Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparative growth models of big-scale sand smelt (Atherina boyeri Risso, 1810) sampled from Hirfanlı Dam Lake, Kırşehir, Ankara, Turkey

In this current publication the growth characteristics of big-scale sand smelt data were compared for population dynamics within artificial neural networks and length-weight relationships models. This study aims to describe the optimal decision of the growth model of big-scale sand smelt by artificial neural networks and length-weight relationships models at Hirfanlı Dam Lake, Kırşehir, Turkey. There were a total of 1449 samples collected from Hirfanlı Dam Lake between May 2015 and May 2016. Both model results were compared with each other and the results were also evaluated with MAPE (mean absolute percentage error), MSE (mean squared error) and r (coefficient correlation) data as a performance criterion. The results of the current study show that artificial neural networks is a superior estimation tool compared to length-weight relationships models of big-scale sand smelt in Hirfanlı Dam Lake.
Profiling Student Leadership in Lebanese Public Secondary Schools: Perspectives of Principals, Teachers and Students

This study explored the perceptions of Lebanese public secondary schools principals, teachers and students pertaining to the profile of student leadership. The purpose was to examine the student leadership profile exemplified through the opportunities provided to the students inside and outside their schoolsandthat can enhance their leadership skills. 62 Lebanese public secondary schools were investigated. The sample included one principal, 66 teachers and 66 students from each high school. The study was quantitative in nature and utilized three questionnaire addressed to principals, teachers and students. The questionnaire contained items related to students’ activities inside and outside school campus. Descriptive statistics was carried out using SPSS 18.0 for windows and frequencies, means and standard deviations were calculated. The findings revealed that the leadership profile of students at the researched schools was relatively unsatisfactory compared to international practice and as recommended in the literature. A very limited number of opportunities were made available to students allowing them to express their opinion, make decisions and be involved in school life. The study recommended exposing students to various activities and make their voices heard. These factors would lead to a better understanding of how a school might focus and further strengthen its commitment concerning the structured development of student leadership. The study highlighted the importance of encouraging all students to engage in developmental leadership experiences such as student government, club leadership, athletics, and community service so that they have the opportunity to gain leader efficacy, andl become motivated to engage in their own development.
A handicap strategy for Hex

Hein and Nash observed that Hex cannot end in a draw [Hein 1942; Nash 1952]: exactly one player has a winning path if all cells are coloured [Beck et al. 1969]. Also, an extra coloured cell is never disadvantageous for the player with that colour [Nash 1952]. For n× n boards, Nash showed the existence of a first-player winning strategy [1952]; however, his proof reveals nothing about the nature of such a strategy. For 8× 8 and smaller boards, computer search can find all winning first moves [Hayward et al. 2004; Henderson et al. 2009]. For the 9× 9 board, Yang found by human search that moving to the centre cell is a winning first move.
173The Alzheimer’s Questionnaire: Optimising Cut Points for an Irish Memory Clinic Population

Oisín Hannigan, Ontefetse Ntlholang, Clodagh Power, Paul Claffey, Ruth Roseingrave, Rachel Farley, Irene Bruce, Matthew Gibb, Marie McCarthy, Keneilwe Malomo, Robert Coen, Mircea Balasa, Brian Lawlor, David Robinson Mercer’s Institute for Successful Ageing, St. James’s Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland Global Brain Health Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital, Finglas, Dublin 11, Ireland
The Relationship between Household Food Insecurity and Depressive Symptoms among Pregnant Women: A Cross Sectional Study

