Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital is the oldest and tertiary referral center hospital in the country with eleven-bedded level III mixed medical surgical ICU. This audit was performed to study the profile of critically ill patients under different headings like diagnosis at admission, primary specialty, outcome of the patients, etc. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was designed and all patients admitted to the intensive care unit of our center between 13 April 2017 and 13 April 2018 (1st Baisakh 2074 to 30th Chaitra 2074) were selected for this study. Results A total of 813 patients were admitted in TUTH ICU over a period of one year (2074 B.S.) with male patients being more common. Neurosurgical cases were most common at 199 (24.48 %), followed by respiratory cases at 149 (18.32%) and so on. The overall mortality was 246 (32.8%). The overall surgical cases were more common than medical cases with better outcomes. Conclusions This audit presents the profile of patients admitted in a tertiary level hospital in Nepal, their indications and mortality. The most common patients being admitted were Neurosurgical patients and the mortality was significantly higher compared to ICUs in developed countries.
HOW WE TEACH Classroom and Laboratory Research Projects Effect of the use of a model with peer instruction for the teaching of membrane potential and action potential

Effect of the use of a model with peer instruction for the teaching of membrane potential and action potential. Adv Physiol Educ 42: 661–667, 2018; group of teach- ers from Northeast Brazil developed a model of membrane potentials and action potential and tested the hypothesis that using the peer- instruction model would provide a better performance for students in reading traditional texts and lectures. The results were obtained from 357 students from 20 different courses in 9 different undergraduate programs. All students attended two 100-min theoretical lecture and, at the end of the second lecture, were asked to answer a multiple-choice question (a pretest). In the following lecture, students were divided into three groups: control, text, and model. At the end of the lecture, everyone responded to a posttest. Student performance in the pretest did not differ signiﬁcantly between groups. In the comparison between the pretest and the posttest, students in the model and text groups signiﬁcantly improved their performance, but there was no improvement in the control group. In the posttest, the model group presented a better performance than the control group. In the evaluation of the strategies used, 46% of the students indicated that the text would be very useful to remind them about the subject in the future, whereas 80% of those who used the model indicated that it would be very useful or extremely useful. useful. Although it was not possible to support the hypothesis conclusively, the performance model group, at least in part, was due to the use of active methodologies that constitute a differential in the teaching-learning process. the pretest and posttest test tests (A B). Within each group, the test was used to compare the performance of the pretest with the posttest. The signiﬁcance level considered was P (cid:2) 0.05. the evaluation the didactic the answer obtained and are discussed descriptively.
Is Granting Permissions to Applications an Informed Decision

During the installation process of smartphone applications, users grant various permissions to the applications, such as accessing data or operating functions on their device. The research examines the degree of awareness among smartphone users regarding the permissions that enable application developers and distributors to control their data and device. This research examines whether significant gender and platform (Android vs. iOS) adoption differences exist among smartphone users regarding their awareness to granting access permissions during installation of applications. Our sample is based on a group of 151 students that were asked how they will react if they were requested to install a simple application and were asked to grant permissions as a pre-condition of the installation. Following this stage, participants reported their habits of granting permissions while installing applications. The findings imply that among the participants, male users are more risk averse than female users in granting permissions to applications. Differences in the propensity of users of different platform were also found significant.
Student Time-On-Task: Obtaining Local Norms

In this study the authors describe the process of obtaining local time-on-task norms for students in grades one through five using a 30-second momentary time interval sampling approach. A sample size of 503 students was obtained from five rural elementary schools in the Southeastern portion of the United States. Results showed a steady increase in time-on-task from grade one to grade four, with a small decrease in engagement from grade four to grade five. These norms permitted the creation of “cut scores” to identify the lowest 16% and lowest 2% of the sample. The application and utility of locally-obtained time-on-task norms and recommendations for further study are discussed.