Objective: There is growing evidence suggesting that household food insecurity (HFI) is associated with adverse outcomes on mental health; however, limited evidence exists for pregnant women. This study was conducted to determine the relationship between HFI and depressive symptoms among a sample of pregnant women. Method : This cross sectional study was performed on 394 pregnant women referring to the health centers located in Qom, Iran, from October 2017 to March 2019. HFI was evaluated using an 18-item US Household Food Security Survey Module. The Beck Depression Inventory-II questionnaire was applied to determine the severity of depressive symptoms. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors associated with elevated depressive symptoms in the study population. Results: The mean (± standard deviation) age of the study population was 28.59 ± 7.28 years. Almost 48% of participants were food insecure, and 37% experienced elevated levels of depressive symptoms during pregnancy. The prevalence of elevated depressive symptoms was significantly higher in food-insecure (P < 0.001) and unemployed (P = 0.02) women, while it was significantly lower in women with higher education levels (P < 0.001). In the adjusted model, it was revealed that HFI was significantly associated with the higher likelihood of having elevated depressive symptoms (OR = 3.31, 95% CI = 2.07, 5.29), while the higher level of education was negatively associated with the levels of depressive symptoms (OR = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.20, 0.79). Conclusion: HFI was positively associated with the severity of depressive symptoms in a sample of pregnant women. Further studies are needed to confirm this finding. Meanwhile, routine screening of HFI for all pregnant women in the community health centers is recommended.
MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERS AND ESSENTIAL OIL CONSTITUENTS EXTRACTED OF TWO CLOVE VARIETIES (SYZYGIUM AROMATICUM (L.) MERR. & L. M. PERRY.) FROM AMBON ISLAND, INDONESIA

The aim of this study was to determine the morphological characters and essential components of clove oil extract from buds, stalks, and leaves of Syzygium aromaticum var. Tuni and S. aromaticum var. Zanzibar. The results showed that the Tuni clove varieties had a larger size of the leaves, fruit and seed morphology than the Zanzibar variety. The results of the essential component characterization are obtained information that bud oil of Tuni variety was composed of eugenol (67.9%), the stem oil contained eugenol (80.6%), the leaf oil contained eugenol (60.5%). The bud oil of Zanzibar variety was constituted of eugenol (47.4%), the stem oil contained eugenol (67.5%), the leaf oil contained eugenol (63.5%). The main components of both varieties of clove oil were eugenol, followed by caryophyllene, eugenyl acetate, and other minor components. Climate factors such as rainfall, humidity and air temperature on Ambon Island did not significantly affect the eugenol content of both varieties.
Use of Plastics in Concrete as Coarse Aggregate

Plastic due to its properties such as durability, light weight and its ability to be moulded into any desired shape has enhanced its popularity. However, its excessive production has become a serious threat to the environment and the human health. Disposal of plastic wastes in the environment degrades land fertility, deteriorates aesthetic value of a place and threatens human health. Therefore, this paper discusses on the method of reducing plastic wastes as well as safeguarding natural aggregates by incorporating it into concrete. It aims on finding the optimum percentage replacement of natural coarse aggregate with plastic coarse aggregate, which can give the same or more strength compared to nominal concrete. This experiment revealed that 15 % replacement of natural aggregate with plastic aggregate achieves the maximum strength of concrete in 28 days compared to other percentage of plastic replacement.
Effects of Meditation on Stress Levels of Physical Therapist Students

Background and Purpose. Due to the arduous nature of the professional (entrylevel) physical therapist (PT) education program, PT students often experience higher levels of stress than their age and gender‐matched peers, which can negatively affect their academic performance and wellbeing. Therefore, finding methods to manage stress is important for students’ wellbeing and academic success. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of meditation on stress levels of students in a doctor of physical therapy program. Participants. Twenty‐four PT students in their first and second year of an entry‐level doctoral degree program participated in this study. Methods. This study examined the stress levels of 24 subjects via blood pressure, morning and evening salivary cortisol levels, and 3 different stress questionnaires (Perceived Stress Scale, General Anxiety Disorder 7, Stress Visual Analog Scale) using a quasi‐experimental pretest‐posttest design. The intervention was a twice‐daily 20‐minute beeja mantra‐based meditation performed for 8 weeks. Results. All 24 students completed the study with average compliance of 91.6% ± 8.7% (mean ± SD) meditating at least once per day, and 77.3% ± 19.8% meditating twice per day. A paired t test was used to analyze the blood pressure readings, with systolic blood pressure decreasing by 2.9 ± 2.3 (standard error of the mean: SEM) mmHg (P = .022), and diastolic blood pressure decreasing by 4.6 ± 2.9 (SEM) mmHg (P = .005). Four subjects with prehypertensive systolic blood pressure readings prior to the meditation intervention moved into healthy normal range by the conclusion of the study. The Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to evaluate the questionnaires, which showed significantly decreased subjective stress levels (P < .05). No significant changes in mean morning (AM) or night (PM) salivary cortisol levels were found (P > .05). However, 9 of the 14 (64%) subjects who had at least 1 cortisol measurement outside of the normal range (established by ZRT Labs) at the start of the study had both AM and PM cortisol levels in the normal range following the intervention. Discussion and Conclusion. The results of this study show that an 8‐week mantrabased meditation program significantly reduces blood pressure, significantly reduces perception of stress based on the subjective questionnaires, and that a 1‐day AM/PM cortisol sample may not be sufficient to accurately analyze a subject's true daily cortisol level to show statistical change.
Lessons From Rosiglitazone

The thiazolidinediones (TZDs) were introduced to the US market in 1997 as therapies to control hyperglycemia in patients with diabetes mellitus. This class of drugs (agonists of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ) has a wide range of biochemical effects, including lowering blood sugar by increasing insulin sensitivity. The TZDs were adopted relatively rapidly and achieved sales of nearly $3 billion in the United States in 2009.
USING L AY C OUNSELLORS T O P ROMOTE COMMUNITY-BASED V OLUNTARY COUNSELLING A ND H IV T ESTING I N R URAL NORTHERN G HANA: A B ASELINE S URVEY ON C OMMUNITY A CCEPTANCE A ND STIGMA

Summary. Access to voluntary counselling and HIV testing (VCT) remains limited in most parts of Ghana with rural populations being the least served. Services remain facility-based and employ the use of an ever-dwindling number of health workers as counsellors. This study assessed approval for the use of lay counsellors to promote community-based voluntary counselling and testing for HIV and the extent of HIV/AIDS-related stigma in the Kassena-Nankana district of rural northern Ghana. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of the tendency to stigmatize people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs). Focus group discussions were held and analytical coding of the data performed. The majority (91·1%) of the 403 respondents indicated a desire to know their HIV status. Most (88·1%) respondents considered locations outside of the health facility as preferred places for VCT. The majority (98·7%) of respondents approved the use of lay counsellors. About a quarter (24%) of respondents believed that it was possible to acquire HIV through sharing a drinking cup with a PLWHA. About half (52·1%) of the respondents considered that a teacher with HIV/AIDS should not be allowed to teach, while 77·2% would not buy vegetables from a PLWHA. Respondents who believed that sharing a drinking cup with a PLWHA could transmit HIV infection (OR 2·50, 95%CI 1·52–4·11) and respondents without formal education (OR 2·94, 95%CI 1·38–6·27) were more likely to stigmatize PLWHAs. In contrast, respondents with knowledge of the availability of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs were less likely to do so (OR 0·40, 95%CI 0·22–0·73). Findings from the thirteen focus group discussions reinforced approval for community-based VCT and lay counsellors but revealed concerns about stigma and confidentiality. In conclusion, community-based
Manual therapy can be a potential therapy in knee osteoarthritis

Objective: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disease of diversified etiology that causes the degeneration of the articular cartilage leading to proliferation of novel bone and reshaping of joint outline. A randomized controlled trial was conducted at the Department of Physiotherapy, Mayo Hospital, Lahore, to examine the effects of manual therapy training and neuromuscular training on knee OA. Materials and Methods: We conveniently selected a sample of 58 patients and placed into two groups. Manual therapy was applied in Group A and neuromuscular training in Group B along with conventional physiotherapy for 4 weeks. Results: The goniometry, visual analog scale, and Western Ontario and McMaster Osteoarthritis Index for knee OA were assessment tools to assess all the patients before and after 2 weeks of physical therapy intervention. Patients in Group A showed marked improvement as compared to Group B (P>0.05). Conclusion: The manual therapy group shows better results in improving pain and reducing physical disability. This study concluded that manual therapy had a more positive impact in improving pain, range of motion, and function as compared to those patients who were treated by neuromuscular training.
Factors That Related With Diptheria Cases of Children in Bangkalan Health Centers in 2016

Diphtheria cases in Bangkalan District have increased every year. In 2015, 19 cases were found in Bangkalan with a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 15.79% spread across 13 villages. This research was conducted to analyze the risk factors associated with cases of child diphtheria at the Public health center (PHC) of Bangkalan. This study uses a case-control study design. This research was conducted at PHC of Bangkalan in January - September 2016. Data collection used interview techniques with a questionnaire, observation, and measurement guide. The number of samples was 48 respondents with 8 cases and 40 controls. The independent variables studied were characteristics (age, sex, education level), immunization status of Diphtheria Polio Pertussis (DPT), and the physical environment, while the dependent variable is the diphtheria incident in children. Data analysis using computer computing. The results showed that the level of education (p = 0.016; OR = 1.67) and DPT immunization status (p = 0.037; OR = 4.667) were related to the incidence of diphtheria in children. It is recommended that health workers, especially village midwives in collaboration with cadres need to increase their role as educators and counselors in providing information to the community in the form of counseling to the community related to the risk of diphtheria transmission and the benefits of basic immunization to all villages until reaching the Universal Child Immunization (UCI) target.
Behavioural plasticity-induced changes in drug response. Commentary on Badiani and Robinson Drug-induced neurobehavioral plasticity: the role of environmental context

Badiani and Robinson (2004) provide a useful and thought-provoking review of their work on the potential importance of environmental context in determining whether psychostimulant drugs induce behavioural sensitization, and in influencing brain changes associated with behavioural sensitization. The influence that environmental cues can have on the behavioural response to psychostimulants has been known for many years (Stewart, 1983), but the way in which context and drug interact, and the neurobiological consequences of this interaction, are still far from clear. Badiani and Robinson (2004) present one of the most extensive sets of data addressing this issue. Furthermore, the distinction they draw between ‘mere’ repeated drug exposure, and drug exposure that leads to sensitization is an important one, and one that has been addressed in a rather different way previously by Kalivas and colleagues (Pierce et al., 1996). Instead of manipulating the behavioural response by changing the environmental conditions, Kalivas and colleagues studied subgroups of rats that either did or did not develop a sensitized response to repeated psychostimulant administration. As a result, they identified specific changes in a-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptor sensitivity in the nucleus accumbens associated with sensitized locomotor activity, which did not occur following an identical drug treatment in rats that did not develop locomotor sensitization.
A case report

Rationale: The limb-girdle muscular dystrophies (LGMDs) are a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by progressive proximal muscle weakness and have more than 30 different subtypes linked to specific gene loci, which manifest as highly overlapping and heterogeneous phenotypes. Patientconcerns:A 59-year-old male presented for evaluation of progressive muscle weakness since his late twenties. When he was 38 years old, he had muscle weakness in the upper extremities and had a waddling gait, hyper lordosis of lower back, and anterior pelvic tilt. His gait disturbance and muscle weakness slowly progressed. When he was 55 years old, he could not walk at all and had to use a wheelchair for ambulation. Diagnosis:Next-generation sequencing using a custom target capture-based gene panel including specific genes responsible for muscular dystrophy was performed. As a result, the proband was genetically diagnosed as LGMD type 2B, carrying 2 compound heterozygous mutations (NM_003494.3:c.1663C>T, p.Arg555Trp; rs377735262 and NM_003494.3:c.2997G>T, p.Trp999Cys; rs28937581) of the DYSF gene. Interventions: Physical and occupational therapy were prescribed properly for the first time Bracing and assistive devices were adapted specifically to the patient’s deficiencies to preserve mobility and function and prevent contractures. Outcomes: The patient with LGMD has periodic assessments of physical and occupational therapy for the prevention and management of comorbidities. However, in the 3 years after the gene panel sequencing diagnoses, his weakness was slowly progress and the patient still could not walk. Lessons: Gene panel sequencing allows for the correct recognition of different LGMD subtypes, improving timely treatment, management, and enrolment of molecularly diagnosed individuals in clinical trials. Abbreviations: CK = creatine kinase, DYSF = dysferlin gene, Indel = insertion and deletion, LGMD = limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, NGS = next-generation sequencing, SNV = single nucleotide variant.
Chronic administration of the L-type calcium channel blocker nimodipine can facilitate the acquisition of sequence learning in a radial-arm maze

Nimodipine, a dihydropyridine L-type voltage-gated calcium-channel blocker, was examined for its potential effect on the acquisition of a complex-arm sequence task in an automated radial maze. Young (60-day-old) male Wistar rats were injected with saline or nimodipine (5mg/kg) 15min prior to radial maze training, or immediately following the radial maze testing. The results of the learning task (over 7 days of testing) showed that rats injected with nimodipine each training session acquired the task more quickly and more efficiently compared to saline-treated animals. There were no significant differences for rats that were pre-/post-treated with nimodipine during the maze-learning task. The number of incorrect arm entries and number of additional lever presses in the same arm were found to be significantly lower in rats treated with nimodipine compared to saline-injected controls. The beneficial effect of nimodipine treatment occurred only in rats that were acquiring the task, and not in rats that had already learned the arm sequence paradigm. There were no potential non-specific influences on locomotor activity or appetite caused by chronic nimodipine treatments. These results strongly suggest that nimodipine can facilitate the acquisition of a complex learning task. Behavioural Pharmacology 15:133–139 c 2004 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
The effect of patient size on organ-dose conversion factors for chest radiography

Poster: "ECR 2018 / C-2349 / The effect of patient size on organ-dose conversion factors for chest radiography" by: "A. S. L. Dedulle, N. Fitousi, Z. Zeppelin, V. Petit, G. Zhang, J. Jacobs, H. Bosmans; Leuven/BE"
The NMDA receptor channel blocker memantine and opioid receptor antagonist naltrexone inhibit the saccharin deprivation effect in rats

Several drugs, such as N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor channel blockers (memantine), naltrexone (but not naloxone) and acamprosate, have previously been reported to attenuate the expression of the alcohol deprivation effect, a phenomenon seen as an increase in post-deprivation alcohol consumption. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of these drugs on the development and expression of the saccharin deprivation effect in adult male Wistar rats. Memantine (13mg/kg per day) and naltrexone (5mg/kg, twice daily), but not naloxone (24mg/kg per day) or acamprosate (200mg/kg, twice daily), prevented the increase in the consumption of saccharin after a 1-week deprivation from free-choice, unlimited access to saccharin (0.1%, w/v). Taken together with the results of previous studies, these results suggest that naltrexone and memantine attenuate the expression of both the alcohol and saccharin deprivation effects. Behavioural Pharmacology 15:273–278 c 2004 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Statins for heart failure: where to go from here?

Statins, also known as 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors, confer a number of actions beyond mere cholesterol reduction. These so-called pleiotropic effects had been proposed to exert beneficial effects in patients with chronic heart failure, because improvements in endothelial function, decreases in inflammatory markers, and the release of endothelial progenitor cells had been reported with statin use. The inhibition of the small monomeric GTPase Rho appears to be involved in many statin-mediated beneficial cholesterol-independent effects. The results of recent clinical studies with statins in patients with chronic heart failure are somewhat mixed. Some of the published data can potentially be explained by misconceptions about pleiotropic effects as such. This article discusses statin-mediated pleiotropic effects, illustrates the example of the specific Rho kinase inhibitor fasudil, and describes the available results from statin studies in chronic heart failure.